Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  good car - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By kellie - November 11 - 11:29 pm

  My first car was a 90 Taurus and I beat that poor car to death. I was in a very bad accident in the Jeep that I owned before purchasing my current Taurus, so I wanted a car that was safe. I love the handling, the get up and go, and the car is incredibly comfy. However, the brakes are AWFUL, I have already had to replace them 2 times. Also, my car started chirping very loud, like a bird when it was cold (right after purchase). I was very upset thinking the guy sold me a ticking time bomb, but my Dad changed my transmission fluid on a whim and it has been quiet ever since. The previous owner used the wrong fluid. Overall I am very happy with my car. I got a very good deal on it.

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  Ford Never Again - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By t.jones67 - November 11 - 5:11 pm

  I drive my Ford for work. Most of my miles are highway miles. The air conditioner went out early on. At 46,600 miles the transmission is out. It is out of warranty. The dealership did pick up $1000 of the $2k bill. A transmission should not go out at 46k miles. Funny thing is I had a Taurus that the air went out early and the transmission dropped at 60k. Ford seems to have problems with these. This is the last Ford I will ever buy. If you have to have a Ford-buy the extended warranty.

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  I love these cars - 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
  By randysvh - November 9 - 5:00 am

  The car to me is one of the most reliable cars in the industry overall. This is far from a perfect car, but it offers features that make it desirable and most importantly reliable. Gas economy is way below what i think it should be able to get, and shame on FORD for not doing better in this department. The engine though is rock solid. The body seems solid and quiet. There is nothing tinny about this car. My car has the digital instrumentation and I love it. The AC is solid and easy to use. The stereo is good, but i have seen other models that were better than the one I now have. I have owned a 1993 and 1997, both brand new and now this 2000. Each of them had over 200,000 miles.

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  Good Value, Good Mileage - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By Terra - November 1 - 6:29 pm

  This car gets great gas mileage, especially as a person on the interstate a couple times a week. Interior colors and design are very pleasant, but the seats are terribly uncomfortable! In fact, after about 30 minutes in the car, my back is wrenched. I also drive a Chevy on occasion, and I dont get that problem. Mileage: 22city, 26 highway.

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  Never again! - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By tetread_99 - November 1 - 11:27 am

  Owned this Ranger a little over 2 yrs. 76 K miles when purchased. Terrible build quality and reliability. Currently 100K miles and the transmission is shifting hard and O/D Off light is flashing. Power locks work intermittently, were fixed 1 year ago and started happening again. Wipers only complete half cycle and stop in middle of window. They were fixed a year ago and problem is happening again. Ford should be liable for putting out this kind of product. I will never buy another Ford again. Vehicle is expensive to own, 3.0 litre engine is terrible on gas (16 mpg) and extremely sluggish.

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  Bought New On Tues Broke Down On Thur - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By machguynj - October 31 - 2:23 pm

  Horrible experience. Bought this car brand new on Tuesday. 36 hours and only 115 miles on the odometer I am broken down on the road. Car needs a new rear (gears are shot) and a new transmission. Dealer would not provide a loaner car without paying for it. And roadside assistance took over 3 hours on a beautiful sunny day in NJ. How does a brand new car have soooooo many problems. It is unacceptable. The car is going to take 2 weeks to fix. And in case anyone is wondering it is not driver related. This happened at highway speeds in 5th gear. Horrible sounds and smoke coming inside through the vents. Will never buy a FORD again.

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  Problematic Transmission - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By mejia329 - October 27 - 11:21 am

  This is my latest and probably last Ford purchase ever. Ive serviced my 03 Explorer 4WD XLT at recommended intervals only with my dealer over the last 4 years. Ive had major engine work done once and the transmission rebuilt three times. There was a wheel bearing problem at around 20k and the rear heating unit quit working around 60k. The latest transmission issue (torque converter) is setting me back $1,200.00. Overall this is a very disappointing purchase.

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  take my car, please - 2001 Ford Focus
  By fletcher - October 24 - 7:00 pm

  A friend of mine always says, "i cant afford to buy cheap things." I should have listened to his advice about this car. I really like how it drives, but I really hate that I seem to spend at least one day a month or more driving to a repair shop because something else has gone wrong. Its hard to have a good relationship with a car upon which you depend that is utterly unreliable and unrelentingly so. These things are ugly and like to break down, but at least they are initially inexpensive and get relatively good gas mileage. Im buying a Honda or a Toyota next. No more Fords for me.

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  First & Last Ford - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By thoss29 - October 22 - 10:10 pm

  The 1st year of ownership was great, since then we have had the rear brakes recalled because of abnormal wear & grinding under 15000 miles. Power Steering pump went bad, A/C Compressor went bad, power windows quit working, then magically fixed themselves, when I put it in gear it lunges forward if the A/C is running. If my foot is not firmly on the brakes it lunges hard enough to hit something in front or behind the vehicle. And the OEM tires lasted about 35000 miles with regular rotations. It is very comfortable & gets decent fuel mileage in town & exceptional highway mileage for a car of its size. The shifting of automatic transmission take a little getting used to.

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  Trusty Aerosport - 1997 Ford Aerostar
  By Lizard - October 19 - 10:03 am

  Ford blew it...Windstar was a joke! Should have kept Aerostar. Cheap to buy (used)/insure/repair. Very good tow vehicle. I owned a 93 prior to this 97...both 4.0 litre, extended, rear wheel drive. My 97 was 1 of last ones ever built (June of 97). Exhaust flex pipes need replacing frequently.