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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  Finally had to do a review - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By bruceski2 - August 1 - 2:04 am

  I have had my 2013 fusion hybrid SE for 8 months and just passed 40,000 miles without a single problem. I have never gotten below 40 mpg and routinely get 44-46 in the summer and 41-44 in the winter. It really doesnt matter how I drive the car, the mileage rarely strays. Everywhere I go people ask me about the car and I cant say anything negative. It is the one car I have owned that I truly enjoy. I had the software upgrade and it did not increase or decrease my mileage. I have a ton of bells and whistles that I only got because the car already had them on it. This is by far the best car I have owned.

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  Very good car - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By Mohamed Morsy - August 1 - 12:14 am

  It is definitely one of the best cars I have ever owned. It is very stable on the road and it feels very safe to drive. However, they were some problems such as the rear lift got stuck, the center lock motors problem, the paint peel from the hood. but it is still one of my best cars because of its spectacular mechanical performance.

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  Black 99 SHO - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By Rob - July 31 - 9:11 pm

  The Taurus SHO and other models (G, LX etc.) has been a very great asset to Ford. I love my SHO, it has everything I want in a car except a 5-speed or a shiftable automatic. The car is fun to drive and very solid. However, I feel that Ford has a big problem on their hands with all the terrible camshaft failures. I think Ford should own up to the problem and fix all the cars that fail or have a recall and put properly made cams in the cars. Many people love their SHOs and it seems like the right thing for Ford to do. I would expect such a huge company (one of the big three) to own up to the production flaw. Why should people have to get their cams welded? Ford needs to pay for it.

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  Fun Focus - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Tress - July 31 - 7:31 pm

  Fun to drive. Easy on gas, handles well in traffic and on open road. Smooth driving.

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  Amazing Truck - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By chrisava7 - July 31 - 4:26 pm

  Coming out of a 99 Explorer XLT and going into a 06 Explorer XLT I was worried. I was unhappy with my older one and the ride stunk. The is one amazing truck though I feel like I am driving a car. You can not tell how fast you are going. You can catch yourself doing 80 quickly. The interior has everything right in reach and the material is high end. The door handles are a really big thing when someone gets into it. It took me about a day to get used to it and now I love them. Also, the stick shift on the floor is so much better you have something to rest your hand on!

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  Worst car I have ever owned - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By grady572 - July 31 - 4:10 am

  The transmission went out at 38kmiles, I called Ford and they replaced the transmission after I paid $125, the brakes had to be replaced under a recall, the heated seats quit three times and the third time it was out of warranty so they still dont work, the cd player quit it was repaired,right front wheel bearing and hub replaced at 39,000 miles, dealer repaired n/c The air conditioner quit and I had to pay $294 Ford paid $883.Replaced the power steering pump@ 106k, miles. At 36k replace the Pirelli tires. At the time they were the only ones that made the size for my car, Limited AWD put on Mich HydroEdge@68k mils still look nw @113k.Rpld 2convertors n fuel pmp @ 95k batt repl @ 80k

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  It was a great car - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By txoldmf - July 31 - 3:42 am

  The car never gave us to many problem. They do have problem areas, headlight socket over heat, air compressor are weak. Engine strut support break easy. The big problem is the instrument panel. A problem Ford, and the NTSA knows about. The problem is weak solder joints. Ours went out, Total cost for parts and labor 1300, A third of the value of the car.

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  Buy a newer Taurus - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dondi - July 30 - 5:16 pm

  Bought this vehicle with 19k miles on the odometer and remaining factory warranty. For a small V-6 (3.0) it performed very well. The 6 speed auto always had a gear appropriate for the traffic needs. At 53000 miles the rear rotors went metal to metal. Found that many owners go through rear pads every 20k miles. Ford has offered a pad with slightly different material that lasts as long as 30k miles. I did the repair myself and found that it had already been done before. My wife and I are very conservative drivers so the "premature" brake wear was a real concern. At 53k miles after the brake issue, we found a large oil leak coming from the rear main seal area. Traded to a Chevrolet Impala

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  Transmission fixed 5 times! - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By Sue - July 30 - 4:35 pm

  I really wish I could rate this with ZERO stars! I bought the car with low mileage and was informed the transmission had a recall, but everything had been fixed! That was a total lie! The car now has a little over 60,000 miles and the transmission has been fixed 5 times! The dealership keeps giving me the run around and saying its fixed or that there is nothing wrong with it! A car shouldnt grind, shudder, jerk, etc. Just going down the highway! This vehicle is absolutely horrible and I would advise everyone to STAY AWAY from it!! Not to mention the seats are seriously uncomfortable on long trips!

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  Been a good car! - 1995 Ford Contour
  By KRocks - July 30 - 4:27 pm

  Were the 2nd owner on our 2.0L 4 cylinder GL model. We bought it with about 30K on it and are at almost 121K now. We bought this exclusively as a back & forth to work runner and its served its purpose well. We still get 28- 30mpg but its starting to nickel & dime us a bit. Its really been a great car and the problems weve started having are things youd expect with a car this old. Weve recently had to replace the timing belt, water pump, brakes, and the costly item was the catalytic converter. Wouldnt hesitate to buy another one with lower mileage.