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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  Not a Good Vehicle - 2005 Ford Taurus
  By Not a Good Vehicle - November 3 - 10:07 pm

  I have had the car for about a month and we have been having problems running the E-85. It is a FFV and we still are getting terrible gas mileage -- only 19-20 and we cant get it to start most mornings. I have been to many dealers discussing the problem and not one dealership can give me a straight answer. My suggestion is to everyone to never purchase the E-85 Ford Taurus as they get terrible gas mileage and have major problems starting at even 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

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  Another Inpulse Buy Here... - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By JasonBadExplorer - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Well I bought this truck because honestly it looked great and I felt that I was getting a great deal for it. Its been consistent that every year I had to put in about $1k to get it passed inspection. I have had so many problems with this thing. Those sensors seem to go at the worse time and each convienently costs about 100 dollars to replace. I seem to find problems that even a Ford dealership has problems fixing. Now my car needs heavy negotiation with the gas pedal to start up cold. Ive already spent 800 dollars at the dealership to get it resolved. They say its fixed, but the very next day I have the same problem.

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  Wishful thinking - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Hello Toyota - November 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car brand new. Since then i have had numourous recalls on it. It has been very inconvenient constantly have the car in the shop. The ignition has locked on me on several occasions. THank you ford for extending the warrenty. No thank you for not extending the whole warrenty not just the powertrain. Klaben was very unprofessional in their help. It was fun to drive. Just very inconvenient.

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  Never buy 1st year of new model - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By RED - October 31 - 9:23 pm

  Vehicle drives much better that 2001. Really like the folding automatic rear seats. Problem is that bugs are not out of the first year. Brake dust everywhere. Fix by Ford cost me $900. Mirrors broke and needed to be replaced. Whine in rear end and when one presses on the gas the air conditioning fan motor slows. Standard tires not good. Didnt look at Edmunds technical bulletins until a few miles out of warranty and dealer said tough luck. Gas mileage 13.6 MPG. In the main a nice riding truck and if you want one dont get a 2003. You will see a lot of 2003s on sale.

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  Definately - Fix Or Repair Daily - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Dawn - October 31 - 10:00 am

  In the shop more than on the road. Poor milage even on the highway. Nice car to have if you prefer to drive a rental car while yours is in the shop.

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  Great if you need a big ol cruiser - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By Julie - October 31 - 1:30 am

  I bought this car used at 30,000 miles. Like so many of the Tauruses, the front rotors were trashed and the rear brake components were about ready to go and all needed to be replaced. Have your brakes inspected by a competent shop! The car ran great until the dealer did a tune up. After that point the engine knocked terribly, except with premium fuel and they said there was nothing they could do. On the freeway, it was great, about 28mpg. When I moved to the city it got between 12-16mpg which was not acceptable. Other than that, it never broke down and had LOTS of room.

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  Dont buy one - 2000 Ford Windstar
  By Wes Smith - October 28 - 11:30 am

  Since the warranty expired, I have spent an average of $1500 per year on non-routine mantenance. It has been a pain in the wallet. I expect to spend money on tires, brakes, etc. But I have had to have to much "other" work done on the van.

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  Last Ford Van - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By mark in cincinnati - October 27 - 10:16 am

  I had no reason not to purchase a Ford with five relatives working for the company. Until my van turned 36k only regular maintenance & recalls were required. Since then: 3 transmissions, antilock brakes, heater core. Luckily I had a great service adviser that allowed me to purchase the extended warranty. So my cost for the transmissions was limited to $700. Factory trained/certified mechanics failed to bolt one of the brackets on the second rebuild requiring the third repair 8K miles later.

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  Poor Customer Service - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By free1 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Overall, a decent auto, however, the V8 seems to have a problem with broken ignition wires (as early as 30K-40K miles). Ford is not willing to acknowledge this problem, but has plenty of replacement wires in stock! Also problems with noisy front springs and the brake pedal. Poor quality of rear wiper, electric windows, luggage racks. Comfortable seats, decent interior layout, good comfort features (lighted mirrors, remote door locks, etc.).

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  Not Great...Not Bad - 2002 Ford Windstar
  By dragonfly052172 - October 24 - 4:14 pm

  Great for first couple of years ... then it wears out. Electronics start to go. Rear wiper motor -- gone! Trim and door hardware start to come off. Interior is just plain ol cheap. So dont buy unless its for the long haul. Because it depreciates too fast. Oh yeah, gas mileage of 20 mpg on highway! Not good at all.