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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  Shes good - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Lovemycar - November 5 - 11:59 am

  My first car, has held up very well. Bought her with 39,000 on it, so far am at 52,000 in a little over a year. Very few maintenance problems, and any problems were minor, like windshield wipers. Excellent for all of the driving that I do between school, work and home (over 60 miles daily M-F) and I only fill up about once a week. Shes always been there for me.

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  Broken Gas Gauge - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By 4work - November 4 - 5:18 pm

  This car was provided by my employer for work. We have had it in the shop 3 times and going on 4 due to the gas gauge not working. Dealer says Ford knows about the problem and hasnt been able to find a permanent fix and also there are not enough cars with the problem to issue a recall. We were told to try different gas and a fuel additive (said it sometimes works on other ones), problem is employer provides gas via their own gas station which results in us having to pay more for gas, just for the chance that that will correct the problem. Since it is unreliable, I use my own car so I dont get stranded. I would not recommend a Ford product due to them not willing to correct the issue.

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  Hard to Be Beaten - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By Fordy - November 4 - 3:56 pm

  Our Expedition has been nothing but a dream to own. We bought it in March of 2004 and are looking forward to returning it for the new 2007 Expedition. This has been a great suv, has plenty of power under the hood, is incredibly comfy, has sleek and sporty styling ... stands out! (not like the Chevy Tahoes or burbans that are all like a carbon copy of each other). Is very roomy, heater/AC is very strong powerful, Transmission is responsive, braking is impeccable, large rear-view mirrors make it easy for a lane change, fold flat seats allow for lots of cargo room, 3rd rear seat is just as comfy as the rest of the seats. The Expedition is rated very high for safety, and reliability/dependability.

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  My Explorer - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By Jennifer - November 4 - 3:36 pm

  I was driving a minivan, but since I am a younger mom, I wanted something more "my age". I finally talked my husband into an Explorer. I love it. I have a mineral gray one and got the DVD system installed. My kids LOVE it. They call it Dora the Explorer. I love how it handles and the view from the drivers seat.

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  Been Good to me - 2001 Ford F-150
  By Sean - November 4 - 3:36 pm

  I must admit, this truck has been nothing short of bulletproof. Ive got 96,000 on it, and its been to the dealer once for a broken mounting stud on the rear cab glass. I attribute this to my maintenance and the fact I got a good one this time. You must change the tranny fluid on these trucks, its a must. Ive also found the Triton V8s like full synthetic oil. I also recommend getting one with the factory tow package, you get an auxiliary trans and oil cooler. All in all, a great truck with a good ride. Ive also made some aftermarket improvements- 4" lift kit, shift kit, and new intake.

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  I LOVE my new Ford CMax Energi! - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By Annie - November 4 - 2:15 am

  This car gets amazing gas mileage, much better than advertised and much better than my Prius. It is very fun to drive, with much more peppiness and acceleration than other hybrids. Comes well equipped for the price compared to other hybrids in its class.

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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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  Love the Vehicle - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By GAP - November 2 - 11:06 pm

  The ride is very composed in all situations. The winter driving has been very stable with good tire grip. The acceleration is not sports car quick, but the vehicle does hold its own in traffic. The MPG over the past year has been consistently 16-17 city and 25-26 highway which matches the EPA estimates quite nicely. The vehicle was purchased for the advertised versatility and it has been a real pleasure. The various seating and cargo positions are just marvelous and better than the previous minivan. The seats are comfortable and the steering is very precise and gives a good feel of the road conditions. The whole ownership experience has been better than expected.

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  2016 ESCAPE TITANIUM - 2016 Ford Escape
  By JOANNE WEYLAND - November 2 - 2:55 pm

  LOVE THIS SUV, STYLE AND DESIGN. HEARD IT WAS GREAT IN THE WINTER, ALSO.

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  Very Good Experience - 1998 Ford Windstar
  By John_Denver - November 2 - 2:23 am

  I bought this van with 32k on it and its been very reliable. I change the fluids regularly. We live in Denver and love skiing so we take it up in the mountains 20-30x a year. No transmission or engine problems ever. It has good power with the 3.8l. I think were only replaced the water pump and brakes a couple times.