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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  My First Ford Truck - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By F. A. Hicks - June 5 - 8:58 pm

  My Ranger is a fine vehicle, smooth ride, excellent handling & power to match. The exterior design is also a plus factor, having conformed to the changing times by having that sleek look but maintains the distinct Ford body style (a manly style). Only Ford & Chevy have been able to keep their trucks the way I like em! I must add however that the Ranger was sort of a poor choice for me. I am 61" & 240lbs. I am not uncomfortable in my Ranger but I still, after six months, cant seem to get to seat adjusted right and my head is .25 of an inch from the ceiling. I am comfortable even driving for long periods. Recommend 2004 Ford Ranger. But us "Big Guys" need "A Full Size Baby".

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  Fun to drive...if it will start. - 2017 Ford Fusion
  By rsto10 - June 5 - 6:23 am

  I do not recommend buying this car until Ford addresses and fixes the batter drain problem with this car. Numerous times, after sitting in my work parking lot for the day (8 hours), I return to the car to go home and the battery is dead. There is a bug with this car that my dealer, and according to the increasing complaints on the forums, most other dealers cant diagnose and fix properly. Ford has been silent about the problem and has yet to issue a fix to its dealers. Do not buy this car until the problem is fixed at the corporate level. That being said, if a fix is found, this is a really fun car to drive with great tech. With winter tires this AWD car is really, really fun in the winter. The only thing I dislike about this car is the MPG. Not the mileage Id like or was used to with my 2014 Ford Fusion 2.0 Titanium AWD.

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  Old school in all ways - 2002 Ford Crown Victoria
  By jimscar - June 1 - 7:06 pm

  I bought this car after totaling a 626 in a rear ender. The car is great out on the road. She literally is a land yacht on long interstate trips and I got 27.3 mpg on one trip from GA to upstate NY. Around town here in Savannah is another story. Potholes and washboard surfaces befuddle the old live axle and shes a handful to park and maneuver around the squares in Savannah. and then, of course, when gas went to $4 a gallon even the fair mileage wasnt looking to good.

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  Mustang Gt Review - 1996 Ford Mustang
  By Alex - May 31 - 2:53 pm

  Its a fun car to own if you are handy with a tool box. I like the car but I dont trust Ford quality. Fords use of plastic in critical engine parts is senseless. The intake manifold cracked (4.6L engine). The cheap use of plastic vacuum lines behind the dash. You have no leg room in the rear. Its an affordable sports car to own. It has plenty of power. There are plenty of aftermarket parts to keep your Mustang looking good. Be sure to get a good maintenance manual to save you money on the repairs.

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  looking for less jolt - 2003 Ford Escape
  By zoran windrich - May 22 - 9:58 pm

  We bought ours brand new from the dealer and from the start it fit the bill. It was sporty, higher than some cars so you felt safer in it, until my mom started driving it. We did not realize it then but the car lurches forward when the accelerator is slowly pressed. For a grand mother with over forty years of driving this is a problem. She feels scared that maybe she will hit someone unexpectedly. We are selling it it has only 4000 miles in perfect condition.

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  Car has gotten me through a lot! - 1994 Ford Tempo
  By Jelly Belly - May 19 - 3:18 pm

  Ive had this car for two years now and it has been great so far. I bought it for $1200 with 156,000 kms. It now has 230,000 kms and its still going strong. The only problems Ive had with this car have been minor. Ive done regular oil changes. Tie rod ends have had to be replaced but the parts dont cost too much. Its gotten me to a lot of places. The experience Ive had with it is that its a reliable car. I mean its no luxury car by any means but it is a good cheap car. Never had any problems with it starting up in the cold weather either. Id recommend the Tempo for anyone looking for a cheap car.

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  So far so good - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Diesel Hauler - May 14 - 2:00 am

  The two rear doorlets on the Regular Cab were the selling feature on this truck. Having the extra space behind the seats on a Regular Cab is great. You get the benefits of almost an extended cab (a place to put tools and groceries) without the length of an extended cab truck. Performance of the 4.6l is fine on the shortbed reg cab. I dont think it would be enough power for the 4x4 extended or super cabs. It is a quiet truck and rides very well on the highway. There are a few rattles on rough roads but nothing worse than most trucks. The assisted liftgate is good. The higher bed walls make it difficult to reach into the bed to get something.

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  leaking coolant - 2000 Ford Focus
  By 1432 - May 13 - 6:04 pm

  Leaking coolant after 33,000 miles dealer replaced water pump twice. At 65,000 miles again leaking coolant per dealer diagnosis thermostat housing froze and leaked. This ruined water pump. Dealer changed water pump, again twice. This suggested that quality of parts are bad. All total this car has had 5 water pumps for the first 65,000 miles. Car was taken to independent mechanic. After more tests to find cause of loosing coolant, it was determined that coolant was passing to cylinder and head repair has to be done. This problem is in addition to transmission electronic component failing, rear window not working, and the rough idling causing vibration.

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  An In the Shop Van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Brent McKee - May 10 - 2:30 pm

  I have had numerous electrical problems with my Freestar. I downsized from a Mavigator and knew that there would be a dramatic difference in comfort options. The mid-seats are very difficult to remove and the back seat is not comfortable for a average sized adult. I have had the vehicle in for service on eight different occasions with electrical problems Ford has changed out the dash electronic twice and the passenger side power window motor once. I have never been so dissatisfied with a vehicle and based on this experience, I will now be looking a lot closer at imports.

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  Ford - You lost us! - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By Lee - May 9 - 6:24 pm

  Our last 4 cars have all been Fords, before trading this one in for a Toyota Sienna van. Our first was a 91 wagon, which was awesome for its economy, and reliability (it finally gave out with 210k miles). The Windstar van was a mistake, and the last 2 Tauruses were only slightly better. We unloaded this wagon with 98k miles for fear of transmission problems. There also was little effort by the company to address our complaints (which included both calls and a letter). We would have loved to stay with a domestic maker, but it just didnt make sense. Ford - we were your customers, and you lost us!