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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  I love it - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By MartyP - October 17 - 1:41 pm

  Great truck overall. The price was especially attractive with all the rebates and employee pricing. It was a pleasure to not have to bargain. The only thing I dont like about the truck is the placement of the parking brake release and, of course, the poor mileage. I have the biggest engine (4.0L) and get 19 mpg at best. The running boards look good but arent any practical use. They just get in the way when entering/exiting. But, it pulls my 22 boat with ease. The comfortable quiet ride is really a happy surprise. In sum, it is a good solid relatively inexpensive small truck that does everything it is supposed to and will for years to come.

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  Pretty nice SUV! - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By Kyle - October 17 - 12:15 pm

  I absolutely love the look of the new 2016 Explorer. I needed something bigger to carry/haul things around and this thing sure does have the room! I wish Ford would make a V8 engine for the explorer because Im not much on the ecoboost engines. The V6 option performs pretty good, but this SUV is pretty heavy! Transmission is fairly smooth, could be smoother. With only 1500 miles on it so far, I cant tell how reliable it is but so far so good. I love the interior, its very comfortable. My ford touch can be a pain, but not a big concern for me. The Explorer handles like a dream and is a nice ride on the highway. Overall nice SUV.

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  Best SUV Ever owned - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By susie q - October 17 - 11:36 am

  We have had 2 Jeeps (which I loved, but not big enough), and a GMC Suburban and love the Excursion the best. I am sooooo glad we bought the diesel even though it is noisy sometimes. Drove over 3,000 miles to Colorado and was very comfortable, I dont understand why diesel is higher than regular, makes no sense. It is the best vehicle I have ever had.

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  No major problems either - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Happy too - October 17 - 1:43 am

  I have to agree that many people that do not have problems do not post, however I am shocked to see all the negative ratings. I have had my Explorer for 3 years now and it has been in the shop twice for a very minor cosmetic issue, nothing engine related. Ford didnt charge me a dime either time and they were both past warranty. I have 92,000 miles on my Explorer (I drive a lot of miles as you see) and I have been nothing but happy with it. The only reason I am on this site is to look at cars for better gas mileage. I have no intention of getting rid of my Explorer.

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  Fun truck but a lemon - 1991 Ford F-150
  By kyle - October 16 - 4:53 pm

  Great truck for hard road until about 40,000 miles pin broke in engine and it had to be rebuilt. 60,000 miles, transmission had to be rebuilt has a history of problems and after talking to many different owners, sellers, repair shops, the 91 F150 has a long history of major repairs. Transmission is too small for truck, which appears to be a history problem with Ford products. Universal joint had to be replaced at about 50,000, and so on. This truck was rarely used off road except to keep the 4x4 system lubed. Paint had heavy oxidation at about 20,000 miles easily comes back with every buff or chemical oxidation removal.

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  Freestlye- First Impression - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Siberian - October 16 - 10:00 am

  We were out looking at a replacement for my wifes 2002 Escape as we want a vehicle with more fluff. We drove the Explorer and also the Cadillac SRX. The SRX was a nice car but the finish work on the in side was poor for the high cost. We drove the Freestyle as an after thought and were very pleased. It had a lot of power with the new CVT transmission and the SEL model had everything we wanted plus it was $15,000 retail less then the Cadillac. So far we are very pleased and it is easily accessible for an aging parent with support handles in the ceiling and on the front dash.

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  Worst Car Ever. Avoid this vihicle. - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Triumph - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This is the most recalled vehicle in history. I get about a recall a month on this piece of junk. The rear wheel bearings have been replaced twice. The ingnition lock has siezed up twice. Each time, the key would not even go into the ingintion. I found 30 pages of people on the internet who have had the same problem, yet Ford refuses to issue yet another recall to fix it for free, and felt just great about charging me $500 to fix the ignition. Now the water pump has developed a leak. All of this in less than 4 years.

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  Love the look, Unimpressed by the power - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By Pete - October 16 - 9:31 am

  Have had the car for 1 year and have put 5,000 miles on it. My experience so far has been overall positive. No problems mechanically at all. I like the look of the car and love the thrill of driving with the top down. As far as power I am somewhat disappointed. Factory says 320 HP, but only about 245 of that makes it to the rear wheels. Quick starts, but it is very slow to respond when you stomp the gas while driving. The suspension is pretty good. It handles well when cornering at speed, but I hear pops and clunks in it when I make turns or hit small bumps. I like the car but I wish I had bought a 2003 or 2004 "Supercharged" Cobra. Now those are awesome cars!

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  My First Ford - 2002 Ford Escape
  By catwoman - October 14 - 11:00 pm

  My first FORD. Lot of car for the money - very happy with the car, fun to drive - to much wind noise. Overall, very happy.

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  So Far to Go, So Little Gas - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Peter - October 14 - 8:46 pm

  My Escape is still very new, and still delights me. I bought it for its fuel economy, size, and greenness. Fuel economy was rated at 33 city, 29 highway. Highway and city combined have averaged well over 33 with the majority being highway miles. I lose about 2 tenths of a mile when starting out cold in the morning and evening after work. I then make that up if I can drive far enough. Economy when cold is awful. The engine runs until the engine is warm and the battery is fully charged. At that point the fun begins to see how long I can keep it running on electric alone. Kind of challenging but for a vehicle that weighs 4750 pounds its great.