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:

• 

  first impression-excellent - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By mtsman - February 26 - 9:36 am

  Bought used with 52k and #1 reason for purchase was SYNC. cold weather and first tank of gas is still averaging 28mpg! woo hoo! 4cylinder seems to have better low end power than up top. no issues with trans even when cold. very aerodynamic-gains speed easily down the slightest grade. seats have great support but headrest pushes my head too far forward. text function "not supported" for iphone3...hmmm? back seats have lots of room for tall people. had to adjust fog lamps way up...no idea how previous drivers actually found them useful. so far HVAC is good-fan is slightly noisy. not the refinement of a cadillac or lexus but GREAT value for contents. gauges easy to read.

• 

  the 4.0 engine is a piece of crap - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By joeblo1 - February 26 - 1:25 am

  I bought this truck with 122,000 miles on it. It has 137,000 now and it has been nothing but trouble. I have had to replace the midshift bearings twice, the belt tensioner, body bushings and the fuel pump. The head gasket blew several weeks ago. When the engine was in pieces, we saw that one of the pistons had rubbed out gap in the cylinder wall. The motor is now completely useless.

• 

  Pieces falling off - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By asalvo15 - February 25 - 7:29 pm

  I was considering buying a 2013 Ford Fusion, so I went to the dealership to test drive it. I brought two friends with me, who sat in the backseat during the test drive. When we got out of the car, they told me the roof material in the back was coming off. To make it worse, we looked at another model (which was more expensive because it had the My Ford Touch options inside the car) and a piece of the exterior door panel was falling off. We mentioned it to the sales person and he went outside to check it. He hit it back into place and simply said, "We can just put some glue on it." SERIOUSLY?! Both cars are NEW cars and they already have pieces coming off? Imagine how it will be years from now

• 

  Not my first choice - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By b_engels7 - February 25 - 9:55 am

  I drove an 03 Taurus for 7 years, and in that time I had to replace the transmission, the cam, struts, break lines, the muffler, and a multitude of repairs which I have repressed from my memory. The car produced phantom odors, odd sounds, and mysterious leaks. The front passenger floor flooded constantly for some reason. The gas mileage was terrible, Id say around 18 highway and 12 city by a rough estimate. The transmission is twitchy so dont expect a smooth ride. Be prepared to spend a lot on repairs, my advice: save your money and buy a honda or something.

• 

  my 2010 fusion - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By cinwit - February 23 - 10:31 pm

  bought my fusion with 13k on it. had it now a little over a year and has 35k on it. love love love my car. the only issue i have with my car is how the front passenger seat shakes when no one is sitting in it, and how my rims fill with snow and ice and make my car shake so bad i sometimes have to pull over from getting sick. removing hubcaps should take care of that though. over all,

• 

  Titanium Ford Escape 2013!!!!!!! - 2013 Ford Escape
  By tweetabird - February 23 - 3:58 pm

  ..I absolutely adore my new Ford Escape Titanium!!!! Seriously. its a beautiful, comfortable and oh so quiet ride! I also, love that I can push the hatch button in the car and then see my dog Lilly staring at me to get her out..when we go to the Park. The stereo system is fantastic!! I have NOT had a single problem since I bought it 3 months ago. Only asked out on a date at the gas station! LOL! Sync is working beautifully!! My phone is wonderful to call family and friends! Navigation is beautiful! Dont believe anyone that tells you different the screen is sweet and works beautifully! Drive the Titanium model only I say it is beautiful in the ginger ale(green) color! Worth every dime!

• 

  A 13 gallon gas tank? Sync still not ready for prime-time - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By fury63 - February 23 - 2:02 pm

  I have about 9200 miles on my Titanium FWD. For the most part, this is a great vehicle. It is a nice driver and is quiet and comfortable. It handles extremely well. However, there are a couple of things that really make it hard for me to recommend to anyone else. There is a problem with the gas tank that prevents you from putting much more than 12 gallons in when you are near empty. The specs say 16.5 capacity. So plan on spending a lot of time at the gas station. My last car held 18 gallons so this is a huge inconvenience.

• 

  Good car - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By stephen_c - February 23 - 11:34 am

  Ordered new from the factory in 2010, the vehicle now has 51004 miles on it as of this morning, with 27k being HARD miles driven while using it for a courier job that I had. My wife and I have made a 2500 mile round-trip journey with this vehicle, driving 23+ hours each way non-stop, and I can speak for the comfort of the front seats. After all of the things this vehicle has been through we have had only one mechanical issue, a leaky front right boot, and nothing else. Regular maintenance has done the trick. We have the 6-speed auto. Would recommend this vehicle! Great gas mileage (36+ mixed daily driving), reliable, fun to drive. My wife and I have driven this vehicle off-road :P

• 

  UNRELIABLE - 2013 Ford Focus
  By tommycj - February 23 - 10:09 am

  Ive owned a 2013 Focus for two months now and its been back to the shop twice for bad grounding wires in two different spots. The last one was for the fuel pump so the car died in the middle of traffic without warning!! Not the reliability youd expect from a car with 1400 miles on it. The dealership just laughs it off. Ford has come a long way but their individual dealerships still has a lot to learn!! Read up on their Electronic Power Assist Steering too. Not the sales hype either, find the complaints, there is a Tech Bulletin released on the problem but once again, the service center at the dealership acts as if there is no problem. My advice ... shop elsewhere.

• 

  Great car ,flashy design - 2011 Ford Edge
  By mshales282 - February 22 - 1:28 pm

  I have a 2011 Edge w/ all the whistles .. love the technology. On a trip to the NC mtns. the car quit on me in a lonely mtn road after a 3 hr. interstate drive. I found an area to pull off the road turned around (dropoffs on both sides) and coasted back down the mtn. while the engine idled roughly. ...stopped in church parking lot and shutoff the engine. on an whim turned on the car and it fired up normally. This quitting at (70mph) happened twice again on way home to Florida 2 x in dangerous spots where I couldnt pull off. Upon returning I informed a dealer of what I had heard from another dealer..faulty throttle sensor (no record in computor. They finally replaced it..been fine.