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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  Deep bed - 2005 Ford F-150
  By truck driver - March 19 - 8:50 pm

  Nice truck, stylish; only big complaint is the depth of the bed. Its hard to get things out without having to climb up in it.

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  Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By aperry - March 19 - 5:04 pm

  This van, while very safe feeling, handles more like a small truck.

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  Poor Quality Expedition - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By Houstondude - March 19 - 12:28 pm

  My Expedition has just over 10K miles and it has been in for repair four times for the same problems. Rattles in the doors, squeaks in the back seat, and blue smoke pours out of the tailpipe upon cold start up. Ive also had trouble with the touchpad keyless entry, electric mirrors and the remote locks. The dealership has not fixed but one problem the first time in. I have had to clean out the car every time to allow them to evaluate the rattles. I purchased the extended warranty and the pre-paid maintenance plan. Buying this car from this manufacturer and this dealer was a horrible mistake. Ford will accept no responsibility for their own poor quality workmanship. Never Again - NO MORE FORDS!

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  pet peeves - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By josie - March 19 - 1:36 am

  The designer does not factor in peoples needs: no hand hold for driver. Placement of gauges. Lack of gauges (oil). Lack of mechanical odometer and trip meter. Need larger gas tank for one fill up per day on trips. Ride not as good as my long wheel base F-150. Seats should be upgraded.

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  Good Car - 1995 Ford Aspire
  By kat - March 19 - 12:39 am

  This is a fun little car. Great gas mileage (40mpg). Bought it used and has been Super reliable, Not had "any" problems, not replaced anything except tires and wipers. Handles well and good power and good brakes. Kinda funny looking from the outside (wife calls it an egg with wheels), but roomy and comfortable on the inside.

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  About the same as the Windstar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Family in MI - March 18 - 11:25 am

  I traded in my Windstar which was one big electrical problem. And it seems I just got a new version of the Windstar. Still electrical problems. Ive had the electric door module fixed twice in 5 months. The door ajar light stays on with the dome lights when the module goes out. Had the same problem with my Windstar. The quality inside is worse than the Windstar and has cheaper plastic. But it looks nice inside. I just dont feel the quality is there. I dont like that you cant get cloth seats in the Limited. I dont like leather, its too hard and uncomfortable. I like the van, but it isnt my best choice. I should have shopped better.

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  Good sedan - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By Todd - March 18 - 8:49 am

  Good sedan, good overall car, short on looks but spoiler and rims help. Lots of room and comfort for the price. I drive 26 miles to work some in city and some highway and my mpg is 20.

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  Love My Stang - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By Herb Trisler - March 18 - 3:41 am

  This car is a head turner because of the looks, the sound, and the power. Ford has done an incredible job of keeping the Mustang at the forefront of motor vehicle desirability. Fun to drive, affordable, attractive. Very nice package.

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  Skip the New F150s - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Drew G - March 17 - 7:11 pm

  They arent like the older F150s at all. At under 20,000s our new 2015 F150 has been a nightmare and not safe to drive either. Regardless of payload size, road conditions or other factors which would normally effect its handling, shifting, power train, etc the truck has been completely unreliable. It will frequently, without provocation, down or upshift causing dangerous situations in traffic. Ford says this was initially due to the system which tracks my driving habits and that it needed to be reset. Two months later after I completely lost all power on the highway they told me there was a short in the transmission writing harness. The problem has not stopped since that was replaced. They told me next that I was carrying too much weight (about 700 pounds) for the new consumer grade trucks and it must have caused undue stress on the engine. I removed the weight and the problems persisted. The brakes have been unreliable, grabbing at certain intervals despite the mechanics insistence that they are in fine shape. Occasional rocks or mud will cause immense noise to persist from the brakes for days. The fuel saver auto start blew through the starter in under 6 months and now when it shuts off it occasionally refuses to restart. The sync and bluetooth systems are a mess and need to be restarted or reprogrammed on a frequent basis.

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  Typical Ford Truck - 2003 Ford F-150
  By Greg - March 17 - 5:32 pm

  I rated the mileage at a 7, but honestly it is on par for the type vehicle it is. But it is costly for just running around town. It has been on several long trips with 4 and luggage and actually performs well on the road. Super low end torque for trailer towing. Rides smoother than most cars and handles pretty good as well.