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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  His Trash, My Treasure - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By jESSe - September 12 - 3:14 pm

  I got my Explorer from a Quality Auto and they thought they were going to beat me, that I was just a dumb college kid. It was making a funny sound and everyone thought it was the tranny. I paid 1000 down and was willing to take the risk. Turns out it was only the ball joints. I love the car it has a smooth ride, and AC after 16 years. Im happy and wouldnt trade it.

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  Recall Bad Tranny Coolers in 08 Escapes! - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Sharon - September 12 - 1:48 pm

  A local auto repair shop just told me my 2008 Escapes transmission cooler is leaking and has been for a long time. Since purchased, Ive taken it to the Ford dealership where I bought it for servicing and they never mentioned this problem. This same dealership said the extended warranty expired 600 miles ago and they cant cover the repair. The dealership is asking almost $600 to repair it. I see other 08 Escape tranny cooler problems on this site. Ford needs to fix this problem. Though a loyal Ford customer for years, I will no longer be buying a Ford if the company cant replace a repeatedly defective part.

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  No Complaints - 2001 Ford Focus
  By JamesyFreshXXX - September 12 - 1:03 pm

  This car is very reliable a couple minor recalls no breakdowns. Fuel usage consistently 33 MPG combined city/highway even split.

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  Great vehicle, the plug in is the bonus - 2014 Ford Fusion Energi
  By teo_baby - September 12 - 12:54 am

  I have had my vehicle for 3 weeks now. Have 850 miles on it and still have not been to the gas station. I have a quarter tank of gas. The interior of the vehicle is very nicely done. The seats are very comfortable and supportive. Fit and finish is up there with entry luxury vehicles. The technology is quite advanced. I have the adaptive cruise and blind spot detections system. It also alerts you if you are in danger of an imminent crash. The exterior styling is distinctive. If you are considering a plug in Prius or plug in Accord, check out the Fusion.

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  Totally Impressed - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Bigdawg1976 - September 11 - 9:12 pm

  I owned a 2001 Ford Focus ZX4 and was so impressed, I bought another one. The 01 handled like a slot-car while the 08 handles more like a rear wheel sports car. The gas mileage in the 08 is quite a bit better than the 01. The fit and finish on both cars were good. Very impressed with SYNC. We have 2 cell phones and SYNC seamlessly works with both. The only thing I would change is the inside door handles on the coupe, which is in an awkward spot. Forget iPods - I have all my tunes in a thumb-drive and I can tell SYNC what to play, how cool is that??

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  Decent Car - Take a Look at One - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By Jeff - September 11 - 3:34 pm

  Ive owned my Fusion for over a month now and have 1,200 miles on it. Ride is nice and has a very responsive steering system. The trunk is large and the gas mileage has been decent @ 25mpg. The V6 has good power and the transmission shifts smoothly. The headrests are not comfortable and need to be redesigned, hopefully they got it right on the 2010 model. Overall, I am very happy with it and we chose it over the Camry, Accord and Sonata. It was a tough decision but so far so good.

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  Pricey but Roomy - 2010 Ford Edge
  By Spott - September 11 - 10:44 am

  Bought a 2010 Edge Limited FWD. I think the interior is pretty nice. The floor mats I think are too small though and prob wont protect the floor well in the winter. Cruise control is a pain to initiate, but after that its ok. Rear visibility out the rear window is poor- it seriously is. To improve it, fold down the rear center console arm. You can improve it further by folding down the rear seats. The ride is awesome- very smooth on 20 inch wheels. Does feel slightly top heavy though, but just slightly. Seats are very comfy with the most leg room Ive seen. Touchscreen radio is awesome- sounds great. Dont buy one of these without it! Overall, this Ford is a dream to drive.

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  Ok but..... - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Ann Marie - September 10 - 4:57 pm

  I bought this vehicle in 2006 and have loved it but.... at 30,000 the gas pedal kept getting stuck... in the up position so I couldnt step in the gas unless I slammed my foot down. I had it fixed and they told me they replaced the linkage. It was fine after that. 1 year and 2 days later it happened again (2 days past part warranty) and the Ford dealer would not honor that. Low funds makes it hard to fix and Ford will not help. They tell me "its my problem." For a part to go twice really doesnt say much and such an important one.

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  Wont have another one... - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By ryan - September 10 - 12:57 pm

  Overall, the vehicle has been pretty reliable, but the transmission has been horrible from the get-go. It kicks real hard when going into reverse and response time is super slow at all times. Rear windows stick at times. A crack suddenly appeared next to the ford logo on the back. Have since noticed several other explorers with the same crack. This was my first new vehicle and has not left me with a good impression of American vehicles.

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  A Really Good Car - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Victoria MV - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this great car for a year and 3 months now. It was two years old with 32k miles and I have since added another 22k miles. I have experienced absolutely no problems and the car runs great. A couple months back, I got into a car accident but the car proved to be incredibly resilient. The car has never given me any reason to feel unsafe, even at very high speeds (upwards of 130 mph).