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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  True Blue Red Van - 1996 Ford Aerostar
  By GGARR - December 2 - 2:00 am

  The Aerostar van has been extremly reliable. Other than oil changes and tires I did nothing to it for the first 100k miles. It has never left me stranded. Normal wear of brakes, and wipers, and a battery after 100k.

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  Owner x 6 yrs - 1996 Ford Bronco
  By gertrude fillmore - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought @ 16000 and drove it the next wk. to Alaska and back. Not one problem. Poor gas mileage? Yea but i did not get it for MPG. I bought for safety, dogs, camping and general usefullness and I think its just cool. Only problems have been with the quality/craftsmanship of interior. Hell, a grab handle would have been nice. Once every few months, must retighten all interior screws. Changed oil regulary, have had no problems w/engine...yet. Changed to manual locking hubs, much better. Back window scratches because you must roll into tailgate to open back.

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  Interior Room - 2003 Ford Escort
  By targetshooter - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I am 62 / 260 and I fit just fine. I drive it on long trips and the seats are fine. Great get you there car with enough power to handle what you run into.

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  for your info..94 probe GT - 1994 Ford Probe
  By bobbyb - December 2 - 2:00 am

  overall this car is a blast to drive.. the sleek,sporty style of this car is hard to beat for the price[ i repeatedly get poeple asking me if i got a brand- new car]] shortly after buying this vehicle i had a "shut-off" problem.needed a new distributor ..would recommend this vehicle as a fun to drive,inexpensive sports car...just get it checked out first if its got higher mileage.

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  AMAZING - 1991 Ford Mustang
  By stang lover - December 2 - 2:00 am

  This car has BALLS. It kills all those little civics and wimpy imports. Great all around performance. This car is very easy to modify and to work on. Doesnt hamdle well in wet conditions because of the light back end and massive torque. Recomend this car to anyone who wants to have fun driving.

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  Unless you like to throw money away... - 1996 Ford Windstar
  By Mouferdog - December 2 - 2:00 am

  First, the speedometer needle flys all over the place, then the water pump needed to be replaced (this is the 2nd time). The electrical system is severly flawed (admitted by a Ford technician at the dealership) There is nothing quite like the sight and smell of your steering column smoking while all the dash lights dance on and off. Now the transmission needs to be replaced. I just want to thank Ford for knowing that this van is one big piece of junk and instead of proving their integrity by offering to fix problems that they have had a multitude of complaints about, they instead offer an open palm to accept our money to fix their junk!

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  Very Pleased - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By curtk - December 1 - 10:30 pm

  This vehicle has been very good to me. The only possible drawback is the level of service I received from the dealer. They seem to have trouble getting the few fixes that I have needed right the first time. Luckily, I bought an extended full service contract on the vehicle, which Ive probably broken even with for service repairs and oil changes. ($890/3yrs)

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  Love My Sportrac - 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By dhcody - December 1 - 10:03 pm

  Read these reviews and had to have a Sportrac. I have 3k miles on the truck and I get 17.8 mpg with the 6cyl in town. Drives like a sports car yet is smooth as a big car on the road. No complaints in Houston heat with air conditioner as others have mentioned. A must is the rear slide window and electric front seat. Spend a little extra for the Limited it makes for great curb appeal. I also got the electronics package with audio and a/c controls in the stearing wheel. Nice extra. The back up alarm is a nice feature to keep you from running into something or someone. Overall I am well pleased, guess time will tell about maintenance problems. I would have to rate this one a 9.5 plus.

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  Driving fun, technology, looks, move over Toyota! - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By American Citizen - December 1 - 9:17 pm

  OK, I never thought I would own a V8 even in a truck. The gas mileage is relative, but not awful. You only get one life, and I always went for dependability in Toyota/Lexus, but if everyone would support the American economy and buy American cars again, you would be in for a surprise. I didnt go for the Shelby because I didnt want my insurance company to punish me, but the GT is a pleasant surprise. I had a new Toyota Truck I traded in, and I did it because I have seen a drop in their customer service and the way they treat you in general. Sure, you might argue its fun to crawl over and down hills, but this GT put a smile on my face just driving it down the road. I didnt need to put the pedal to the floor, you cruise and maneuver knowing if you need it, the power is there. How many times did you need a burst of speed to keep from having a car ram you because you turned onto the road and misjudged they were speeding up to keep you from turning (you know who you are). After almost getting t-boned in a new vehicle with the response of a turtle, I decided to buy an American car. People, they know they have lagged in the market for years. That is why they have improved dramatically. You can dress it up as a sport car with stripes, or keep it simple like a Jaguar (the burgundy color looks awesome). The premium Shaker radio is great, although audiophiles will want to upgrade a door speaker or two, but it sounds great. Even my Sirius subscription sounds good again. I thought it was the signal, but it was the stereo. Even the JBL owners are upgrading the Tacoma speakers. And the technology is just fascinating. You can change the steering control, RPM engine response, interior lighting, set your seating positions for driver and passenger, and oh yes, you can open your garage door. I guess they dont have garages in Japan, but driving up in my new truck WITH the technology package I had to wave my garage door opener around in the window! What the hell? There is so much to brag about, all I can say is we bought Toyotas and Hondas for years and this is the year of the American car. I havent experienced anything bad yet at Ford, but I was treated like a farmer looking for a truck full of chickens at Toyota. We are in America, lets start owning it. Dont listen to me, just go to the Toyota/Honda dealerships then go to American dealerships and see how far we have come. By the way, my nice truck was assembled in Mexico. Dont we need jobs here in America? Start with looking at the Mustang GT. Even though the only complaint is the back seat, it wont matter with just me and my wife in the car. Check it out even if your not planning on buying for a long time. I guarantee you will be impressed. Buy American, you live here dont you?

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  Good Mileage and Fun to Drive - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Jim in DC - December 1 - 2:56 pm

  I expected to get better gas mileage, but did not expect the actual mileage to be within the "published" range. However I AM getting between 29-33 mpg on a regular basis. The display module showing constant fuel economy, and the GPS navigation make the vehicle FUN.. Also the sound system is much better that I expected from a factory built-in. All in all, a really fun vehicle to drive, with good gas mileage (and a lot of questions from potential buyers everywhere I go).