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:

• 

  Its just OK - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By George - May 13 - 10:33 pm

  It looks pretty good, thatÂ’s why I bought it, I am disappointed with the performance. I will trade it in for the upcoming Cobra, or just a Z06 Corvette that could blow this thing out of the water.

• 

  Never Again - 1995 Ford Windstar
  By FormerFordFan - May 11 - 2:00 am

  It has been 20 years since I bought a car other than a Ford. My 95 Windstar, despite excellent maintenance and conservative driving has been a reliability nightmare: timining cover gasket, $700 Mass air sensor, twice electrical problems, continual now the transmission. Ford ignored my request for relief, now I am ignoring Ford products.

• 

  Safety vs. Looks - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By cbassett01 - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Overall, I feel that the Taurus (mainly 94-95 model year) vehicles were excellent cars. Both in safety and performance.

• 

  Jekyll and Hyde car - 2016 Ford Transit Connect
  By Zack - May 9 - 7:50 pm

  Be prepared for abundant harrassment by warning lights, chimes (way too loud) and occasionally the horn. The windshield pillar reinforcements cause blind spots especially dangerous to impulsive pedestrians at crosswalks. The I.M. says not to run the wipers in dry conditions, but of course this happens accidentally on account of their bizarre stalk controls. The van lurches during braking, acceleration, and on right angle turns around town. In hot weather the dashboard turns into a huge, hot radiator. In foggy or rainy weather, when backing up it is necessary to turn the headlights off in order to see the tiny backup camera screen. The steering wheel interferes with seeing most of the instruments including the speedometer The exterior lights are rigged so that they can stay on indefinitely when you open and shut doors, as for a thorough cleaning, thus threatening to discharge the battery. On the + side, it has plenty of pep which is why I think it outsells the anemic Nissan 200 although the Nissan has a better, more business-like interior. Both brands have good seats using woven material. The Fords select shift worked well climbing 5500 feet up to Flagstaff, AZ at 70 mph. It kept going through the flooded streets of Tucson the rainy summer of 2017.

• 

  Oh My Gosh! (Oh Henry! Where Art Thou?) - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By Stan The Man - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe how my opinion of Ford products has changed. I currently own two Ford products. (A 2000 Lincoln LS Sport, 2001 Windstar SEL). This is the worst any vehicles have ever performed for me. The van has been recalled 5 times so far, and the check engine light is on now at only 11,000 miles and regular service. The van rides well, is not as noisy as some would say, but has proven very unreliable thus far. I never thought I would feel this way. Oh why in the name of Henry Ford has this happened?

• 

  the money pit - 1994 Ford Taurus
  By jwbean1 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  spend 850 to get the trans fixed, still doesnt work right. water pump started leaking at 98000, cost was 1150 when all was said and done. ate tyres like candy. driver seat though power was not conforable. will not bye one again. oh yes hope you make sure you got lots of money for the engine repairs.

• 

  Roomy but unreliable. Mechanics dream. - 1993 Ford Taurus
  By My mechanic loves me - May 3 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car when I was pregnant and hoped for a nice, reliable family vehicle. Its transmission seems to fall apart about once a year. Our mechanic (even though were in a big city, he knows my voice on the phone) has just let us know that (for the third time) the transmission is going. We couldve bought a new car with all the money weve put into payments and car repairs. We love the size of this car, but hate not daring to drive it anywhere. Now we still owe payments on a car we cant drive safely.

• 

  Dont waste your money!!! - 1996 Ford Windstar
  By anderson brown - May 3 - 2:00 am

  Transmission promblems always present!!

• 

  expect problems - 1997 Ford Ranger
  By brandonm - May 2 - 2:00 am

  the ranger is an attractive pick-up that means well, it just had horrible engineers. ive only put on 20,000 miles on mine in the last 3 years (52,000-72,000) and cant believe the problems ive had. ive been stranded, oil changes bring a list of things that need to be fixed, and new electrical problems almost regularly. fuel-pump died on a road-trip leaving my wife and me stranded. after returning home the check engine light came on again and the canister also had to be replaced. not cheap. had to replace all ball- joints, another $700. this shouldnt be happening on a truck with 70,000 miles on it. ill never buy a ford again because of my experience with this truck.

• 

  2001 Ford Sport Trac - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Charles Shaffer - May 1 - 11:13 am

  It will be a year in June 2008 since I bought it. Have had trouble with bad vibration in the whole truck, in the steering, and front end. Mechanic said the owners of the truck who had purchased it new had under the new warranty to get it fixed. The power steering pump has to be replaced with a bigger valve in it along with some other things concerning the pump. This is what is causing the vibration. Could cost me at least $1000 to fix it. Not a happy camper.