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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  Great Truck - 1990 Ford F-150
  By jamescrane - January 29 - 8:34 pm

  bought my truck for 75 bucks when i was 16. guy was taking it to junkyard. bought a used altenator for it she lasted me two years. now thats a buy. o did u mentioned when she finally went she had 270000. the guy before me was no saint with her and neither was i xl with a 5.0

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  Best car Ive ever had! - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By nursemollybsrn - January 29 - 6:53 pm

  I bought this car on 12/14/2011. Ive only driven it for over month, it is my daily driver. It has only 19,000 miles on it and it is absoutely stunning! I love everything about this car. The way the engine rumbles, the noise of the blinkers, the sound of the door when you shut it, the stero is kickin, the ease at which the top goes up and down! I have learned that you actually have to be careful in slower traffic because when you step on the gas...you get an instant response. And yes, I have raced it. I have smoked everyone that I have come up against - in town and highway - with barely any effort. This car was made to go fast! And is excellent therapy if you have a stressful day at work!

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  We Love it! - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By jonics - January 28 - 4:24 pm

  Bought the Ford SUV in Dec. 2010 when we traded in a F150. The looks were pleasing and interior comfortable, the back seats folding down for cargo is a plus! On a very cold day the heated seats are great! At the beginning we had several issues with the phones not connecting, had to take it in several times for help with this issue and software updates. Seems to have cleared up. For those who say their phones dont connect all the time, I found a setting on my BB that fixed that. It says to auto connect instead of prompt and that took care of the problem. I do have problems with the clock changing time but its not very often. I am happy with it so far.

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  Transmission Problem - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By ersnyder - January 28 - 9:13 am

  My 2006 Freestart has 120,000 miles on it and I just picked my car up from the shop. I had to get my transmission rebuilt. The mechanic said that it was my torque converter fell apart with lots of metal pieces in my pump and inner workings! Seems like a constant problem!

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  Dangerous & Defective Transmission! - 2008 Ford Escape
  By tdd281 - January 27 - 1:09 pm

  This is my first and LAST FORD. Ever. I was so in love with my new spunky Ford Escape, I got all the bells and whistles, paid 24 grand for this model.. I noticed that my car was rusting prematurely...not on on the outside, but the inside as well underneath my seats. In fact the bars that hold my seats to the car are rusting. At 107k miles, my transmission malfunctioned causing my car to shake violently, and accelerate on its own, now I have to buy a new trans at 3 grand. On top of it I could of been seriously hurt, since my car seat is rusting away from the base of the care. FORD DID NOTHING. SO I launched a complaint against them. LAST FORD I EVER BUY. EVER>

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  Watch out, bad transmission! - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By lizziebeth2785 - January 26 - 8:52 pm

  I bought this car in March 2011. The car was first into the shop 6 months after I bought it for shifting problems. They replaced the universal trans assembly. Then I get a postcard to come in to the shop for the lug nuts being recalled. So then I take it back. I tell them that it after starting it if it has been sitting for a while that I have to press on the accelerator pretty hard just for it to start moving. They told me this was due to the fluids needing to warm up! The car is not even a year old! So then I call a different Ford dealer for their opinion and was told that is completely false. I took it back and now they tell me its normal! Put in a formal complaint with Ford Corp

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  MY Ford Touch *&)(*&(*^(*&%(*&^ - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By neverfordagain - January 25 - 5:58 pm

  Ford Explorer 2011 fully loaded, including the My Ford Touch piece of crap. I have read the reviews with comments of Ford is working on it & its complicated & they are trying to make it more intuitive & easier to use. BS. It doesnt work. IT locks up. When its 10pm &-10 below out & youre leaving work & it locks up & you have NO HEATED SEATS, NOTHING WORKS WHEN IT LOCKS! & there is no override of any sort. Ill be going back to GMC thanks! Whatever happened to the lemon law & where the hell are all of the media reports on this! I had this vehicle since July & nothing from FORD!

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  Well...its a $16k car - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By mrj88 - January 25 - 10:37 am

  Ive had my Fiesta for a year now and have enjoyed it overall. Love the styling and lime squeeze paint. Consistent 35mpg is great, and most importantly its never left me stranded. Nice little car. Heres the *but*. While the car seems solid mechanically, there have been a bunch of little issues that remind me that Im definitely not driving an $21k Jetta/Civic/Impreza/etc. Already had to have some loose items under the hood tightened down, weather stripping replaced, quirky door locks, and random squeaks/creaks that come and go. Nothing over the top, but enough to make me wonder if I should have paid a little extra to get something a little more "tight". Only time will tell.

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  Worst used car I have ever purchased - 2001 Ford Focus
  By jenas62 - January 25 - 10:29 am

  I bought this car in June 2010 for my kids to drive. It looked great on the outside and shifted well and has great air conditioning but that is where it ends. The guy I bought it from put used tires on it but they still had a lot of tread. In the 6 months that we have had this car I have had to replace the radiator, the heating element, the water pump and all 4 tires. This thing eats tires. I would never trust my kids to drive it out of town. Its simply not reliable. Other issue that are not quite as important: The windows crank down backwards from other cars. The drink holder is in a stupid place. Sometimes the passenger side door will not open. This car is a piece of crap.

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  still runs good - 1999 Ford Escort
  By draculara_0427 - January 24 - 10:16 am

  I brought a 1999 ford escort with 125000 something miles on it. (dont remember the exact mileage) but Ive had it for 2 years now I havent had any major problems just replaced the starter. Monthly service like oil changes and tune up stuff like that other than that still a good running car. It has about 144000 miles on it and its been a good little family car. Still gets me where I need to go. I say it would be a great car for a high school student or college student. Planning to purchase another vehicle soon and i will keep this one.