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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  Transmission failure at 67k miles! - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By KHill - November 11 - 3:30 pm

  I have always bought Fords, but this Explorer has really turned me off to them. At 67k miles the check engine light came on and within a day, the engine would not shift into 3rd gear. My mechanic has had a lot of 2002/2003 Explorers brought in for the same problem. (I guess Ford decided to try an enclosed transmission for these 2 years and found out it wasnt a good idea). Unfortunately they are not doing a recall because according to them it is not a safety issue. I think driving on the freeway without being able to accelerate over 20 miles an hour would definitely be a risk. So moral of the story is if you want to risk it and buy one, make sure its got a new transmission. Sorry Ford!

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  The big van just flat works - 2006 Ford Econoline Wagon
  By E320pilot - November 9 - 7:50 am

  I bought this van to be used at work to haul a cargo trailer plus take family vacations with a camper trailer in tow. The 5.4l motor gets about 16- 17mpg on the interstate at 72mph lightly loaded. When pulling a 22 trailer, the mileage drops to about 8mpg (I installed a ScanGage to measure mpg, rpm, etc). Yes, there are squeaks and rattles, handles mediocre, and gives a rough ride. What else would you expect from a 1 ton van/truck? I would still buy another one.

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  Fraud on gas mileage - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By cindyropp - November 9 - 12:43 am

  I returned my car after driving for a week it got 39 at best, went around and around with ford and after finding out that consumer reports and studies were coming out saying the gas mileage was grossly over exaggerated, they finally agreed to unwind the deal it was getting 29 highway and 38 to 39 city. if you drove like an old person and never quickly accelerated, put the air on, or went up a hill it might get a little better

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  My First Ford - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
  By john - November 5 - 8:56 pm

  My Explorer sways from wind generated by traffic. Roughly every two years "check engine light" comes on. Some of the dash lights went out, had them replaced($250.00)then 8 other dashlights went out. Out of the blue one day, the rear door wouldnt open. Different day, I opened rear window and it came off in my hands. No damage has been done to the rear door,or window to give a reason for these problems. Ford recall on cruise control, will catch fire. My previous vehicle was a Toyota Corrola SR5 1600cc 2TC engine I drove for 19 years, God I miss that car.

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  Ford almost hit the mark! - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By Marty I - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Transmission problems, grind 1-2 shift and 3-4 shift when cold. CDs sticking in 6 disc player. Water leaks around windows(convertable). Premature carpet wear around accelerator pedal. Poor traction under hard acceleration (wheel hop). It seems that Ford chose to put a light duty transmission behind a 320 HP engine. Overall poor quality for a vehicle costing close to 35,000.00 dollars. Very little dealer support in addressing the problems. Traded it in for a 50th Anniversary Vette. Ill rate that after I drive it for a while.

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  Poor Performance - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Frank Cuca - November 1 - 9:46 pm

  Beware of 2002 Ford Explorers with new rear suspensions. After numerous trips to the dealership, the noise was corrected with replacement parts. Now that the vehicle is three years old, the noise is back, and is not covered by the original warranty. It seems the aluminum housing used in this model, rather than the traditional cast iron, has created the problem due to expansion and contraction with heat.

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  Avg. at Best - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Bradley J. - October 30 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is average at best. I was much happier with my 2001 Expedition. Fit and Finish are marginal. Ive had it back to the dealer several times to fix outside trim and interior flaws. Mileage is poor(14-15 Mpg avg.)and the transmission shifts very rough. It clunks when shifting into "D" Drive and between 2nd and 3rd gear. Dealer says this is normal, but I dont buy it. It seems like other consumers are experiencing the same symptoms. After this SUV I will go back to Japanese Mfg. for good. They are consistantly better quality, perform better, and hold their value much better. Sorry Ford.

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  My Week in a Droptop Stang - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By gsemike - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Rented a V6 stang convertible when I was in Dallas. The weather was great so having a drop top was nice, but I could not own or live with this car permenantly. The roots of this car go back to the fox platform which debuted in 79 and it shows in the build quality and ergonomics.

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  nice - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By dawg - October 24 - 10:00 am

  i like it, it great on the highway & in the city. You can see everything in this suv. It makes you feel safe.

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  Ford Explorer = Absolute Junk! - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Steve - October 23 - 11:46 pm

  An absolutely horrible vehicle from the start. This 2002 was actually a replacement for a 2001 that we went lemon-law with. The 2002 started off with a defect in the rear hatch, the plastic cracked. Then over the past year the following have been replaced: all 4 Rotors; all 4 sets of brake pads; the e-brake cable; the 4x4 transfer case; the transmission (yes, transmission!); the rear axle seals; need I continue?