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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  Dont buy this year - 1998 Ford Expedition
  By JMJ - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Due to the multiple electronic issues that this vehicle has caused us we are rushing to drop it before our extended warranty runs out. We know many others w/the SAME issues. The best 2 examples I can tell you from our experience was when it would continuously lock/unlock the doors while also having the radio on & the heater on full blast (no keys in the ignition) blamed on a faulty remote key. A more frightful example is where it was starting itself in our garage (again w/out keys). This time it was blamed on water shorting a computer... which sounds like the closest reason yet all of these electrical nightmares have happened.

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  Fun & Reliable "Z" - 2000 Ford Escort
  By "ZMAN" - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Bought the vehilce brand new and very pleased ! I have not noticed any of the problems other have mentioned with my Z, however before purchasing I test drove 3 others, and they seemed to have loose steering. My car performs well, is comfortable ( Keep in mind I am 5- 8" about 250, so perhaps if I was any larger that may not be the case ), gets good gas mileage. So over all I am pleased. However I do agree power windows and locks would have been nice to have !

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  Yellow Focus Looks Like, No, IS a Lemon! - 2001 Ford Focus
  By NoFocus - November 1 - 8:13 pm

  My 2001 ZX3 was the latest of 8 Fords Ive had. At 500 miles the engine was acting like it wasnt getting enough fuel. It ran rough between 2300-3000 RPMs. I felt this most in 3rd gear. I went to the dealer and they didnt find a problem. I returned to the dealer at 750 miles and they said this was a known problem with the onboard computer and as soon as a new program was available they would "Flash" the new program to the computer. 9 months later, still no fix. I just filed with the State of Texas for assistance under the Lemon Law. I like this car, but if Ford wants me to keep me as a customer they need to replace this lemon. If not, Ill be on the waiting list for the new Mini Cooper S.

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  They fixed the transmission perfectly on these. - 2016 Ford Focus
  By Bruce Cummings - November 1 - 10:29 am

  No more off-line hesitancy or stuttering from the automatic transmissions of these new Focuses. Ford FINALLY fixed that multi-year problem for good. The new one here is silky-smooth. Of course the rest of the car was already competitive, and a great value during rebate time. Watch for aggressive small-car promotions from Ford to maintain their corporate average fuel economy in light of their booming truck and SUV sales. Theyre GIVING away Focuses and Fiestas.

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  Most useful vehicle - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By T Culbertson - November 1 - 4:50 am

  This is the most useful vehicle weve ever owned. Room for 4 or 5 adults, great visibility, good seating position, versatile mini truck bed, quiet cabin for an SUV, has been trouble free. I replaced the shocks with Bilsteins two years ago.....huge ride difference. Pulled 2 heavy trailer loads of household goods across country. It struggled with the weight, but otherwise handled fine. Nice sound system, good fit and finish. Im averaging 18-19 MPG with mostly highway driving. Ford did a great job on this one!!

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  Owners daughter - 1996 Ford F-250
  By murlin - November 1 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle spent the winters in the south so it did not come in contact with snow and salt. the owner was a trained diesel mechanic and had a reputation for excellent maintenance on his vehicles.

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  Some win some lose - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By Hoosierdaddy - November 1 - 2:00 am

  When buying a used car, or any car, some people get good ones some get bad. I know several people who are happy with their mustang (v6) and dont have any problems. I however had problems. The exhaust manifolds went bad twice, but were covered under warranty. After the warranty expired, at about 45,000 miles the transmission started slipping when you tried to accelerate hard, and the valves started to make noise. The dealership told me that the valve problem is common with the V6. It cost around $500 to fix. The top did make some noise around 48,000 miles but it was an easy fix.

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  2005 Escape XLT Sport - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Holly - October 31 - 12:56 pm

  Poor gas mileage, about 250 miles per tank. Tank is only 16.5 gallons. That is the only complaint I have.

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  Enjoyable driving!! - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Robert Feaster - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Keep up the great quality that you put into your new units. The best thing you can do is to test drive a new Escape and enjoy all the great features the SUV has!

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  The Only True American Muscle Car - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Ford man 427 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I own a 2004 Mustang GT Premium and it is the best car I have ever driven in my life. I drive it back and forth to work everyday and I couldnt ask for more out of a car. I love to drive even more because I have a car that most young people envy to have. I recommend that anyone who wants a car that is absolutely fun to drive and as comfortable as you can expect I recommend the Mustang for 2004. The only true American Muscle Car left.