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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  Good Solid Truck - 2002 Ford Expedition
  By drdavid1 - December 14 - 3:43 pm

  The only bad part of owning this vehicle is the gas consumption. Mine is the 5.4 Triton XLT and I have been the owner from 40,000 miles till a little over 100,000 now. If you need a solid vehicle with lots of room inside that tows a boat with no problems than you couldnt ask for more. Much more room inside than my friends Yukon and no road noise like the Pilot. Michelin tires make it smooth as silk on the highway. Its a little clumsy around town but what do you want from 6000 plus pounds. Ford should be proud of these vehicles. Mine has no rattles, none and cloth interior looks like new which is amazing at near 10 years old.

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  Fun little car, I must say. - 2000 Ford Focus
  By darrylv - December 14 - 4:03 am

  I got the car about two years ago, from my aunt who is possibly the worst car owner on the planet. The car was broken down, barely running, dirty, everything was broken. I got my hands on it, and about 1300 dollars later, it was running good. The best part about this car is how fun it is to drive. I can take off faster than half of the cars my friends have. The car feels alive, you can feel it. I just wish it was a little bit better quality. The interior is nice, but cheap. You can tell. The outside is styled well, but its also made with some cheap-looking parts. It also feels like it wont be running so good in a few years. Who knows, it might last me forever.

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  Love Fords Escape XLT - 2012 Ford Escape
  By mainsworth - December 13 - 8:14 pm

  I really like our suv.. Owned it 6 months. Recommend it. Nice ride. Impressive interrior.

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  Its an OK car - 2009 Ford Focus
  By ss2ray - December 13 - 4:25 pm

  I have been driving an 09 Focus for sometime now. I own both a Chevy and Ford, and thought this would be a good car to run around town in and commute with. I thought one of these cheap eco/gas freindly car, would be a good idea. I am re-thinking this concept. What you gain in MPGs, you loose in comfort, power, peace of mind, etc. I would only recommend this car commuter car, if you can tolerate the road noise. It is noisy! The road noise is horrid, the brakes are soft and slow to respond. We had to drive this car from NC to El Paso, Texas. It was the most uncomfortable ride ever. Look elsewhere if you want to feel and be more comfortable, its worth trading the MPGs for a few $s.

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  Best truck Ive owned - 2004 Ford F-150
  By fobserver - December 12 - 1:05 pm

  Ive had Toyota, Nissan, Chevy and Dodge trucks over the years. This is the first Ford truck Ive owned. Bought it used with 97K miles. Only owned it for 3 months now, but I believe its the best built pickup Ive ever owned. I do have some concerns however. A tear appeared out of no where in the drivers seat, there is a whizzing/scraping sound coming from the right front (possibly brake issues). And the cam phaser knock that is common for these engines. Also the 4x4 will go into 4HI with no problem, but you have to mess with it to get it to go into 4LO, and then you have to mess with it some more to get it to come back out of 4LO. Have not towed with it yet, but Im sure its great at that.

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  96 F-150 XL 4x4 - 1996 Ford F-150
  By rainbowracer93 - December 11 - 9:50 pm

  Was my first vehicle, passed down from my dad. Had the bullet-proof 300 inline 6, which made very little power, but never left me stranded. Only maintenance I ever had to do was tires, brakes, an oil, the thing was built like a tank. MPGs in the low teens, which is bad considering its lack of power and a V8. 4x4 worked well, although it became a chore to get into low range. Overall a good ole boy solid truck, would buy one again if ever ever in the market for a pickup.

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  Recovering Toyota Addict - 2011 Ford Edge
  By leslie419 - December 11 - 2:22 pm

  I needed to replace my 2002 Toyota Highlander in October and planned to go back and get a newer model. Am I glad that I made a side trip to Ford! My Edge ROCKS! I was so surprised at the upgrades in power, technology, safety features, and quality of interior and exterior trim that I kept asking my sales rep if this was really a Ford! I could not believe that Ford had done such a drastic turnaround but from the looks I get driving around town and the increasing numbers of Edges I have seen on the road, I believe Ford is serious about getting back into the mid-size SUV/crossover market in a competitive way. If you keep up the value for quality, you have won over a devoted Toyota owner.

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  So So SHO - not reliable - 2011 Ford Taurus
  By ralloyd - December 10 - 10:41 pm

  Beautiful vehicle although too many safety issues. Sensor in the engine was bad and it took Ford 3 months to diagnose and repair the problem. The vehicle shuts off randomly and Ford has no solution for repair. Now the roof leaks. Not a happy Ford customer at this time. My SHO is a lemon!

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  Ford Fiesta Transmission Problems - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By j2cub - December 9 - 9:07 am

  Well my Ford Fiesta had less than 1800 miles on it when the transmission started chattering while holding a steady traffic speed of 30 MPH after it warmed up. Now it does it bad between 30 and 55 MPH, still after it is warmed up. ItÂ’s fine when itÂ’s cold. Also twice after putting 2900 miles on the car, the transmission would not release when trying to stop at a stop light. It drove me through a red light, TWICE. It was as if I was driving a manual transmission car and forgot to put the clutch in. Scared me to death, but IÂ’m forced to keep driving it. Took it to Kline Motors, a Ford dealership in Winfield KS. They said they worked on it for 2 hours and charged over $172 and did nothing.

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  Very Good...Almost Great - 2012 Ford Flex
  By aohurst - December 7 - 10:04 pm

  Price $3,000 under invoice. I test drove the 2012 Durango on the same day as the Flex. Noise level - much quieter in the Flex Ride - I had a 2007 Durango, and the 2012 is much improved, but the Flex is still as smooth as a sedan. Handling - Durango R/T handles mountain roads better. Little body roll in the Flex unless pushed hard. Drove it in the snow and grade assist works well. (live in Colorado.) Brakes- horrible. Mushy. GM and BMW much better. Ford needs to improve here. Flex seats are very comfortable and soft-you sit in them. Durango seats are harder and you sit on them. Dodge seats have side bolsters that hold you in place- Flex seats have zero bolstering. Entertainment- Durango