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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  I love my Escape! - 2011 Ford Escape
  By isolusine - August 2 - 9:08 am

  Id give my Escape a 5/5 but I have only had it a month so I cant speak to the reliability yet. I absolutely love it. I love the look of the inside & outside, it drives great and I am getting better gas mileage than I expected. So far in the first month I have gotten 28.5-29.9 mpg, with it increasing every time I go to the gas station! My commute is an hour each way, some city some highway, and it is definitely exceeding my expectations! It is quiet, the AC is quiet and works great, and I havent had any of the leaking or initial quality issues others have listed.

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  2011 Fusion SEL with 3.0 is awesome - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By mike7461 - August 1 - 8:16 pm

  I bought the 2011 SEL with all the bells and whistles. Moon & Tune, Nav System, BLIS, Rapid 302A, Auto start, premium leather package. I have put over 5000 miles and my average gas milage that is mostly hwy is 25.5 MPG. Performance with the 3.0 engine feels just right.

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  Tips and concerns - 2006 Ford F-150
  By dan251 - August 1 - 7:19 pm

  I read he horror stories, and I still whats going on. 3rd Ford truck and still impressed. 2 Rangers, now a 5.4 XLT Supercab 2006. No plug blow outs, no leaks, oil lifters etc. I do, however, after research and experience, think the 5.4 is a high maintenance engine. MUST use a light weight FULLY synthetic oil, K&N air filter, the correct oil filter, and CHANGE PLUGS at 60K. Run fuel injector cleaner every 3 fills. I only have 46K, but I really think preventative maint. is the key. Are some of you "romping" on these trucks? ie break-stands, tug-o war?. Who knows, I may have all these problems at some point but I have never had one single malfunction/problem with ANY of the 3 Iv own

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  Failed Transmission - 2008 Ford Escape
  By cjutte - August 1 - 3:29 pm

  I used to love my Ford Escape. It was a great value and the perfect size for my family of 3 1/2. BUT after my transmission failed at 62,000 miles (just 2,000 miles out of warranty) I will never again purchase another Ford. I was originally looking at Honda and Toyota and wish I had spent the extra money on one of those brands. Not happy with my experience.

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  Mostly great, with a few small gripes. - 2012 Ford Mustang
  By sr76 - August 1 - 2:46 am

  Picked up my Kona Blue 12 Mustang a month ago. My car is a base unit with the only options being the sport appearance package and the backup sensor/security package, both of which I highly recommend getting. The V6 is smooth and has good power, although low end torque is nonexistent. The manual trans is mediocre. Clutching is effortless and easy to modulate, but 1-2 shifts can be tricky and Ive missed a couple during aggressive acceleration. My car grinds and clunks sometimes during even lazy 1-2 shifts. dealer says its normal, along with a bunch of other clunks and whines this trans makes. I hope it holds together for a long time, as this is my 10th and definitely best Mustang for sure!

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  2011 Mustang - 2011 Ford Mustang
  By galonahorse67 - July 31 - 7:07 pm

  Recently purchased a used 2011 Mustang Convertible w/ 22k. Like the look, but extremely unhappy with the quality of some interior parts as well as the Ford 3/36 Bumper to Bumper warranty. First thing wrong is my 6-way power drivers seat makes a terrible noise and moves very slow to not at all at times and Ford says that because it still works they will not replace it so play with it until it goes out. Has an engine or tranny hesitation, then the radio buttons on the steering wheel have the paint chipping off and the tan convertible top shows the black grease everytime you put it down. I am no kid and am not hard on my baby but very disappointed in the car and Ford.

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  Great Car - Fun to Drive - 2008 Ford Edge
  By illini025 - July 30 - 2:59 pm

  We love this car. Fun to drive, and the AWD handles great in the snow and ice. We bought it new and now have 40K miles on it. We can fit a ton in this car too. We have two kids in car seats, and make frequent overnight trips with strollers, luggage, etc. Our only problem so far has been the power lift gate would not stay up at times (around 30K miles). Dealer fixed it (under warranty) with a computer reset and its worked perfectly ever since. We would definitely recommend the Edge!

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  PCM Failure - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By 99lightning - July 30 - 12:21 pm

  I am an electrical engineer with a very well known company that designs electrical hardware (controllers, sensors/switches, etc). That said, all of our major parts are expected to last the life of the vehicle without failure under normal conditions. Ford electrical engineering dropped the ball when it came to the PCM controller. I have 94k miles on the car and the controller failed for no reason other than to just crap out. Control modules shouldnt fail for normal system operation or emergent behavior. Why wasnt this caught in the numerous design reviews or performance/reliability testing? 2 of my 3 vehicles are Fords, I cant say that my next is going to be. This was easily preventable.

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  Wait til the bugs are worked out! - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By larryhat - July 30 - 7:05 am

  Less that 5k miles and I have had problems with overheating and air conditioning. Both were resolved by dealer. MyTouch is problematic to say the least. Being computer savvy, I could not get the "upgrades" to install. Took it to my dealer and they had the same issues. The website is as useless as I have seen. Bluetooth phone adapter is no where near as good as the one I had in my F150. Everyone complains that they cant hear me...even though its the same phone as before!

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  Drive One.....Awesome. - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By whoagirl - July 29 - 8:10 pm

  First, congrats to Ford for "not one dime!" As a taxpayer, I appreciate it hence, my recent purchase. Ive had my 2011 Explorer about 2 weeks and it has lived up to my expectations: - smooth, controlled drive - responsive handling - secure turns (sticks to the road, not top-heavy) - upscale, roomy & very comfortable interior - high-tech, hands-free MFT is a delight - sleek, sporty exterior w/classy dual-panel moonroof - great MPG for its class (17 city) - offers about every perk you can imagine - favorite feature: "bootie cooler"! (A/C seat) Transitioning from a GMC Suburban to the lighter, more agile and advanced Explorer has been a treat. My family recommends it to all!