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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  Looks nice but poor execution. - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By CM - November 17 - 9:33 pm

  So, I have had my 2014 2.0 AWD Fusion for a little over a year now. I purchased it as a highway crusier for work and because of the advertised fuel economy. I also rent quite a few cars as well for work to balance out the mileage but still managed to put 24k miles on my car in 1 year. What I like: The car is very comfortable and quite to drive over long distances. My favorite part would be the front seats. I like how they are contoured and support my back while driving. The car is also very quiet while driving. The stereo is also sounds quite nice. The trunk in the car is huge and I have been able to haul all kinds of stuff that I have not been able to put in my car before. Also, the backup camera/sensors are quite nice and convienient. What I do not like: MPG: The MPG is no where near what Ford claims. I mentioned earlier that I rent quite a few cars for work and I almost always hit the EPA rated highway mileage or I am close to it. With the Fusion (EPA rated 31 MPG) I am lucky to hit 28 MPG on the highway, 25-26 is typical and I have even seen as low as 22 MPG. Needless to say I am very disappointed. I have even tried overinflating the tires by a few PSI to see if that helps to no avail. Premium gas also does not make a difference. Transmission: The transmission is probably the worst that I have driven. The common hard shift between 2nd and 3rd is almost always present and the dealer said this is all operating within specification according to their computer (I saw this with my own eyes while driving with the technician). Now, if I put the car into sport mode and let the car shift on its own it feels like a rookie manual transmission driver. It constantly jerks while down-shifting and up-shifting. This also raises concerns with long term transmission reliability as the shocks to the transmission cannot be good in the long term. HVAC: The automatic HVAC controls just pain do not work well, especially in the months where heat is required. What happens is that after car warms up and the cabin temperature it starts blowing cold air. Now, why would anyone want that? Also, the fan controls do not go to a low enough setting when controlled manually. Tires: Not a problem with the car but Ford put poor tires on the car for snow traction. Engine: Like other reviews of the 2.0 Fusion, the car seems underpowered for the engine rating. Windows: It is not possible to just put the drivers window down on its own and drive. If this is done there is a horrible buffeting (this might not be the best term to describe this) that happens inside the cabin. The manual even calls this out and the solution is to open another window. This just shows poor engineering on Fords part. Sync: This is not so much an issue with Sync but more so with any car with touch controls and not real buttons. The controls do not have a place in a car. Tactile buttons will always work better. You can reach over and feel your way around and find the control without hitting 5 other things at the same time. The same goes for touch screens. It forces you to be very precise and that means more time with eyes not on the road. I know there are the steering wheel controls and the arrow buttons are not responsive enough and it still means time with eyes not on the road to follow the screen by the speedometer. I will avoid any vehicle with touch controls in the future. Visibility: The A and C pillars are quite large and do hamper visibility. More than most other cars that I have driven. The rear view mirror also does not adjust enough for my liking. I just cannot tilt it high enough for my liking and I have the drivers seat in its lowest possition. Final thoughts: I would not buy a Fusion again. I am not going to sell it as it does not make financial sense but I am not going to buy another.

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  A little silver lemon! - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By Teresa Dillard - November 14 - 2:50 pm

  Bought the car in February 2012. Fifteen months later the stereo started "crackling" from a lose wire. Another 4 months later (150 miles past the warranty) the A/C stopped working. Ford repaired the A/C at no cost only after I told them what was wrong with it and how much I KNEW it would cost them for the part. The part was less than $100 and they wanted over $900 to repair it! It took them approximately 40 minutes to repair it while I waited. Ive had the car for 3 years and 9 months. The window handle has fallen off, have had A/C and stereo issues, and now there is clutch fluid leaking onto my floor mat! This car just proves that when you buy cheap, you get cheap! I will NEVER AGAIN buy another Ford!!! Im going back to a Toyota Camry next time. They are most definitely worth the higher car note every month.

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  Great car for towing behind a motorhome. - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By Bill - November 11 - 6:10 am

  We bought this car because it has an automatic transmission that allows it to be simply put into neutral to be towed. No special transmission cooler required. The car is light enough so that an auxiliary breaking system is not required in most states. We didnt want to get a stick sift because of our age, this was the best option for that reason. So its a great car to be towed. The transmission is a bit odd, it was totally rebuilt before it had 10,000 miles on it. Ford has increased the warranty on it to 100,000 miles. I currently have about 47,000 on it. One thing I was told by a Ford service rep was to stomp on the gas when the transmission starts to act up. Odd statement, but it works. Weve experienced the shifting issues as many on this forum have had, this has happened when driving in town in stop and go traffic. When I can safety excellerate at full trottle, I will do that and it seems to reset the transmission. Just had it into the dealer for a recall on the transmission control module, they reprogrammed it. The module is now warranted to 150,000 miles. They also replaced the door latches, which I didnt know was a recall. I like the car, it is fun to drive, but not the most reliable. Ive had many Ford products in the past, but Im now driving a Toyota for our primary car. Its odd, but Toyota Camry and Siena are listed as more American built then Ford products. The Global economy has blurred the meaning of American made.

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  Money Pit - 2004 Ford Escape
  By David Downing - November 10 - 11:54 pm

  My mom bought this SUV in October 2012 (Ive daily driven it since September 2014) with 113,000 miles, with almost all the maintenence reports, and the vehicle was very well maintained. First year of ownership was great. It Handled very well, rode very nicely, had a lot of power, and got good gas mileage (25 MPG combined). About 13 months later it started having normal issues, like needing tie rods and tires and spark plugs. Then the vacuum leaks popped up. Then the exhaust falling off the car. Then needing a seal on the transfer case replaced. My car died in September 2014, and Ive been driving the Escape almost daily since. In that time, its needed struts as well as two new tires, which are normal things to wear on a car. The not so normal? Power steering pump failed twice, needed new brake lines, new front calipers, as well as a new master cylinder, more vacuum leaks, exhaust leaks, ball joints, and a wheel bearing. Fast forward to now, the car sits at 153,954 miles, and the car has an extremely rough idle, a plastic melting smell that will literally burn your eyes, and stalling. Im pretty sure its a vacuum link, my mom thinks the engine is blown. Either were not sinking any more money into it, as the transmission was on its way out as well.

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  F150 issues - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Georgia - November 10 - 1:22 pm

  I have a 2004 4 wd. 4 door f150 and more times than not I can hear almost like a hissing noise coming from around to frit wheels. After a short bit there will be a couple thumps and it stops. No one can seem to figure it out. Brakes ok, tires ok, 4wd shifts in and out ok. No Clue any suggestions?

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  Big Cab Small Feel - 2015 Ford F-150
  By James Willers - November 8 - 1:58 pm

  No leg room for left leg . Makes me feel like Im in a small cramped vehicle.

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  Purtty good car - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By Marty - November 6 - 10:57 pm

  Got it for $500 wouldnt go into gear replaced torque converter for 1200 ran great loved it had it for a month then someone t-boned me didnt get hurt at all. I would recommend it only if the torque converter is the remade one not the original other than that great car.

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  I dont like Ford .. - 2015 Ford Fusion
  By Ken H - November 3 - 11:55 pm

  I purchased the fusion for fuel economy and a good price. 3 weeks ago I was hit from behind and pushed into the vehicle in front of me. I walked away with no injuries, no neck or back pain. Today I am back at the Ford dealer looking for a replacement vehicle

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  Some good, some bad - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Dan - November 3 - 4:17 pm

  The bad: the transmission is terrible, the dual clutch system is terrible, everyone agrees this should never have existed and this alone might be a reason to stay away from the car. Additionally, the Ford Sync technology is faulty at best. It reads my phone about 1/2-2/3 of the time and has trouble switching between bluetooth, USB, or auxiliary. The good: great AC and heater, comfortable front seats. Good storage with the hatchback. Handles great, good gas mileage (on the highway, modest in the city), good price tag. Bottom line: with a different transmission I would definitely get this car. With the current one Im definitely thinking of selling.

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  You get what you pay for - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Ashley B - October 31 - 6:09 pm

  This was my first "new" car purchase bought it with 14 miles! At first it drives like a dream, but I quickly realized something wasnt right with the transmission. I was told by the dealership twice that theres no recall but there have been many complaints. They reset the computer in the car and sent me on my way each time, stating a new clutch would be needed eventually. The car jerks in stop and go traffic and its awful! The other day while driving 40-45mph the RPMs shot up to 7000 for no reason, the car didnt actually go faster but you could feel something wasnt right while the car was shifting. It always makes awful grinding noises that you can clearly hear even when youre listening to music. On a positive note the steering and brakes work great, no issues there. Tight handling and stops instantly. The interior is clean and the monitors are nice. I do have issues with my SYNC thats built into the car sometimes. I love the design of the exterior. Great MPG I avg about ~32mpg. Bottom line is Im in the market to trade in my Focus. It is a nice little starter car, but I cant get past these issues. I wish I wouldve done more in depth research before my purchase.