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:

• 

  Good choice for first truck - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By fluffy500 - March 26 - 8:55 am

  I bought an 01 Ranger 3.0 XLT 2wd and love it. After I bought it, I let my dad drive it to Springfield from Tulsa, and he floored it the whole way- blowing the head gasket, radiator, and water pump... so dont drive it like a race car. But after replacing the motor, cooling system, and other things, it runs like a dream. I put a lot of performance parts in the engine when I had to replace it, chipped it and put dual straights on it with glasspacks and this improves the mileage 22city 37 highway!. The only problem is the delayed shifting in the aut trans. Looking for a new one that can handle the added torque and power. What kind of trans should I install? Im thinkin an F150 trans...

• 

  Expensive Tires - 2013 Ford F-150
  By mncm_retired - March 24 - 8:35 pm

  With less than 14000 miles on the vehicle I noticed both front tires were wearing out on the outside edges only. I told them that I wanted the camber checked. I took it to my dealer and the told me that my tires were under inflated. I pointed out that under inflation would wear out both inside and outside edges not just one. They told me that the tire settings were okay and there wasnt a problem. I cant afford to spend nearly $500 every 15000 miles for two new tires. Please be careful when buying this truck because it can get expensive real quick for things that should not wear out quickly.

• 

  Ford Fan - 2012 Ford Focus
  By mike1957 - March 23 - 3:24 pm

  I am a Ford fan and will continue to be so, only a little wiser.We leased a 2012 Ford Focus SE with the automatic transmission.The engine is very peppy and accelerates well, as long as the transmission is in synch.The transmission sometimes faulters with the engine RPM going above 7000, not good for the engine.Dealership at first said the car would adjust to our driving, then had it checked/adjusted by their trans "pro",then have said there is nothing wrong.The gas mileage is 3-6 mpg under what I expected. The rear deck foam disintegrated.The trunk leaks during rain.There are rattles in the front suspension area.Car has just passed 40000 miles and we will be turning in car at end of lease

• 

  good work truck - 2012 Ford F-150
  By ltg48864 - March 19 - 3:29 pm

  bought a 5.0 L V8 (no EcoBoost), basic work truck no extras, drove a chevy for 10 years and it took time to get used to Ford (drives like a truck), have had no problems and used 4x4 many times this winter with no problems, good towing capacity MySync is terrible (i have the base version) i would not buy the extras because it would quickly add cost with little extra enjoyment of the truck

• 

  Good commuter/family car - 2008 Ford Focus
  By sirhawkeye - March 16 - 3:53 pm

  I had a 2008, and 2010 and a 2012 Focus thus far (as of this writing), and I think the 2008 and 2010 are the best of them all. Its not the sportiest car out there, and the dash in the 2008-2011 models looks a little dated) but they are reliable, get good gas mileage, and are safe cars (found out in my 2010 unfortunately). Sync is easier to use in this area (2008-11) than in newer version of the Focus. The 2008-2011 is a good move in the right direction for Ford, especially with the previous generations (2000-04 especially) having issues. I had no problems with either the 2008 or 2010, and I put about 40k on both.

• 

  Dual-Clutch Auto Trans is a bad idea - 2012 Ford Focus
  By sirhawkeye - March 16 - 3:43 pm

  Overall an OK for the money. BUT... Beware of the dual-clutch transmission though. the 2012s had a lot of problems with them (clutch notise, which Ford dismisses as normal, which is not true if you ask any true auto tech or engineer). That and carbon build-up on the engine due to direct injection (Google it and youll find out pretty quick). Its a sporty car, design is nice, interior is nice (just wish the transmission lived up to the hype that Ford put into it). Even the Fiesta has the same transmission problems.

• 

  2013 Fusion - Have you had this experience? - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By fusion_2013 - March 16 - 1:35 pm

  I bought a new 2013 Fusion SE June 2013. In Feb 2014, at 7,500 mi. the engine light came on. First fix was to replace the transmission (??) because Eco-boost engine design caused over-heating. 3 days later engine light came on. Faulty igniter coil (??) was the cause this time & replaced. 2 days later engine light came on. Engine needs to be replaced (!!??) due to initial over-heating problem engine either "warped" or cracked. Its the Ides of March Ive been waiting for my car for 2 weeks. Im supposed to get it back in 2 days the following day, Im driving it from Albuq NM to LA CA. I will let you know if I make it back w/ no issues. Wish me luck.

• 

  not a good truck to own - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By truck_man1 - March 14 - 11:01 pm

  I had a 99 ford ranger 4.0 liter and they are such gas hogs and the breakes they put on were not good at all and dont want another ranger at all

• 

  Great value! - 2010 Ford Escape
  By osawe - March 14 - 1:19 pm

  Cheap, reliable and fun crossover vehicle. Cheap on gas, reliable and fun to drive. Best from Ford in the last 10 years. If you own one, hold on to it!

• 

  A Great Value after Discounts - 2013 Ford Taurus
  By cpurick - March 12 - 6:23 pm

  The Taurus wasnt on my list, but I gave it a test drive while shopping for a quiet, smooth car. At the time, I was considering the new Fusion. Id driven the Taurus in 2010, and I was quite surprised by how much nicer it has gotten. Ford refreshed the design in 2013, and paid close attention to NVH concerns. Because the front seats are a little confining for a car this size, they even added softer surfaces around the driver. I would never pay sticker for any car, but the Taurus is a value with $7000 in manufacturer and dealer discounts. Be careful which tires you get. I found that the optional 20" tires really hurt ride quality. The 18s and 19s produce a posh ride, though.