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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  A decent vehicle - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By alexweb8 - August 21 - 10:05 pm

  My family liked our 05 Ford Freestyle for its cargo space and features. There were several safety features we liked too. We were very dissapointed in the performance and gas mileage. We took it in to service yet it still is only getting about 14 mpg! The accessibility could be a bit better like how the third row always gets stuck. It also could use more interior quality. I enjoy driving but I understand why the car doesnt sell very well. I hope Ford improves this car for 2008.

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  No Problems - 2000 Ford Windstar
  By No problem - August 21 - 8:46 pm

  Bought it new in early 2001. Wifes car shes a lead foot. Very few problems, no engine or tranmission problems. Sliding doors need adjusting very couple years. We put 107500 miles in 6.5 years. Never broke down, if they still made them Id buy another. We never missed an oil change or other service.

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  Leaky Sunroof - 2007 Ford Expedition
  By Nelson - August 21 - 10:21 am

  We bought our 2007 Expedition Limited in January of this year. For the money you wont find a vehicle with more options. The vehicle overall is great with one exeption. We live in Alaska where it snows frequently in the winter and rains often in the summer. The sunroof has leaked the whole time. We are concerned that it will effect the entertainment center just behind the sunroof. The dealer has attempted seven times now to repair, replace or do whatever it takes to fix the problem. Unfortunately we are in the process of going through Ford to replace the vehicle under the lemon law.

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  Old Blue - 1997 Ford F-150
  By Indy2007 - August 20 - 5:02 pm

  My father purchased this truck off a used car lot. It was a one owner and the owner was a old man who wanted a new vehicle. He bought the truck with a little under 1000,000 miles on it. He had to put a new exhaust on it as well as fix a cracked injector and normal wear and tear parts. This was a family truck with a 5.4 triton motor that worked great for pulling our 26 foot camper(6000 pounds roughly). Due to his job he had to buy a 4x4 and gave his son(me) the truck. I drive it to and from college(about 2hrs). and it is wonderful. I have gotten up to 18 mpg(driving senible) but if you drive it hard it can go under 14 mpgs. Its has 150,000 miles and still looks and runs as good as a new one.

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  Power plus - 2011 Ford Shelby GT500
  By George - August 19 - 10:00 am

  The torque will have other drivers watching your rear end. The exhaust sound is almost perfect. Shifting is short-throw and accurate. Stiff suspension. Cornering is good, but not great. You must know how to handle the power, especially on wet pavement or fishtailing will become a way of life. Gas mileage better than I expected. The interior is seriously lacking when compared to the M5 I just traded.

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  My 2001 explorer sport - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By stan - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Excellent overall vehicle i purchased mine used with about 20k miles Sept 2002 and i have had it serviced regularly by the Ford dealership if you do not take care of your vehicle it will not take of you i have just went over 100k miles other than the cruise control recall (i had to go without it for two days), the battery dying about 6yrs ago, and having to recently replace the original tires, i have had no problems with it at all, my paint job needs a touch-up and two of the original three overhead handles are missing in the interior but has always been dependable i always made it to work and back even in some pretty bad storms that some 18 wheelers could not make, its a truck and a good one

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  Loving it - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By scooter - August 18 - 7:43 pm

  Handles great, good turnning radius, not much of a blind spot, low maintenance

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  Going Backwards - 2016 Ford Escape
  By Nancy - August 18 - 7:28 am

  I have been driving a Ford Escape Hybrid for the past 6 years and LOVE IT, so I naturally went looking to buy another one. Imagine my surprise. While it is a beautiful vehicle with lots of storage in the back, there is no place to put ANYTHING, including a cell phone in the front. They took away every nook and cranny. While I LOVED the Jukebox feature whereby I could upload all of my music to the hard drive of the car and easily access it, they took that feature away. They also took away the ability to play a DVD on the screen in the front seat of the car. On long trips, I loved taking a break at a rest area and mindlessly watching a DVD while I rested. Also taken away were the wonderful mirrors within mirrors so that I could see if a vehicle was in my blind spots. Now there is a warning light, but you cant actually SEE the vehicle. So, while there have been some wonderful improvements, I will miss those four features immensely.

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  Old guy car nut - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By jack osborn - August 17 - 12:18 pm

  Have owned 40 automobiles and am a professional engineer. I am an official car nut. This is a beautiful automobile, California special. But, if you are 60 years old this car will beat you up when driving our poor roads and I drive 40k per year. Am going back for an Edge. Ford has improved drastically. Had previous SHO and station wagon and piece of junk. These are high quality. Would recommend this car, but only for those who can put up with the "boy-racer" situation. Ford should be commended for their improvements.

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  Not found on road dead - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By LMS - August 16 - 10:49 pm

  I woud say that this SUV has proven it is reliable and durable. I put over 400,000 miles on the vehicle in 10 years. The mechanical difficulties that I encountere were to do with the breaks and the roaters. I have replaced them 3 times. The engine has been very reliable. It has been comfortable to ride in. I do not like the rear seat and the shortness of the back for neck support, but for some this is not an issue. I would have liked the seats to fold down compleatly for hauling purposes. The leather has held up and is just now begining to crack and tear in some places. The gas mileage is ok, but could be better. My Explorer was never found on road dead.