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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  Happy - 2008 Ford Focus
  By new owner - June 19 - 6:52 pm

  Just got the car last week. Love it so far. Havent noticed many problems. Dealer replaced tires when I purchased it, original tires were shot after 44,000 miles. Love the stereo controls on the wheel. Needs a light for the back seat. Needs trunk button inside car. Wish gas cap was on driver side. Trunk is hard to open, seems too heavy.

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  Great car, couple of issues - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By kells - June 19 - 12:05 pm

  Dash board rattles, dealer couldnt fix it, filed lemon law got $2000 from Ford. Brake pads & rotors went at 12,000 miles witch is unheard of, $600- $800 job. Replaced bat after 3 yrs which is norm. Replaced fuel filter which is recommended. Rear brake bulbs have been replaced about 4 times (easy to do yourself though) other then that nothing major has gone wrong. I drive 12,000 a year, some highway road trips and still drives great.

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  Great Value - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Josh - June 19 - 1:43 am

  This is a great little car, gas mileage is very good. seems to be reliable, 50,000 miles with nothing wrong even using original tires. it did have a lot of squeaking coming from suspension and break lines that i had to lubricate. the options compared to Toyota or Honda is not even comparable, and after test driving all three it wasnt even a question. definitely recommend spending a little extra on the ses or sel.

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  I LOVED this truck - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By cbeach31408 - June 19 - 12:16 am

  I drove this truck for 7 months with NO problem..purchased it with 125k miles, it was so convenient, and wasnt that bad on gas even though when i bought it the truck hadnt been taken care of, with an oil change, and tune up ran like a dream, got around in our bad winter here with no problem at all, I had to sell it due to financial situation, and SO badly miss it, am actually looking for another one, this was the first one Id ever owned but am now an Explorer fan, my sister has one the same year, with 226k miles and never hesitates to drive it all over the country. AWESOME truck!

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  A very reliable car - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By DTMAN - June 18 - 4:51 pm

  While there are some build quality issues, some whistling for example, but not intolerable, this Taurus has over 115K and I have put in a $250.00 coil (was cutting out) and tires, brakes and oil, thats it. Engine is super quiet, runs great and my mechanic says its dry, no leaks, etc. I get 28+ mpg highway and about 19.5 city, great for a car this substantial My first Taurus, a 1987 performed much in the same way.

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  The 2010 Ford Edge - 2010 Ford Edge
  By Bullneck852 - June 18 - 9:04 am

  I previously owned a Nissan Murano and I loved that car except for the CTV transmission. I purchased my new Edge after seriously considering and testing the Toyotas, Mercedes, and GMC Acadia. I have loved the Edge except for the Transmission shifting and performing in traffic. You have to stomp it to the floor to get it to down shift in traffic. I also seems to wonder in and out of gears at highway speeds. I love all other features and unlike others I like the interior and overall looks. The Ford Sync is very nice and the car rides very nice. Be sure to get the 20" tires for ride. I drove Fords over 20 years ago and didnt like the transmission then. No little has changed.

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  Im Impressed. - 2010 Ford Focus
  By Island Hopper - June 18 - 1:22 am

  We needed a 3rd car for business & it had to be under 15 long. Test drove at least 11 cars, foreign & domestic. The Focus was by far the best & most car for the bucks. A $2,500 rebate didnt hurt either. My other cars are a Challenger SRT & a Chrysler 300C, so I wasnt expecting too much from this little Focus. But I gotta tell ya Im impressed. This car is really solid, giving you a feeling of driving a much more substantial car & it handles surprisingly well. Its used mostly in town & is getting an all around 26 mpg. Im sure it would do 35 mpg at a steady highway speed. The engine handles the load, but a 6 speed auto would greatly improve its performance.

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  Love My Mustang - 2009 Ford Mustang
  By Dennis - June 17 - 10:42 pm

  Just bought the car in March of this year and it was a NEW 2009 left over vehicle and got a great deal. I was so impressed with the overall car and how fun it is to drive and it is a real road machine! It handles great and is just a kick to be in. The seats are super comfortable and I rate this car a 10.

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  Unfairly maligned? - 2010 Ford Escape
  By brikwil - June 17 - 10:28 pm

  I have owned 2 Explorers and now this Escape, and I simply dont understand any complaints about rear seat comfort. In particular, these vehicles have rear seats that are designed to create CARGO areas when they are not in use as seats. As such, I appreciate the fact that they dont recline or move fore/aft, etc. When I fold them flat, I want them to "disappear" and become cargo space, and thats exactly what they do. If my main purpose were to haul people around in my back seats, then I would buy a different vehicle, not an SUV. In the Equinox, the back seats fold down to an angle and do not create a sturdy, flat CARGO surface. Thats not my idea of a "sport UTILITY vehicle."

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  Do Not Purchase - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By susanconn - June 17 - 8:33 pm

  This car has been nothing but trouble since we purchased it. The transmission has been rebuilt, wheel bearings replaced, and now the o/d off light is blinking, the service engine light is on and the ABS warning light is on. Apparently the o/d off light blinking means our transmission is not functioning properly again.