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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  Last Ranger - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By Gersey Jim - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Purchased USED,had 25000 on odometer. Enemic engine to say the least. Screams on the interstate, with a moderate load Im being passed by 18 wheelers, with my foot mashed to the firewall. I always thought Ford made the Ranger but Im now convinced Mazda makes it. One can not compare it to the Chevie S-10, Ive owned three S-10 and this is my First and Last Ranger. The Chevie V-6 is twice the engine the Ranger has... As for creature comforts, Ford should borrow an S-10 and maybe copy half their interior design, starting with ease of getting into the back of the extended cab.Do yourself a favor, Drive an S-10 then the Ranger, you wont go Ford, I promise you.

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  Disappointed by Ford - 1995 Ford Windstar
  By Disappointed by Ford - July 25 - 2:00 am

  I was previously a happy 1994 Ford Ranger. So I thought that the same good experience was in store when I bought the Windstar. Wrong!!! It left us stranded on 4 occassions. I replaced the transmission for $2K, the A/C system for $1.1K, and the computer and other ignition components for about another $1k. Why did Ford allow this wreck to leave the factory? I will never trust Ford again! Sorry, you only get one chance and you had your one chance twice. The Ranger gave you another "one chance." The Windstar was your last chance. Hello Toyota, so long Ford.

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  $3,000 repair for a 2012 with 70 thousand miles - 2012 Ford Flex
  By dan - July 22 - 8:42 am

  The engine completely blew on the car and had to be replaced, at a cost of $13,000. The car still had $18,000 left on the loan and was blue booked at about $21,000. Ford dealer said that since I was late on an oil change (by about 4 thousand miles), that caused the failure. They said when they went to drain the oil, it was thick and black and that is what caused the engine to fail. I said BS, the engine, in the process of failing, CAUSED the oil to become black and thick, because there is NO WAY that missing one oil change by only a few thousand miles can cause anything close to that kind of damage. Bottom line: I paid for the new engine then DUMPED (sold) the POS as fast as I could. I have had great experiences with Ford trucks going back to the 90s. I think this may have been simply a LEMON, but the dealer didnt give a crap. Believe it or not, I replaced the Flex with a 2015 F150 with ecoboost engine ... well see how this goes. The AWD transfer case (part of the transmission) fails on these cars! Cost $1,600 (with labor, the part is about $1000) to replace it ... that is IF they dont find other issues due to RUST on the parts that have to be removed to replace the transfer case. In my case: the right side control arm had to be replaced because they could not get the ball joint to release, so the ball joint got ruined in the process AND since Ford in its quest to save FORD money has front control arms with the ball joints built in and not replaceable means that bottom line: ball joint (a $20 part) fails, you end up buying a $200 control arm and paying $100 in labor to change it. So now we are at $1,900. Next is the passenger side turbo charger .. it is located forward and low on the engine and has no protective covering or anything to protect it from the elements, so it RUSTS - badly! It has to be disconnected to replace the transfer case. The mounting flange and bolts rust so bad that they break when attempting to remove. Now we are buying a new turbo charger at $586 plus $560 in labor! So NOW, the cost of replacing this transfer case is a whopping $3,046!! My advice: if your Flex is going over 60,000 miles GET RID OF IT!!

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  Problems - 1996 Ford Contour
  By SamanthasPain - July 22 - 2:00 am

  This car has been nothing but trouble. I have had many sets of brakes, new calipers and new caliper kits, new rotors. Several recalls for the blower and the blower switch. I had all new fuel lines and fuel sensors, o2 sensors replaced on 2 occasions. The cup holder holds 1 can drink and has been broken for a long time and it cost $80.00 for a new one. I have had to replace the moonroof motor. The switch for the windows is broken and it is $50.00 just for the part. If this car had been driven hard before I got it I could understand. But, I bought this car new. It had 7 miles on it when I drove it from the lot. I will NEVER buy another Ford product.

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  its a piece of junk - 1997 Ford Windstar
  By ford sucks - July 13 - 2:00 am

  sinc i bought this car ,, its been a real pain.. transmission broke 3 times ,, and its still slippery speedometer is shaking again even though i fixed it last year,, mileage gage is also broken ,, it goes up by top 2 digits . plus check engine signs comes on every 5 minute. ignition works badly that car wont start on the first ignition. this is my second ford vehicle and there wont be any ford vehicles in my garage in the future

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  2012 Ford Focus- dont buy. - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Christie Andryc - July 6 - 1:30 pm

  My car has transmission problems. Every single time I start and stop the car shudders and hesitates. The car is unsafe to drive. Also the cars cruise control broke within 3 months of owning the car, it was fixed and then broke again a month later. And hasnt worked in 2 years. This car is junk. I have taken it to three different ford dealerships and they refused to fix the problem. They would tell me there was nothing wrong with the transmission it was the way I drive. Every time I took it in for the cruise control Ford would tell me that they were unable to fix the problem because the cruise was working that day, when it never worked for me. They refused to fix the problems and I finally ran out of a warranty and gave up. I dont have the money to pay to have this car fixed when I bought a brand new car I college to not have to worry about getting work done to a car. This has been the biggest disappointment and I just want them to be recalled. Ford owes it to all the customers that are currently stuck with this car and paying big money for a car that doesnt work. I dont not feel safe allowing my family in the car because it is too dangerous to drive. It stresses me out on a daily basis having to drive this car and never knowing when its going to stop working. I have been having these problems since I bought the car in July of 2012.

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  Worst car I ever owned - 1996 Ford Contour
  By veryunhappy - July 3 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has had too many problems to mention. It has had the electrical system replaced twice. All the A/C vents inside are broken. All the cup holders are too flimsy. The A/C fan components have been replaced at least once.

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  The worse car anyone can buy - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Disappointed custome - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle 8 months ago and let me begin by telling you how terrible this vehicle is. Since October, my braking system, shock system, rear air conditioning, timing belts and finally the torch converter have all went bad. Everything listed had to be replaced except the torch converter the Ford dealership is refusing to correct the problem. I purchased this vehicle with 22,000 miles and quite frankly this car is a piece of dirt. I am currently seeking to buy a Jeep Cherokee and love it so far. Just in case anyone reading this in the Knoxville area DO NOT do business with Ted Russell Ford.

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  My review - 1997 Ford Ranger
  By ljscmm - June 9 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is one of the worst Ive ever had. I had to get a complete tune up at 45,000 miles. I will never own another Ford. I also had to replace the mechanism that keeps the seat from falling back.

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  should i buy a 2016 fuison - 2016 Ford Fusion
  By jhon - June 6 - 2:36 am

  i bought this car brand new as im picking up speed i feel the geers changing i take very good care of it and i allways just fee like giving up the sterio system stped short after 22 month and i had 45k highway miles on it so they told me no warranty so i guess the more the wheel spins the more he radio wares out so im stuck with a bill of $375 a month for another3 years with nobody to talk to and nothig to listen to while i drive and no bluetooth