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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  No Support From Ford - 2009 Ford Flex
  By swaldron - July 6 - 2:05 pm

  We purchased this new in 2009 and overall have been please with the vehicle. However, I had to rate build quality and reliability low here due to the following: at about 30K (warranty) it needed a new front hub & bearing at 44K it then needed a right rear caliper ($500). We were very disappointed that the dealer would not contact Ford about what they could do about the caliper (I currently also have 2 GM vehicles with well over 100K miles on them with original hubs and calipers!). The dealer had the nerve to tell me that he had a concern about using aftermarket calipers... I just looked at him and said "really, right now I have to pay $500 to fix a Ford OEM caliper!" Going back to GM!

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  Great Auto Design - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By whitecloud7 - July 3 - 10:07 am

  I bought the SE with the luxury package, including the leather seating and power seating. The entertainment systems sound is really excellent and plays FM, AM and Sirius is wonderful quality. I also opted for the 1.6 liter engine which produces 178 HP. Overall fit and interior finish is very good, with no rattles or loose parts. The seats are comfortable and adjustment is very easy. I have not achieved the estimated average mileage of 26 MPG, but the average has been closer to 24 MPG. The My Ford Touch screen is a great gadget but very distracting. I went to a dealer sponsored seminar on how to use the Sync system and the touch screen, but still find there are problems using it.

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  Went from a BMW to this, and thus far very satisfied! - 2013 Ford Mustang
  By yankeejb1 - June 30 - 11:14 pm

  After previously having a total of 9 Camaros and Firebirds, I finally "defected" from GM to Ford and bought this Mustang, and I gotta tell you its pretty awesome! And after coming straight from a problem-plagued technological-overkill-on-wheels BMW 335i, this car is quite a breath of fresh air by comparison. Sure its a bit cruder in some spots, but at the end of the day theres nothing like an all-American convertible icon with a honking V8 engine and retro style and attitude that this car has in spades.

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  36 Miles and dropping calls - 2013 Ford Taurus
  By bunt7222 - June 29 - 7:29 pm

  After 1 day and 36 miles we have experienced 5 dropped calls in this period of time.4 Local calls 1 out of state. Weve read about this re-ocurring problem with others and will be all over our dealership for it. I have purposely purchased an American Made auto to be a good citizen and strngthen our economy......now well see if the American Auto industry is truly out of the dark ages of poor quality. Will keep posting until issues are fixed.

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  385000 Miles - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By sickprofessor2 - June 26 - 4:44 pm

  My 1995 Ranger has 385000 miles on it. What more is there to say? 385000 miles. I dont do much to maintain it, either. I probably change the oil about every 10000 miles. It probably hasnt had a tuneup in 200000 miles. I expect that the drivetrain would keep going to a million miles. The only issues Ive had in the past few years have been suspension: rear leaf-spring brackets rusted away and replaced front sway-bar link broke.

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  Great Daily Drive - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By scott221 - June 25 - 10:26 pm

  I finally dont need a family car and bought an 02 GT with 100K miles at age 50. It needed a little TLC. I added a radio, new COPs, a gear shift knob, + more. I love this car. I get better than 27mpg on the highway and 23-24 combined. The engine is smooth and has a higher power-to-weight ratio than any car or truck I have had. It took me a couple of months to tame this Pony. I changed the real seals, bearings, left axle, and c-clips. One c-clip broke and ground up inside the left axle causing that bearing to fail. The car is definitely a sports car. I have a Flowmaster catback and Nexen 3000 tires with Bullet rims. Other drivers taunt me on the road. I just smile and enjoy.

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  My Ford Touch Misses The Mark - 2013 Ford F-150
  By surfisher - June 25 - 7:47 am

  Overall, the truck is very nice. Ford Engineering took some steps to try and make the 2013 F150 a better truck. While some of these areas were improved, others were over engineered and missed the mark.

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  Love my new Ecoboost! FX4 w/max tow pgk - 2013 Ford F-150
  By falconpike - June 24 - 9:36 pm

  They didnt have an option for 3.5L Ecoboost FX4. I just got done towing a 28ft 8,000lb trailer to Yosemite National Park and it pulled it with no issues, turbo lag or trouble getting up 7%+ grade hills. I had a 2010 with the 5.4ltr v8 and it had trouble pulling the travel trailer even with the 3.73gears. In towing I got average of 12.5mpg. I usually get 15.5 in city and upper teens for hwy but I work in a hilly area so Im getting better then I expected. I was a little worried about the Ecoboost reviews from the 11 & 12 models but looks like they worked out the kinks for 13 but I leased the truck just in case. If you need a truck that can tow alot & get v6 mpgs, this is the truck!

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  Great commuter car. - 2000 Ford Focus
  By anthony224 - June 23 - 9:39 pm

  I owned my focus for awhile now and I am well over 200k miles and it still runs like new and can drive anywhere while still getting great gas mileage. On average I get about 29-30 with mixed driving. The car is very reliable and has never let me down the only things I needed to replace on it was the 14 year old brake booster and a radiator hose that dry rotted. As long as you maintain the fluids and drive the car normally it should last you 200k miles+. Enough room to comfortably fit 3 adults and a 4th with a little effort. The car does great in the snow with the right tiers on the front. If your looking for a nice affordable car for daily driving look no further.

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  Built Ford Tough - 1997 Ford Explorer
  By alessing - June 22 - 7:19 pm

  My Explorer is a 1997 Automatic 4x4 coming up on 180k miles, and it has honestly never failed me. I know that every time I turn the key it will start, and any time I need it to perform it does. Just 2 days ago an older couple got their Kia stuck in a steep ditch and dug their tires in the wet mud, I towed them out just fine. I tow my 3 ton boat without issues, and the high torque V6 never fails me next to a ricer at a red light. The 4x4 is great out on the beach, and even the backwoods trails. I agree with the other reviews, the gas mileage is just horrible, but other than that, I cant complain. Ive had no mechanical issues, the ride is decent, and for the money, this truck is priceless.