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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  My Third Bird/More Fun Than The Rest - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By Lars - March 15 - 1:01 am

  Great Road Car and fun to drive. Dont see yourself coming and going either. Been totally trouble free. Its a people magnet, too!

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  2002 Supercharged Harley-Davidson - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Harley #842 - March 13 - 10:00 am

  Good power (especially at highway speed) from the supercharger. Steering feel is a bit too loose at faster speeds. Ride quality is good on most roads, but roads with "mogul" type bumps will cause suspension to travel too much. Overall, I enjoy the look and power. Also own a 2001 S-Crew 4x4 5.4L Lariat.

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  Good vehicle - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By cjweb - March 13 - 9:49 am

  My wife and I have owned this truck for several years and have about 90k miles on it now. It has been very reliable and easy to maintain. I had the the ball joints replaced at about 70k miles, as the steering seemed slightly vague on-center. That cured the problem completely. I also had the EGR valve replaced at about 75k miles, and I had one of the chips in the ignition key quit working one time, which required a new key. Aside from those three problems, it has been a joy to own. With the 302 V8, the fuel economy is about what youd expect (14 city/18 hwy) but the AWD is fantastic in the snow. Ive owned 4WD pickups and the Explorer is much more capable. I would recommend this vehicle.

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  XLT - 2017 Ford Explorer
  By Eugene Holly - March 13 - 2:48 am

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  better than average - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By roughneck - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Like the car a lot. Had 2 problems so far. The rear window wiper had a bad motor and needed to be replaced and the Idler air control (IAC) valve was sticking and needed to be replaced or the car would sometimes die at standstill. I also see that some parts are not lifetime. (Example: fuel filter) A small cost but on Toyota its a lifetime part. Among other recommended services Maintaince Costs can add up on this vehicle because the dealer has to do certain things like a complete transmission flush and fill every 30000 miles. An above average SUV for Premium Price in its class.

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  Reliability poor - 1998 Ford Windstar
  By Spark - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Overal, it was great first 40K miles. No problems. We enjoyed the vehicle. We started having many small problems- alternator, suspension parts, front struts (twice),idler arm pulley, door lock, etc. One major probelm on head gasket for engine- was a major job $1000. nagging problem with stalling-finally solved by reprgraming of PCM module.

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  Good car - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Daniel - March 12 - 4:50 pm

  I bought this car 1 1/2 years ago, after doing a lot of research. And so far I am very satisfied with it. It is a Consumer Reports "Good Bet" as it seems to a reliable vehicle. It is a sharp looking car, with lots of potential if you can afford to upgrade it. It is fun to drive in the snow with snow tires on.

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  Best Vehicle Ever! - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By calicobobtail - March 11 - 11:41 pm

  I know you wont believe me, but this is the best vehicle we have ever had. It is approaching 175,000 miles with virtually NO major repairs. I commute 30 miles each way to work, never have been broken down, and no problems at all. I purchased at 90,000 miles. It is a little narrow in the front seating, so a large person would probably be uncomfortable. 4WD works awesome the gas mileage is killing us though. We pull our horse trailer and also large hay wagons for our horses. It has the power to do it.

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  Great sports car - 1997 Ford Mustang
  By SS - March 11 - 11:15 pm

  This is a great car that gets great gas mileage and looks sporty and looks fast (though it really does lack HP). It is fun to drive. Not good for a "family" type car (only 2 doors) and definitely not good in snow (rear wheel drive). Might as well park it for the winter if you live in a snow state. Its real fun, dependable and affordable - but its not a "comfort" car at all - better stick to a luxury type car if you want all the bells and whistles and to be super comfy!

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  Ford Focus Wagons R Zippy with Lots o Room! - 2001 Ford Focus
  By The Gainester - March 11 - 9:15 pm

  Ive owned my used Ford Focus wagon for about 6 months and thoroughly enjoy it. I only have two quibbles with it. First, the unemovable bar that divides the far rear part of the cargo area from the front rear part is irritating. The helpful rear canopy is stored in this bar, but my two dogs have to wriggle under it to navigate the cargo area. Also, there is room for three people in the back seat, but there is only one cup holder built into the rear area. Ive also been told that people in the middle of the back seat feel like theyre riding on a hump. Also, Im 53 and found that many seats were not high enough for me, but the Focus seat goes up or down with a crank. Im satisfied.