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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  Power Seats! - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By NOTAFORDFAN - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought my second EB EXP and the power seats/heated stopped working at 50 miles! It took FIVE tries to repair/replace and I finally filed a Lemon Law against Ford. They settled ASAP. When does the Quality go in? I thought it was BEFORE the names goes on! Too many problems, read the ownership boards. Ford is not in this family anymore, they couldnt care less about loyal customers. I even sold my stock and most of my family has gotten rid of their Fords. Guess we have to go to the foreign market for a dependable product.

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  best for the money - 2009 Ford Ranger
  By don - December 8 - 11:51 am

  The thing to remember when buying a Ranger is know what you are buying. If you need room for more than two people the extended cab wont get it. Another hit it takes is for styling. I like the looks of the Ranger, especially the more pronounced grille and hood on the 2009. I have 2900 miles on my regular cab XLT, 4 cylinder, and five speed manual. First tank averaged 25.2 and now get a 31.5 highway. Havent checked town driving, but I imagine its about 26. Know going in you dont have extra power with the four, but its sufficient and has that great mileage. This is my second Ranger and I love them. I find them comfortable, reliable, tough, good looking, and inexpensive.

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  A happy camper - 2012 Ford Focus
  By jfoehner - December 8 - 11:29 am

  Wow, my SEL has a great ride, very quite, quality interior materials, sound system very good and already getting 33 mpg mixed town and highway driving. Its turned a number of heads where ever I go. People really like the exterior lines and didnt realize it was a Ford product.

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  One Year Later - 2005 Ford Escape
  By AdirondackTrek - December 8 - 1:53 am

  After almost one year of driving this great little SUV Im as happy now as when it was first purchased. More than enough power with the 4 cylinder automatic if you drive sensibly and average gas mileage is around 23 MPG. Highest MPG on a trip was 28.5 which I think is good for an SUV of any size. As far as handling, it is crisp and stable enough that we were able to avoid being hit by someone who wasnt paying attention by doing a rather radical swerve that convinced me some of the stability issues brought up are unfounded. It is a safe, fun vehicle to drive that has caused no problems and was a pleasure to drive on our sometimes unplowed winter roads during the last year. Cargo space galore.

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  Ford Explorer - poor design and quality - 2008 Ford Explorer
  By TKenn - December 7 - 12:07 pm

  1. Roll-over alarm goes off at 20 mph on straight road. Dealership said it was a "short" in the system. 2. Both Vanity Mirror covers broke off allowing the light to stay on and drain battery. Dealership replaced with visors having cuts in the fabric. 3. Tail light assembly missing both attaching screws. 4. Eyelash (decorative trim at wheel area) pulling away from body. 5. Oil changed - but the oil indicator was not reset. Found out the oil indicator only tracks mileage and time - not actual oil life. Second Explorer - same visor problem. Paint failure. Technicians failed to reset oil indicator.

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  Great For Price - 2006 Ford Escape
  By DetAk - December 7 - 11:18 am

  Bought for family car. Has been a great little SUV and now with economy as terrible as it is and fuel so high I feel smarter for the choice I made back then. Heard clunking noise in front when I went over bumps, so I took it in and had it bar replaced, under extended warranty. Gas peddle sticks all the time and is starting to worry me. Hopefully it is and easy fix.Average about 22 miles to the gallon so it has been great on the pocket book.

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  Bad Apple - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By family van - December 7 - 10:02 am

  Moulding issue 2002 Check engine light started to come on in 2003 WouldnÂ’t accept gas in 2003 Rear windshield wiper motor issues started in 2002 Multiple O2 sensor repairs at $200+ each Intake manifold repaired in 2008 to fix Check engine light repair $500+ Stabilizer Bar Control Link repaired in 2009 Alternator repaired in 2009 Intermittent ABS computer hydraulics control issues Heating mechanism burned out On top of all that, the passenger side sliding door rattles Final straw...Rear Axle Cracked while family was in the car. Despite multiple issues reported online, Ford says there is no recall.

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  Better but still has flaws - 2010 Ford Taurus
  By Steven SF - December 7 - 1:50 am

  The only thing that I really have to complain about is the ride quality. I have driven a lot of cars with "performance" suspensions. This Taurus rides a lot like an SUV. Ford, you need to do some more calibration work. Shock rebound is weak. Roll stability under road undulations is just like an SUV. If the target market was to satisfy an SUV owner, you hit the mark. If the target is to reach buyers of a Honda, BMW or Mercedes, you are far off the mark. Rest of the car feels a lot like the Volvo S80 platform. Good European feel but not up to the best of Germany or Japan. Dont get me wrong. This is the best Taurus Ive driven. Its at 9/10th ready.

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  Meh - 2000 Ford Escort
  By bawbi - December 6 - 11:22 pm

  This was my second car bought for me for my 17th birthday. It had 8 miles on it, i loved how peppy it was and it was fun to drive, but not very well built. I honked the horn after owning it a few months, and it stuck, the horn wouldnt stop honking i had to pull the fuse out. I kept getting flat tires every few months on the back passenger side and the interior shook SOOOO badly when idle especially when the AC was running. it was actually really embarrassing to have ppl ride with me they thought the car was about to explode!

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  Big Mistake - 2010 Ford Edge
  By Chuck B. - December 6 - 8:55 pm

  I drove a number of different vehicles before making this purchase. I was impressed with the ride and liked the slightly larger, 3.5l motor that this car had. Unfortunately, the 3 versions of the car that I tested all had navigation, which I did not get. Heres the first problem. As someone has already pointed out the radio display is really awful. In addition, much of the information in the drivers information center thats available in other cars is not available on the Ford. You also have little choice with exit/entry lighting, etc. The car was delivered with a vibration making quality suspect. I kept the car for 10 days, then sold it at a big loss because I knew Id never be satisfied