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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  Been a great car - 2003 Ford Focus
  By WYcommuter - February 14 - 7:26 pm

  Bought with 8000 miles in 05. Still have with 115000. Only one issue and that was a new ignition core (cheap repair). Live in WY and commute through blizzards and have never been stuck or stranded with this great little car. I drive it and leave the F150 in the garage when its icy. Did not buy fancy, manual windows, locks, etc. maybe that why no problems.

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  not bad for a Ford - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Huh? - February 13 - 6:03 pm

  Purchased this car with only 20k. Drove it for five years and finished with 58k before selling it. Only mechanical issue I had was a... wow I cant remember, cost me bout $300. I installed a Flowmaster exhaust, great sound compared to weak stock exhaust. V8 power is robust, and runs strong well over 100mph. Interior and exterior held up very well, still looked new when I sold it. The drivers seat position is horrible, I felt like i was sitting in a beach chair that was lying on the ground.

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  Still going! - 1999 Ford Contour
  By rolienolie - February 10 - 1:04 pm

  I bought this car back in 2001 and it had about 32,000 miles on it. It had previously been a rental car so I am sure it was driven hard those first miles. I have found this car to be extremely reliable. It is nothing fancy but it gets the job done. Other than routine maintenance (brakes, new tires, oil changes, etc) I have replaced the timing belt, had the control arms replaced, and I had some issues with the check engine light but that is pretty good considering I have been driving this car for nearly 9 years! I also got rear-ended and opted not to get the bumper fixed and I just kept the money. I was hit at about 20 miles per hour and you barely see there is damage.

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  Problematic - 1998 Ford Ranger
  By Ranger - February 10 - 12:27 pm

  After reading the reviews on this site, I realized that my Ranger has had just about every problem in the book. It now has 145,000 miles and a list of parts I replaced in the few years Ive owned it, including fuel pump, spark plugs and coil, cam sensor, 2 alternators, and more that I cant even remember. It takes a quart of oil every 1000 miles, which is tolerable. Never had any clutch problems. Power windows work sometimes, interior light stays on when doors are closed, and "Door Ajar" light will stay on for a while. A/C pump starts randomly and squeaks. Ball joints go bad a lot. Noisiest power steering pump Ive ever heard, even after replacing it with a new one. Power could be better.

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  Piece of junk - 2009 Ford Flex
  By tim - February 9 - 4:59 pm

  Nothing but problems needed new heater core 2 mths. after purchase transmission needed rebuild after 13 months replaced rear sensors 5 times drivers door mirror needed to be re- attached wheel bearing on right front needed replacement very poor gas mileage.Can hardly wait to get rid of this clunker.

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  Totally dismayed at quality of product - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Sage - February 6 - 10:18 pm

  46000 miles, trans. coolant assembly had to be replaced, leaking badly. Water leaves stains on interior upholstery. Horrible squalling wind noise from right front windshield area. Unable to be fixed by dealership without foam insulation & duct tape. Yep, have to keep duct tape on windshield, started a couple months after purchase. Mult. failures of instrument panel,goes dead. After being very cold for 3 days outside & weather warmed up, battery went dead. RSA jumped it, instrument panel was out again-no heat, blower, stereo, read outs-until SUV warmed up 40 mins after driving it. Then heater blew snow. It always has electrical issues after cold down to 20-30 below & then warms up & im down.

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  Bad used car - 1994 Ford Taurus
  By ralph0722 - February 5 - 7:47 pm

  I lost my job and i had to let my new car go, so i bought a Taurus GL with 86k though will last me since only has 86k for a 1994 model. Wrong. 30 days later transmission died. spent 1300 to fix it. Lets see now what will go wrong next.

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  Leaking Transmission Cooler - 2008 Ford Escape
  By jmh - February 4 - 4:21 pm

  At 39000 miles the transmission cooler is leaking transmission fluid. As you may have noticed this is a common issue that Ford is well aware of and is doing nothing about. It was close to $900 to repair (not covered under my warranty). I was upset and filed a complaint. I got a response and they were sorry to hear about my issues with my 2008 Edge (which I dont own). They then told me I should take it to a Ford Dealer to have the problem diagnosed. In my complaint I explained to them the fact it was already diagnosed and being fixed. They have poor quality products and poor quality service. I am from Detroit and was trying to do the right thing buying a Ford. That will not happen again.

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  Not a 10 anymore! - 2009 Ford Edge
  By On the Edge - January 31 - 11:40 am

  I bought the Edge because I wanted the styling, the dual roof and a Ford. But within the first year, the dual roof broke twice, the car stalled twice until it was determined it needed a new part. It is sluggish up a hill and slipped from being a 10 to a 5 in my recent opinion. All my friends know the problems I have had and have purchased other SUVs. No one I know will buy an Edge. I think I have a lemon and dont find my review reflective of all Edges. But my lemon is getting more sour in its second year. The roof is stuck again.

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  shouldve bought a chevy - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By BRYAN - January 30 - 11:15 am

  I bought that truck with 100,000 miles on it. At first it was a good truck to drive. Soon after I bought it, the head gaskets blew. I had them replaced and after that the motor had a ticking problem. A few hundred miles later, somehow or another tranny fluid started getting in the crankcase. The first time I changed the oil after the fix, I was dumbfounded. Ihad a 6qt. Oil drain pan and it overflowed it and way more. How does transmission fluid get into the engine?