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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  Love thiscar - 2002 Ford Focus
  By franker01 - May 22 - 9:50 pm

  Bought it several years ago with about 100K on it. Now pushing 200K. It did break a timing belt which cost me some but that was because the previous owner never had it replaced which I didnt know. Doesnt hold freon but neither does my wifes 5 year old Sienna so that is about 50 bucks a year to recharge. It is a very serviceable car that gets me places and is OK to drive. Looking into buying a newer model.

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  Disappointed in my first Ford - 2015 Ford Edge
  By kevinsd - May 22 - 3:48 am

  I love the exterior look of the new Edge, and the interior design and layout is top notch, rivaling the European luxury brands. However... Almost immediately after my purchase, my Edge Titanium was spending more time in the dealers service department than in my garage, due to either a manufacture issue or a design problem that caused a very annoying noise on the driver side (and now the passenger side) of the cabin. Ford didnt care enough to offer any assistance, and the car does not (yet) qualify for buy back per CA definifion of the Lemon Law. I am very disappointed in my first Ford experience. My advice is to stay away for now, or, if you must have one, proceed with caution!

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  Makes driving fun in this segment - 2014 Ford Focus
  By minesok - May 20 - 4:10 pm

  Had a 2012 Focus SE, actually purchased in 2011, and only issue it had in 4 years was a software fix for the Dual Clutch transmission. After the new software was installed it was fine. SO with the great rebates and incentives on 2014 Focuss I traded in the 2012 for a 2014 to get much more content for only a few more dollars a month. Looks great and drives great, so far.

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  Dont bother - 2012 Ford Focus
  By km09 - May 20 - 3:33 pm

  Ive had nothing but trouble since the first month Ive purchased this vehicle. The clutch has been replaced 5 times.. yes, the clutch in an automatic transmission. The car shudders, and shakes and doesnt properly drive and hasnt since I purchased it brand new with only 7 miles on it. Please view other options before Ford gives you the run around too. Oh and the seats- the "mesh" option is terrible. Water will stain them and Ford will charge close to $100 to clean them, nothing can really clean them.

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  Solid Truck - 2000 Ford F-150
  By dhiebert - May 20 - 2:29 pm

  I bought my truck on auction for $4k. Best money Ive ever spent. No problems except for a stripped drain plug. Plenty of power, passenger space and cargo space. The only complaints are in the size and fuel economy. Its hard to park in any place other than straight in, and the best MPG Ive gotten is 17 hwy.

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  Transmission is a time bomb - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By tsliberty - May 20 - 1:33 pm

  Our 2006 Freestlye had 65,000 miles on it. Just paid it off. Transmission died without any warning. Dead in the middle of the street. Called the dealer, they said that they dont make that transmission anymore so they would have to find a rebuilt one. and it will cost $7,000+! We thought that was a bit high, so we called around and every place told us the same or that they wouldnt even attempt it. Great. Talked to Ford and they offered to pay for $3,000 of the repair cost. Still a very expensive fix for a car with only 65,000 miles. They warrantied the transmission for another 50,000 miles. But we sold it within a few months since I was too paranoid to drive it very far from home.

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  Exactly what we expected! - 2015 Ford Fusion
  By vawarren - May 19 - 11:52 am

  We need to replace my wifes car and the Fusion was our first choice. We have had our 2015 Ford Fusion SE for a month and love it! Love the interior design/layout, really love the exterior looks, and have not seen or experienced any quality or reliability issues. We are getting gas milages higher than the MPG listing! We do not drive heavy footed, so that helps our MPG. Would I buy another or recommened it to a friend? YES, absolutely!

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  2.0L Turbo AWD Escape is a Great Car for my needs - 2014 Ford Escape
  By sigma1 - May 19 - 10:37 am

  Bought a used 2014 Escape 2.0L turbo AWD and have driven over 2,000 miles along the Colorado Front Range of the Rockies. Acceleration and handling are superb on twisty mountain roads and on 75 mph interstates. Cross winds of 40 mph do not affect steering this car at high speeds due to a good aerodynamic design. I purchased the Escape 2.0L AWD because I wanted a performance car with a large interior carrying capacity. I have no complaints and am exceedingly happy with my purchase.

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  2014 Fusion - 10,000 mile update - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By oldsnwbrdr - May 18 - 12:18 pm

  This is my second review on the car, updated at 10,000 miles. Would I buy the car again? ABSOLUTELY, but I would look much harder at the hybrid model.

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  Fun to drive but very bumpy ride - 2015 Ford F-150
  By manny52 - May 17 - 5:27 pm

  Fun to drive. From the onboard computer, I get 13 L/100Km (18 mpg) on the highway, 15 L/100Km (15.6 mpg) in the city.