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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  better buy an extended warranty! - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By familytruckster - January 20 - 2:00 am

  When its running right, it is very pleasant and does what its supposed to do. The 3.8 V6 is plenty for most. Pretty good visibility for a minivan. Looks great. Had it a little over a year and have had several problems. Window motor, some seals, guage lights flickering, paint chips too easily, sensors gone bad. Thankfully nothing like major engine and trans work. Just aggrevating little stuff. Without the extended warranty I bought, I would have had to shell out quite a bit of coin.

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  The Quiet SUV - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Bobby J. - January 19 - 11:56 pm

  Traded in my 4WD pick-up that got 15 mpg. Wanted to get this vehicle last winter, but there was no real availability in my area at that time. I have had it for a month and have driven about 2,500 miles and overall I am very pleased. I have averaged 30 mpg for all types of driving. I had to install a back-up alarm because when this vehicle is operating on electric you cant hear anything but the tires moving. I didnt get much for options because I have a Garmin Street Pilot GPS system. I take the vehicle out on backwoods roads to take me to hiking locations and it is a bit weird to roll along with no engine noise. People often stop to inquire about it and Im always glad to inform them.

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  Pretty reliable - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By PDXRaiders - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Some minor things have gone wrong but the dealership has replaced and repaired with no problems. I have this unusual smell coming from the air vents during the summer. I tried to have the dealer find the source but it seems to be water condensation from the A/C and they sprayed it with air freshener but it stinks REAL BAD after, so suggest NOT doing that!!! Other than that, Its been a great truck for my wife but we have since upgraded to a new MDX for the upgraded creature comforts. Ill use this for hauling and commuting to work.

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  No Frills, Excellent Runner - 1995 Ford Aspire
  By Peppys owner - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I love this car, I have named it Peppy. I will never get rid of it. It hav NEVER given me a problem. The only time it has been worked on is for regular maintainence. I have purchased 2 other vehicles since Peppy, but the Asipe is a keeper. The car has served me well. Well built little car.

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  Very Bad Choice - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By dao - January 18 - 2:56 pm

  Bought it new thinking that with the redesign I was a buying very good and affordable SUV. I was wrong. Had multiple problems with the back door (7 times), multiple problems with the rear air conditioner (4), with the co-pilots window (2) and had to change the transmission with 42k miles on it. ItÂ’s too bad that Ford wouldnÂ’t back up this car on all these quality problems.

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  Loads of fun - 2002 Ford Escape
  By atldfan - January 18 - 2:03 pm

  Having owned a Mustang GT and a Taurus, I find the Escape a great combination of both. A sporty drive and room for people and stuff. It corners impeccably, yet the handling is forgiving. I have a 70 mile commute each day, and take road trips into the mountains. The Escape is at home on the highway and back roads, as long as they are paved. Since many of the parts are shared with a Taurus, I have had some of the same HV/AC problems with the Escape.

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  Modify your driving style, or you may end up dead! - 2017 Ford Escape
  By Rob and Kim - January 18 - 7:19 am

  I experienced an almost fatal incident with the Autostop. I was deciding whether to make a left turn across the path of a large truck that had just turned the corner 300 Ft away. The truck was lumbering along, so I made the decision to pull out across its path. Apparently, the truck hit its peak Torque at that time and suddenly sped up, just as I pulled out! At this moment, the engine had decided to shut itself off! I pressed the gas and nothing happened! Not knowing WHAT to do, I pressed it to the floor, the engine started up and rolled slowly into the path of the oncoming truck!!! I was like a deer in headlights! I kept the gas buried in the floor, by some miracle, the engine finally revved into Turbo range. ALL 4 WHEELS started spinning and it suddenly slingshot me across the skinny 2 lane road. I almost lost control and ended up in the ditch. Fortunately, the road was dry and the AWD and steering were responsive, allowing me to hop into the correct lane, within a hairs breath of disaster! Not what you want to happen the first week in your new vehicle. I STRONLGY advise against engaging the Auto-Off feature unless you will either glean tremendous savings in gas OR modify your driving style to emulate driving a Yugo. Otherwise, you may end up more than disappointed, you may end up Dead. -*-*-*-* Escape Pros (Feb 2017) When the turbo hits its stride, there is an amazing thrust of power. But it is slingshot-like. Ride and handling are great. Leather wrap Steering wheel has a nice feel even in the SE trim level. Reliability. Hope Im not disappointed. My opinion is that, based on the little I know about engine friction, the auto-stop feature must be putting a huge strain on the engine at every restart. Has a 6 speed automatic instead of a frustrating CVT. Our shopping options were severly limited due to this requirement. Bonus, No keyless ignition on the SE. Most first level upgrades delete the ignition key. Bonus, Knobs located on the radio instead of somewhere else. Escape complaints I hit my head (at 6ft1) getting in and out, due to the dramatically raked windshield. It looks great, but is it practical? The seats need more side bolster to really hug you and make you feel safe. I much prefer the 2008 Mazda3 seats in my other vehicle. Tiny, TINY back seat. Ill have to double check if the CX-5 was this cramped. (I had to trim the back seat runner down to about 5 inches where it meets the console. ) The fan speed control uses a cumbersome layout of 2 buttons on opposite sides of the control panel. Had to check the owners manual to find the control. Dealer gave us the WRONG code for the keypad entry. Spent a half hour there while their computer connected to the car, wifi, internet and Ford MoCo just to pop up the correct code. Shift paddles require both hands in an awkward and uncomfortable position on the steering wheel, and the delay makes them useless even when they happen to decide to work. Much prefer Mazda sport shift. I got Cold Weather Pkg - NO heated steering wheel !!!???? Thats an upgrade?? WTFrak?? Too many Sharp edges - door outer edge. Door hand grip inside, almost cut my hand! Engine often runs at 1000RPM around 40MPH and you feel the engine gagging, far below its torque range. Why?? I personally believe that this actually HURTS gas mileage but I dont have data to back that up. Not a good feeling, causes needless vibration. NannyKey seems crazy to me. But I dont have kids. They SHOULD call it NANNY-key, not MyKey so its purpose is more obvious. I prefer volume controls on left side of steering wheel...Escape has them on the right. Many more buttons for cruise cotrol than necessary. Gas filler on Passenger side. This should ALWAYS be on Driver side in left-hand-drive countries, IMHO. The trip computer keeps showing me 18.3 avg MPG with engine-stop ENGAGED! My CX-9 with a big V6 gets BETTER mileage around town. I cannot imagine it could get much worse with the engine not shutting off. I think there must be a point of diminishing returns with this feature. All this said, would I buy it again? With the deep discount I negotiated.......YES! If they gave you the same price vs. another brand, I would seriously consider the other brand, especially if you can live with a CVT and keyless ignition. I share this vehicle with seniors, who are even less accommodating to change than I am! I think that the perfect vehicle in this class would be an Escape with a V6 and slightly more back-seat leg room.

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  1996 Ford Thunderbird - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By TopJimmy - January 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Thunderbird used 4 years ago. It has been a great car and has only left me stranded once when the manifold cracked and I lost coolant. There was a TSB on that problem and Ford fixed it free of charge ( an $800 repair )It is fun to drive and has plenty of power. The 4.6 V8 is quite economical and there is a feeling of safety with this vehicle.

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  Windstar Limited - 1998 Ford Windstar
  By rrboy - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive put 101,000 miles on my Windstar Limited and have really enjoyed it. It has all the bells and whistles that luxury cars have and enough leather to wrap them in. It has a powerful engine that has served me well - even on last minute runs from Mass to Fla and back.

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  Westmont review - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By Robert Westmont - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Other than the squeeks and rattles with the interior plastic panels, the truck is awesome. The AWD is remarkable in the snow and ice (We live in boston). The ride is somewhat harsh as we changed out the "26lb" Firestone tires immediately after buying the vehicle and replaced them with Goodyear Wilderness - obviously a good call. Anyway, the truck looks and runs great - recommend to anyone.