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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  over all to this point - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Randall Bateson - December 9 - 12:57 am

  The car as a whole is truly awesome so far. Its too early to rate reliability having few miles and not owning long yet. The handling is very solid. The more power you apply in the turns the more the car grips the road. Love the way it feels going down the road. Manual trans is very smooth and responsive. It is a coupe so its kind of hard to get in and out of the car. But this is expected for the style of car it is. And it was known going in looking at the Stangs. I would recommend this vehicle to this point. All though I could NOT recommend the dealer!

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  Satisfied owner - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Steve Nemeth - December 8 - 9:13 am

  I purchased my 2006 Ford 500 SE with the CVT transmission in November of 2005. It presently has 6,500 miles on it and is running great. I am very happy with this car and how well it is built. So far, it has lived up to my expectations. I read a lot of research about this car before I purchased. It does take time to get used to the CVT tranny and how it shifts. The car drives well. I cant really say its fun to drive, although it handles well. Fun driving to me, would be in a smaller sportier car.

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  MyEscape - 2001 Ford Escape
  By unhappyford - December 8 - 2:00 am

  Bought v6 in April 01, Paid the 1st visit to the service dept for a check engine light by Aug 01. This started a series of diff lights coming on at diff times and many visits to the dealership-(thank goodness for warranty).Each time Id take it in and theyd fix a light of the month but no guar it would be "fixed". 27,0000 miles later and 10x to the dealership in 2 yrs was all I could handle. After it being in the shop 8, 9, 11 03 I traded it in and got a Nissan. The less than reassuring attitude from the Service Dept and Ford left me no choice but to find a reliable means of transportation for my family.

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  no problems - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By texasexped - December 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 4x4 XLT with 5.4 back in 2000. It was a dealer demo with 1500 miles on it. I have never had s single mechanical problem with it yet. It now has 37000 miles on it. I would buy another. Its a great truck for freeway driving. Its a dog as a grocery-getter though. I still have no regrets though.

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  Dependable, Poor Quality - 1996 Ford Windstar
  By dynomo - December 8 - 2:00 am

  Purchased the van with 36,000 miles and still running good at 140,000. Runs good, drives good, comfortable, roomy, and great safety rating. Lots of little problems due to extremely poor quality: Speedometer, power locks, power windows, rear heat/ac, cruise control, brakes, check engine light and interior lighting.

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  A real escort! - 1991 Ford Escort
  By Big Fool - December 7 - 2:00 am

  This is the only car that sold itself to me! The salesman didnt have to do anything. After the air conditioner was fixed in only 1 year, the next big problem was the air flow meter did not read right, causing the the engine go lean and sputter once the engine warmed up-fixed under the warranty just before it expired. At about 99 the tiny coolant lines that run to the air intake (these set idle speed fast when coolant is cold)busted and my coolant boiled out (see improvement sugg.) It may wear on you cruising the interstate by the hour, the suspension is a bit stiff. But for anything shorter it rides just fine and is good at handling curves.

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  timing belt - 1993 Ford Escort
  By timingbeltwarning - December 7 - 2:00 am

  All around economical and reliable veh. Starts excellent in cold weather -35 celsius. Recommended timing belt change=60,000 miles Mine failed at 69,000 Luckily no damage. Dennis

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  Good and fast - 1997 Ford Explorer
  By Gumkat - December 6 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun SUV. I have the v8 option which makes it really fast when I need it to be. I average 15mpg which is better than the brand new Explorer with a V6. I did have to rebuild the front end and the rear differential, which is funny because this is an All wheel drive model. I use it for everything.

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  My 2002 Lightning - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Bobby76 - December 6 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love my Lightning. It has the best of both worlds from the utility of a truck to the performance of a muscle car. The style and sound is fantastic. The truck is quicker than about 98% of all vehicles on the road. The supercharged engine is easy to modify if you are thinking about upping the performance factor. There are bolt on modifications, such as changing the supercharger pulley, air filter kit, and computer chip that will push the output from 380HP to upwards of 450HP.

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  2004 F-150 Supercrew Lariet 4WD - 2005 Ford F-150
  By robo14 - December 5 - 3:20 pm

  Rear differential has whined since new. Rear differential had to be replaced. Battery junk making vehicle unreliable. Ford said there was a bad plate. Charged the battery and refused to replace under warranty. Stranded 6 times. Finally, dealership replaced battery. Windshield has stress crack running all the way across. I have owned many new Chevys, Dodges and Fords over the years. I am not impressed with the quality. I dont see where the customer service is anymore.