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:

• 

  Crappy Taurus - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By Kevin - July 25 - 1:36 pm

  Well, the only reason that I am driving this stupid jellybean is because it was free. My mom bought it and handed it down to me. Ive been driving it for a little over a year, and I dont like it. Its somewhat reliable, but my power locks stopped functioning after 2 months. The stock rims are crappy, they are all corroded and gross. Also, it is a jellybean. There is not one corner on that car, everything is round and stupid looking. Its very comfortable though. Gas mileage isnt great but its not the worst Ive seen. Lately the engine has been revving itself so thats not good. Check engine light never goes off because Ford designed a crappy gas cap.

• 

  Run, run for a better car - 1997 Ford Windstar
  By Joel - July 16 - 11:07 am

  Blown head gasket from failed sensor. Body scratches very easily, and visibly! Rack in constant need of readjustment. When driving on the hwy, feels like there is a sail attached to the roof. Very poor turning radius. Fix or Repair Daily. Never Ford. Never again.

• 

  Dont buy. - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By George Georgie - July 14 - 6:32 pm

  Do not recommend, not a big bang for your bucks, Go with twin turbo charge platinum.

• 

  Brake Problems With Ford Five Hundred! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dave - July 9 - 4:36 am

  We purchased our Five Hundred in July 06 with 6000 miles. On our first trip I noticed a bad vibration during braking going down hills. I contacted the dealer and they said that a factory brake kit was needed to fix the problem. The kit consisted of new discs and pads. Now after approximately 16,000 miles after the replacement, the rear brake pads were shot and needed to be replaced for $200. I contacted Ford and they will not admit that there is a problem with the brake design. Ive also had to have the gauge cluster replaced. I thought Ford finally had a "Better Idea". I guess I was wrong.

• 

  Just Say No! - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By hrfletch - July 9 - 2:17 am

  I thought I got a great deal on this car. Boy, was I wrong, sensor in tranny went out within 3 weeks of purchase. Ive spent more on this car than I purchased it for. I heard bad things about Fords before, now I understand why. Everything seems to be set up to cost us more money and put more in Fords pocket? Had electrical fire with it the other day for no apparent reason. The air conditioner just shut off and it started smoking under the hood. The relay fuse melted and fried the wires and component that the fuse plugs in to. I wish I wouldve headed advice of friends. This car should have been made more reliable. Ford didnt do a good job on this one. Parts are expensive and are not easily accessible when repairing.

• 

  Not worth it! - 1991 Ford Probe
  By mike - June 28 - 12:02 am

  2.2l auto-trans. I bought the car in 1994 w/ 47k miles. I preformed full tune-ups on the car every 12k miles and changed the oil every 3k miles, timing belt and everything else. Despite this, The Probe was a nightmare. I had to replace both front axles twice, the transmission went out at 75k, the a/c went-out at 85k. Every mechanic said it was an $800 or more fix. When the car hit 110k the engine became tired and the mileage went down to 22mpg on the highway. Finally, the clearcoat started to fade and chip. I traded it in for a Dodge in 2001.

• 

  Glad to be rid of this one - 2006 Ford F-150
  By justaguy - June 26 - 3:46 pm

  My F150 spends way to much time in the shop. In one year, less than 17,000 miles, the following items have failed: Steering rack, ABS sensors(2), 4wd locking hub relay, AC/Heat fan. Each failure required two trips to the shop, one to diagnose the problem and order the parts, a second for the actual repair. In addition, I had check engine light problems twice.

• 

  Will Never buy Ford again!!! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By new ford hater - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I need a good,reliable car for my son,I went and talked to a friend of mine at a local Ford dealership,I knew her for years,now she wont answer my calls.First repair took them 4xs to find problem,fire hazard recall,3xs because they forgot,still have many problems that they cant seem to find.Now they have conveniently canceled my extended warranty.Do yourself and/or your families a favor, dont rely on this lemon!

• 

  (Bad) Luck of the Draw? - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By CTweez - June 24 - 10:35 am

  We had a 1992 Escort wagon that ran great, so we decided to upgrade to a Taurus. Shortly after buying it, we inherited a 1996 Taurus sedan that literally fell apart in our driveway (after $5K in repairs failed to fix it). If only wed gotten that car before the wagon. Since 2001, weve averaged around $3K/yr in repairs, despite being vigilant about maintenance. I dont have enough space to list every thing thats failed, but it includes the power steering, the key system (2X), the brakes, and even the clasps to the CD changer door. Reading reviews, it sounds like we are among a third of Taurus owners who have poor reliability. The kicker--the Escort is still going strong today.

• 

  Too High Priced - 2007 Ford Freestar
  By Bill - June 23 - 11:22 am

  Rides good, but noisy. Must use the remote or unlock the drivers door. Only way to get in which is a hassle when you have a small child in your arms. Poor gas mileage.