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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  Horrible quality, Ford refused to fix it - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Fordisdead - March 23 - 9:06 am

  Bought a new 06 GT leftover, after only one month and 1k miles the auto transmission started leaking, took it back for repair. A month later the car starts using lots of gas, running rough, no power, gas smell in car, and check engine light comes on. Take it back, dealer says 3 spark plugs are burned up, they give it back "fixed." Leaving the dealership same problems, take it back, they "reflash" the computer, say its fixed. Leave dealer, same problem, now the valves are clattering, take it back, they say "well have to talk to Ford and let you know." I call Ford, they say "well have to talk to the dealer and let you know." The dealer then says the valve racket is "normal" as is the gas smell.

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  STRANDED REPETEDLY! - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By kupono - March 23 - 5:07 am

  Everything is great except the quality. We purchased a C-Max for our business and it has been a disaster. When it works we loved it... Is it worth it to have a vehicle that may leave you stranded at any point? "NO." You cannot unlock doors without power. We have had to abandon the vehicle and use an alternate to get our work done on three occasions. I was so pleased to give Ford another chance but what a disappointment. Do not buy this car until they figure out the bugs and fix them. I will never buy another Ford.

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  Ford needs new management - 2006 Ford F-150
  By ac389 - March 22 - 2:53 am

  Poor economy, real bad brakes, very poor ride characteristics, engine is underpowered compared to other trucks, manual transmission shifts poorly, seats are starting to tear at 2500 miles. This truck is very obsolete compared to the competition. This truck weighs 4760 lbs, has 202 hp, gets 13 to 16 mph. Dont waste your money on this truck. For a business buying this vehicle, would be subject to insurance issues from workmans comp due to loading height. Ford is lost when building quality, efficient autos.

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  Constant Transmission Problems - replace the TCM - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Thomas - March 20 - 3:36 pm

  I see a lot of complaints about the dual-clutch transmission and rightly so. In my experience it is garbage. When you take it to the dealership do not let them tell you that they dont know what it is because there has been at least one lawsuit filed in CA and there has been a recall on the Transmission Control Module. Make them replace it. Do not allow them to charge you for reprogramming a faulty TCM or Powertrain Module because they are simply reprogramming a bad component and bleeding your wallet dry. My local dealer was thoroughly inept and I eventually took my Focus out of State to Franklin Ford just south of Nashville where I found a woman in the service division that actually knew her job. Yes, I had to look in other States to find a dealer that didnt tell me the same lie the first dealer did. The other issue is that the dual clutches are dry rather than a wet system or the traditional torque converter. Anyone with any sense knows that slamming two clutch discs together over and over with no lubrication is just stupid. On a positive note the car is fun to drive...right up until the point that it leaves you sitting on the side of the interstate or the middle of an intersection with no way to move it...the mileage has been good, and the rest of the car has actually been reliable. Other negatives include an interior that wont even resist water stains so after a short time the seats look like the carpet in a daycare. If you are unfortunate enough to own one of these abominations, have Ford replace the TCM then sell it immediately to anyone willing to buy it. If I had known about this transmission I would have purchased a VW or Honda. An update: After replacing the TCM in 2015 my Focus is back at the dealer. They said the TCM is bad and that the clutches and slave cylinder need to be replaced. I have questioned the wisdom of replacing parts that we know to be bad in a transmission we know to be bad with identical parts. It makes to sense to me. At this point the only thing that would make me happy would be for Ford to abandon the apocalyptically horrible Dual Clutch Transmission and replace it with one that actually functions reliably. It is clear from the number of complaints on this board and others that there is something horribly wrong with these transmissions. Yet another update: The horn has stopped working and the transmission problems have made the car impossible to drive. The Used Car Manager at the local Ford dealership called me in response to a message I left about trading in "A car". After I told him that it was a 2012 Focus he never called me back. I went to the local GM dealership and a Sales Associate there told me that she refuses to sell the cars because they are unsafe and should not be allowed on the road. My Focus is sitting on a car hauler waiting to be towed to CarMax for an appraisal because I refuse to drive it. Because of this car and Fords obstinance about correcting this issue I will never purchase another Ford product.

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  A Piece of Junk! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By BR - March 19 - 5:56 pm

  Brake rotors warped (dealer says normal), brakes grind (dealer says normal), cruise quit working, brake lights come on by themselves, sun roof leaks (dealer says normal). Rear end sounds like it is about to fall off everytime you hit a bump or rough pavement at low speeds (dealer says normal for this car). Absolutely no soundproofing materials in the trunk. This car is a poorly built piece of junk.

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  Ignore the rust issues and youll be happy! - 2017 Ford F-150
  By Mario - March 19 - 3:37 am

  I was excited to get my brand new F150, with the 3.5 twin turbo and ten speed tranny. That said, I took my new truck home and within a week noticed significant rust on several drivetrain components and on the rear differential. I went to the dealer and asked how a brand new car can have embedded rust already on it. They said not to worry, that its normal on all their new trucks. They referenced the rust that you see on brake pads when a vehicle sits for a long period of time, this comparison is total crap. The next time you use your brakes the rust will disappear, while the rust everywhere else simply gets much worse over time. I did not realize until later the document they had me sign regarding future rust issues. I was told by a knowledgeable person that Ford decided to lower their use of environmentally unfriendly paint, which has dramatically reduced rust protection on the metal frame and other underbody components. Two months in and there are now new spots of rust, I should not have to deal with this on a new expensive truck. What a shame, Ill never buy a Ford again.

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  Very unhappy with 2005 Expedition - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By areyes1 - March 17 - 1:03 pm

  I have had a ton of problems with my 2 year old truck. Last year it went in because every time I started it, it sounded like it was going to fall apart at the hinges. Good thing its under warranty, that was $2000 worth of repair (and a week without it). It will be going in Monday because the power steering went out this week. Common for Fords I guess. This truck only has 16,000 miles though. Among smaller things The back hatch doesnt close correctly (never has) same with the rear driver side door. Windows are very slow to roll up. Oh and the wonderful 9 miles to the gallon you get if you are lucky. I cant wait to get my Yukon. I despise this truck. I have had better junkers.

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  Buyer Beware! - 2005 Ford F-150
  By roadrider - March 14 - 10:04 pm

  This truck has so many issues I dont know where to start. So rather than try to sum up my experience, I will advise anyone who wants to purchase a Ford go out and do some research first. I have replaced the front differential and axle assembly, drive shaft, ring and pinion gear assembly and now the clutches in the rear posi rear end. All under warranty at dealer and all common problems with this vehicle. I drive it like a car! Haul nothing pull nothing! BUYER BEWARE! GOING BACK TO TOYOTA.

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  the 5.4 leter engine is trash - 2010 Ford F-150
  By Andre - March 11 - 7:45 am

  MY dad spent 40 grand on this truck and it was great until we got to 27000 miles it was then the back two pistons in our engine blew up. so ever since then ive hated ford if you want a truck that will last long dont byea ford i sugest a toyota or chevy.

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  Problems - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By William Mitchell - March 10 - 10:00 am

  Since I brought this vechicle, I had to replace the transmission twice (It needs replacing again), I had to replace the struts and brushing twice (It needs replacing again). I only put around 20 somthing thousand miles on it since I had, and it has been the worst vehicle I had ever brought.