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/hate my new car - 2011 Ford Edge
  By kel11586 - July 27 - 6:24 am

  i purchased my 2011 edge limited in march. 3 months late it has been in the shops 5 times. 1st-time it was leaking gas when i would fil up. i was told by the dealership that i did not know how to put gas in my vehicle. 2nd- i was stranded at a gas station because the dash said "no key detected" 3rd-once again stranded because "no key detected" 4th-sun roof would not open 5th-radio would not work. dash said audio off. screen was showing that at the radio was on. if my car didnt have all these issues i would absolutely love it.

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  2006 Ford Mustang GT Premium 2dr Coupe (4.6L 8cyl 5M) - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By dave3012 - July 25 - 2:15 pm

  I bought my preowned 06 a few weeks back and am very glad I did. Screaming Yellow, car had some upgrades from previous owner (Airaid air filter system, Flowmaster exaust) Its about 360 horses of extreme fun. Although the car had 51K on it, Honda dealer included 3 year 36K bumper to bumper waurranty, and I plan to get the best out of those 36,000 miles. At 45 it was a mid-life crisis the wife even agreed with. LOL

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  2005 Ford Escape is a great vehicle! - 2005 Ford Escape
  By kpbo24 - July 24 - 6:22 pm

  I had to junk my 2005 Dodge Neon after many, many problems and decided to buy this 2005 Ford Escape to replace it. I am very happy that I did. It runs great, even with 90,000 miles on it. I havent had the opportunity to try out the all wheel drive in the snow yet. The only issue I have with the vehicle is that it is a gas guzzler. I only get about 20 miles to the gallon, as I do mostly city driving. It seems like I just fill it up and the next thing I know my tank is down 25 to 50 percent. I got nitro put into my tires to increase the gas milage a little bit.

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  Ford Raptor Build Project - 2011 Ford F-150
  By atvpt - July 24 - 11:38 am

  2011 Ford Raptor 4Door with the 6.2 Engine We have been using the new raptor as a platform for our project build here at ATVPT, and this is one heck of a truck for all around usage.

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  09 Ltd had it 1 1/2 yrs starting to act like a lemon - 2009 Ford Flex
  By gelene - July 23 - 11:22 am

  i LOVE this cars comfort, style, buttons & cup holders where you need them.. ford always does a great job w/ that.. BUT UNDER THE HOOD.. not so much.. :( after the last 2 fords (tauras & CV) i SWORE no more.. but loved the flex.. however its true colors are showing.. @25K already needed new tires, @30K newed brake & lifetime rotors replaced!?? 46K a/c is going out..WHAT?!! let me stress..we take it to the dealer & dont drive our cars hard, get regular oil changes, rotations, etc. my toyota scion has 100K & only needed 1 set of tires & brakes @50K.. and NEVER needed anything else NOTHING!!! come on ford america, we can do better!

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  Throttle problem? - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By audreyh - July 22 - 11:28 am

  We bought our 2006 Freestyle SEL AWD new and have enjoyed driving the car. It gives a smooth, quiet ride. As another owner says, it turns from a passenger hauler to a cargo hauler in minutes. I do wish it got better gas mileage, but it is AWD.

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  Get Rid of it before 100K - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By ronnzy98 - July 21 - 1:28 pm

  I drive 50 miles each way to work and traded my 01 accord for a 06 mustand in 2008. Well 80k miles later the engine starts having this knocking noise and significant loss of power and not because I dont take care of my car as I changed my oil every 3K miles and keep it very well maintained. After Ford looked at the car they quoted me $4,100 to fix what they called a cam phaser issue (pumps oil to the top end of the motor). Needless to say I pulled the car from Ford and took to a performance shop, who said it needed a new motor for $4,800. Well thats great but this is not my toy its my daily driver. Long story short before you buy research cam phasers this appears to be an issue in many Ford

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  disgusted with 2008 escape - 2008 Ford Escape
  By fedupwithit - July 20 - 5:46 pm

  Bought my 2008 Escape in June 2007, really loved the vehicle with no complaints until this year. At 84,000 miles the headliner is falling down in front and on side in cargo area, the bearings went out, the tire pressure sensor kept coming on for 2 months, the seats stain easily after turning over a vase of roses in just water and the stain wont come out. I have owned 8 new Fords with no complaints but I have become completely disgusted with this 2008 Escape and I wouldnt recommend it to anyone...it has made me consider buying a foreign vehicle for the first time in my life as my co-workers love their Hyundai Suvs

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  Let me count the problems - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By wilkg - July 20 - 9:50 am

  First, Ive been a loyal Ford owner for 30 years now. My last Ford was an Expedition. We had no problems with the SUV and put about 120k miles on it. Needless to say, with the current performace of my 2011 Explorer, this will be the last Ford I own. That being said, here are the issues: 1) Transmission slips in first-I almost plowed through the back of the garage last week. 2) Overheating 3) Sync system: a) Bluetooth errors b) Nav slow to react c) system reboots when driving d) radio stays on after car is turned off e) time is wrong f) destination history is wiped out 4) Right rear window is loose..how that got past quality control is beyond me. 5) dashboard noise update to come...

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  A sharp lookin ride with MPGs to match! - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By mechanic80 - July 18 - 6:19 pm

  Granted, its only been the first thousand miles, but the fuel economy is fantastic. I drive almost exclusively highway and have been averaging over 45 MPG. The manual transmission is relatively smooth and Im sure if I had gotten an automatic the power would be disappointing. The A/C adds a considerable burden to the no-where-near overpowered engine. I have to say that even in white, its a sharp looking car (hatchback with graphics and tinted windows.) There are real issues, though, specifically the comfort and safety of the front seats. I hope I never get smacked hard in the rear (of the car!) because the way the headrests hit at the top of the head, Id probably snap my neck.