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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  Great Looking Repair Job - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By wilsoncl6 - November 13 - 11:51 am

  I loved everything about my Expedition except the need for repairs. I did all of the recommended maintenance in accordance with the recommended mileage and at about 90,000 had to replace the transmission. One year later, had to replace another transmission. In the meantime, I had to repair something that broke that was connected to the front right axle. Now, at 133,000 the car cut off while I was driving on the freeway and a message comes up to check the electronic throttle control which I found out is a common event on this year, make and model. Ford has a problem with transmissions in their vehicles and this one is no different.

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  Disappointed!!!! - 2013 Ford Focus
  By finnigan1 - November 11 - 6:39 pm

  Horrible purchase. I previously owned a 2001 Ford Escape and experienced no issues, so I figured I would stick with a Ford vehicle. I have a long commute and decided the 2013 Ford Focus would be a practical choice. 3 months after purchasing it, the heater needed to be replaced. Ford also decided to replace the clutches in the transmission as well since it was very noisy when accelerating and shifting gears. Vehicle was returned to me and the transmission problems still existed. As of right now, its sitting at the dealership waiting to have the power steering rack replaced...Ive owned this car for 18 months, and have driven 54000km....brutal.

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  Top down and loving - 2012 Ford Mustang
  By lewmar68 - November 10 - 9:43 pm

  Being a native Californian, I have always wanted a convertible sports car. I recently sold my BMW 330ci coupe( not a convertible) and purchased my 2012 mustang convertible, This car is fast, responsive and absolutely a blast to drive!

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  Dual Clutch Trans shifting problems - 2012 Ford Focus
  By thomasln - November 9 - 7:43 pm

  My trans kept dropping out of gear. No pattern - interstate, intersections, totally unpredictable. Would leave me stranded & the car would not go into gear. Ford dealer couldnt find the problem until I made video. They said I needed a $200 software patch that didnt work. I drove it 200 feet & it died in the dealers lot. After 8 days in the shop, they found a loose ground wire in the Transmission Control Module inside the transmission. I have driven about 450 miles with no recurrence of the problem. If you are having trans problems, let your dealer know to check the grounds on the TCM before you spend $. I regard it as a manufacturing & design flaw.

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  Fun! - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By hughlokey - November 8 - 7:06 am

  I picked up a new EcoBoost Premium yesterday and so far I really like the car. Having owned over 40 new cars over they years this is my first Mustang. I looked at 2014 models a couple of times but was turned off by the cheap interiors and this is something Ford has addressed in the new 2015. I selected the EcoBoost Premium over the GT because I dont need all that horsepower and the high insurance bill that comes with it. The EcoBoost has more than enough power to put your drivers license in danger!

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  Great Experience - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By waterdr1 - November 6 - 12:22 am

  Took delivery of a 2014 Black on Black Titanium with the 2.0 in March 2014 and have 20k on it as of Nov. I drive a lot and comfort, safety, reliability mean a lot. I have driven well over a million miles on numerous cars I have owned in the last 20 years as a traveling consultant and this is one, great car! Dont bother with any other power plant than the 2.0 IMO. Fit and finish has been perfect and it has not seen a shop other then oil and tire rotations. My only issue is I could use more trunk space and Ford does not seem to use very good all season tires. I will be putting snow tires on it this winter.

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  Will Buy AGAIN!!! - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By amazed7 - November 2 - 10:46 am

  I purchased my 2004 Ford Expedition with 3 miles on it. (New). I still have it today (2014) with 235,000 miles on it. She still does long distance. I faithly performed oil changes every 3000. The mechanic said his died at 335000 miles. Worth the money.

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  Satisfied owner of 2014 Ford Escape S 2.0L/Turbo FWD - 2014 Ford Escape
  By ride50 - October 31 - 11:39 am

  Purchased 2014 Ford Escape S/FWD with 2.0L/Turbo. Ford Sync & Navigation. I have read a lot of complaints about Ford Sync/Nav. I have absolutely no problems with Sync and Navigation. I personally think the system is way too cumbersome for average user to understand and operate. Down to earth manual would solve the current Sync/Nav complaints. There are so many options with Sync & Nav to explore that even average Ford salesman does not know how to demonstrate the features. The manual supplied with the vehicle is very poorly written. I had to go on line to research all the functions this system can offer. Purchased 2014 end of the model year, excellent value, rebates, discounts, financing.

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  Good so far - 2005 Ford F-150
  By brunswick592 - October 30 - 7:25 pm

  I bought this truck mid-summer 2014, It had 75k miles on it and was babied by the one owner. I bought it with a 6" suspension lift on 35 Nitto trail grapplers. I had a 2009 Avalanche prior to this and so far Im liking the Ford better. The truck runs great with the big lift and tires and has no problem getting into gear. My gas mileage is on average 8-10. Its expensive but I knew what I was getting into. From everything I have read, people have had many problems with the 5.4. So far I havent had any problems, but the ticking noise coming from the engine is only getting louder every oil change. I sure hope she doesnt have any major problems down the road

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  Cant argue with it! - 1994 Ford Ranger
  By smoo4asw - October 30 - 3:46 pm

  We were expecting to pay $275 to get the fuel injectors cleaned out but someone at our local AutoZone showed us a quicker and arguably better way to get it done. We put one can of Sea Foam in the gas tank and another directly into the engine through one of the vacuum lines, and then we went from having 6.75% of the total emissions being CO to only 0.02% after the smoke completely cleared! It hasnt done that good since it was new, and back then we didnt need emissions testing. This truck is such a faithful servant to us that we would rather repair or replace whatever might go wrong than start all over again. Not having a car payment is tops.