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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  Ford Explorer Software Problems - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By mjd7 - June 11 - 5:50 am

  I recently purchased the 2011 Ford Explorer, which to date has been a marvelous vehicle, with the exception of the on board computer screen. There is a software problem that Ford currently does not have a fix for (according to my dealer). Hence, the onboard screen shows a black screen "SYNC by Microsoft" for much of my driving pleasure. This locks up all the functions of the screen including the navigation system, Heating and Cooling, Entertainment and Phone. It also locks up (for some of the time) the reverse camera, which is a liability because one cannot see anything under 4 feet when reversing.

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  Very Satisfied - 2011 Ford Focus
  By lauriebe - June 10 - 10:55 pm

  Ive had this car for 6 months, and Im very impressed. It has everything one needs as far as Im concerned. I have an automatic, a/c, a cd player, clock, arm rest, cup holders, I can look up my miles per gallon, trip miles, the trunk is a good size considering the size of the car itself, the gas mileage is good, and not that it matters, but I absolutely love the color of my car as well (they have nice options). My favorite feature of the car, is that I feel Im driving a more expensive vehicle, with the way it drives and handles.. very tight. It really is a fun car to drive. It has smooth driving, and great pick up, and.. its American made, its a good value, especially in this economy

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  Three and counting - 2011 Ford Escape
  By escaper2 - June 10 - 12:00 pm

  Starting in 2005 with my first Escape, then with my 2008 escape I have to admit this 2011 I just bought is the best of all. Most of the "Bugs" have been worked out. The Michelin tires on this one are a first for me. The road noise so evident in the other two is gone now and I attribute that to the tires. Sync is okay, Im a old guy at 61 and pretty much know where I am going. Perhaps it will help when I become senile? I do miss the compartment in the back under the carpet for the "extra" junk we all carry but never use. I finally got the moon roof and the fog lights. Very pleasant additions. The service department at my dealer is fantastic. The 2011 Escape is well worth the price.

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  Surprisingly Great Little Car! - 2010 Ford Focus
  By red84 - June 9 - 10:01 pm

  I got this car a year and a half ago as a company vehicle. I chose it over the Corolla because of all the problems Toyota was having at the time with the accelerator issues, and I wanted to buy an American made car. It had 327mi on it when I got it. Well, 1.5 yrs, 37,000 miles later, no problems whatsoever. I had never owned a Ford before and am pleasantly surprised with the quality. I drive on average 120mi a day for work, sometimes more, sometimes less. During the winter I was getting upwards of 38mpg! The only complaint I have is that I hit a big pothole and now the front end squeaks on turns. I would recommend this car to anyone. I would buy a Ford again.

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  No [non-permissible content removed] for me..love my Ford - 2008 Ford Escape
  By studenut - June 7 - 6:47 pm

  Bought this little red Escape off the showroom floor. Apparently driven by a salesman for 5K miles. I was a died in the wool Ford-hater till my husband bought this one for me with the promise that if in 1 year Id be able to get whatever I wanted. I traded in a Mercedes 430 SEL (something like that)...Talk about JUNK? I could write a book about that Lemon! Electrical wiring, throttle problems, cocked moonroof, windows that failed to go down,early brake failure,on and on. I knew the service manager by his first name. No...I am thrilled with this one. They couldnt get me to trade for any Japanese or German SUV after Ive owned this one.

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  A Solid, Reliable Truck. 1994 Ford Explorer Sport, 2 DR, Auto - 1994 Ford Explorer
  By yragsapo - June 5 - 10:01 am

  I bought my 1994 Ford Explorer Sport in May, 1994 and it has been pretty reliable over the years. Id have to say its weakest point has been its tranny, which required rebuilds in Jan 00, Dec 02 and another one now, as I write this. This is with the trailer towing package with the auxiliary tranny cooler, though I never towed anything with the truck. There have been other parts that have been changed over the years, but not at a faster rate than one would expect. I have to admit though, If I didnt have GEICOs mechanical breakdown coverage, I probably wouldnt have this truck still. Im grandfathered in under the old plan that was offerred in NY with unlimited time and mileage (I pay the 1st $250 of any major repair). They will total the vehicle if the repair is over 75% of appraised value, which is around $2000 for my truck. All the talk of the repairs aside, this truck has been my companion for 17 years and I consider it a part of me. Weve explored all over this country together and Im determined to see its 250K mile "birthday" in the next couple of years, when I can tell people its driven the distance to the moon (and not at the closest point in its orbit). At $223,500 now. I would also like to see my 14 y/o learn to drive in this truck when he turns 17.

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  Love my Escape But !!! - 2007 Ford Escape
  By jlo425 - June 4 - 10:47 pm

  Well, I didnt want to do it but I finally sold my Ford Escape. I owned it for a little over a year and loved to drive it, enjoyed the way it handled and the versatility. It was always fun to drive it as it handled well and was a great looking vehicle. The wind noise was a bit noticable at times but the reason I got rid of it was the terrible gas mileage. I have no idea what people are saying about good mileage. I live in the county and 95 % of my driving is highway and my Escape averages 20 mpg on the highway . My driving habits are quite conservative and Edmunds .com rates it as 21mpg on the highway. On the highway !!! To me this is not acceptable so I had to part with it . Thanks

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  Great Car - 2005 Ford Focus
  By colorsendinink - June 2 - 11:02 pm

  My family bought this car new in 2004, and its given us very few problems since then. After making the mistake of buying a 1996 cavalier ( died after 4 months of driving with 78000 total miles)...me and my dad made a deal where i would make the down payment on his new car, and i would get his 2005 focus. best descion ive made. since 2004, weve only replaced the brakes once, which was last year, replaced sway links, and we had a minor electrical problem with the windows. the car works great in our buffalo winters, and currently has 150,000 miles and still drives great.

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  Excellent little car- 6 speed automatic SE. - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By s_carlock - May 29 - 10:06 am

  My wife and I have had our Fiesta for about 9 months now and have put around 10.5k miles on it in the time, including a trip from Austin, TX. to Charleston, SC and back, totaling 2400 miles of travel (probably a bit more since we took detours) and the car has been reliable every step of the way. For the price, the Fiesta is an excellent vehicle. The construction seems solid (love how heavy the doors are), the seats are comfortable once adjusted to personal taste -- our cross-country trip was a 24 hour drive each way, non-stop -- the storage space in the sedan is excellent. The Sync system has been a little fussy at times, but not a deal-breaker. Just takes a little time to get used to.

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  Project Car. - 1998 Ford Mustang
  By amadorklan - May 26 - 3:14 am

  I purchased a 1998 GT as a project car to keep and tinker with. Needless to say this will be a good challenge for me. There a few things to repair and customize. Above all the engine is rumbling like a champ. LOVE! the engine and exhaust sound. Black and tan interior match very well and replacement parts are fair in price. I plan on doing some upgrades to the engines. Even as a used car, a GT 4.6L has a lot of power and will give incredible speeds. Parents beware, you should not buy your teenager such a powerful car. Buy they aa base mustang V6/V4.