Are you planning to purchase a Ford and you want to learn whether is Ford a good car? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be quite a lot to cover on this topic and we are going to elaborate on all you need to know when it comes to Ford.
- History Of Ford
- Why Are They So Popular?
- Pros & Cons
- Current Lineup
- Most Problematic Cars
- Least Problematic Cars
- Are They Any Good?
- Final Conclusion
- FAQs
Doing proper research on a car brand before you make a purchase is one of the smartest things that you can do. Why we are saying this? Well, we are saying this because the overall reputation tells quite a lot about a certain brand. And Ford is not an exception to it if you are asking me.
Every car brand has some reputation on the market and this reputation is probably the main factor why these brands have stuck with us for a really long time. But this doesn’t mean that a company does not release problematic models on the market.
Especially Ford is a clear example of this. Even though they have really good models like the F-150 and Mustang, not all of their cars are built the same. This is why we are going to help you out.
First, we are going to learn a little about the history of the Ford Motor Company. Then we will cover why this car brand is so popular and the pros and cons of owning one of their cars. Then we will cover the current Ford lineup and after that, we will discuss the most problematic models and least problematic models that they offer. As well as whether is Ford a good car or not.
Ford Motor Car Company History
Now before we learn whether is Ford a good car, let’s take a look at the history of Ford and learn more about this company. Learning the history of the company tells quite a lot about its lineage on the market and the successes the company had in the past. And trust me, when it comes to history, Ford is probably the richest one out there.
This company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford. If you didn’t know, Henry Ford was the Elon Musk of the 20th century when it came to carmaking.
He made cars to be accessible for the average Joe by simplifying the production process. Henry Ford created the concept of moving assembly lines that almost all carmakers use nowadays. This simplification into building cars drove the prices down quite significantly and a lot more people were able to afford a car.
This also helped the US economy to be the fastest growing economy in the world in the 20th century because by using vehicles with internal combustion engines, you were able to do a lot more and achieve more.
Nevertheless, Ford has survived a lot of struggles and hard times. Like the 2008 crisis and it is still one of the top three US carmakers along with GM and Chrysler.
And not only in the US, but Ford is also very present in Europe, China, Thailand, and Turkey. They have factories all around the world and have an output of 3.9 million cars annually. Which is quite a respectable number. But is Ford a good car? More on that in a bit.
Why Is Ford So Popular
So, we learned about the history of Ford and learned that this is one of the oldest nameplates sold in the US market and one of the top three US carmakers that is also present globally. Now let’s take a look at why Ford is so popular nowadays before we cover whether Ford is a good car or not.
When it comes to understanding the popularity of the Ford brand, we need to go back in time because this popularity was created throughout its long history. And there are two models that created this popularity.
The first model and probably the model that created the biggest impact on the market was the introduction of the F-Series of trucks. The F-Series is a series of light-duty pickup trucks that debuted in 1948.
And the most popular model of this series is the F-150. And this model is still the best-selling pickup truck in the US market even after fourteen generations. The F-150 steals most of the sales from the competition and the annual sales go up to 850,000 units sold in the US and Canada. And this tells quite a lot about this model.
And the second model as you probably assume is the Mustang. The legendary pony car debuted in 1964 and immediately created a huge impact.
Currently, the Mustang has the biggest following out there when it comes to modern muscle cars and sells really well. It sells so well, that in 2024, there will be released the seventh generation of this legendary model. But is Ford a good car? Well, more about that, we are going to cover it in a bit.
Pros & Cons Of Ford Cars
Now since we introduced ourselves to Ford and learned more about its history and why this brand is so legendary in the US market. We think that now it is time to discuss more about the pros and cons of having a Ford before we dive into whether is Ford a good car or not.
Knowing the pros and cons will really help you out when it comes to determining whether or not this brand is good or not. So, let’s discuss this briefly and learn more about the perks and downsides of having a Ford.
Is Ford A Good Car: Pros
Now let’s start with the pros of owning a Ford. Knowing the pros will really help you out and make your purchase decision a lot easier. So, let’s elaborate.
When it comes to the pros it is worth noting that Ford is one of the biggest players in the US market. This means that they have a great number of dealerships across the country. Basically, in every bigger town, there is a Ford dealership.
And this makes owning and maintaining a car a lot easier. You don’t need to drive a lot to reach a service center to fix your vehicle. This will save you a lot of time and also a lot of money.
The second pro of owning a Ford is affordability. Ford models are not expensive as a Lincoln or a Cadillac. They are priced similarly to RAM, Dodge, Chevy, or GMC. This means that you don’t have to spend a whole fortune to purchase a car. For example, the starting MSRP for the F-150 is around $34,500.
This is rather affordable in our opinion when we take into consideration the current car prices.
Another pro is probably the variety of models that you can purchase. Especially for their pickup trucks. There is a trim for everyone’s budget. And if there is something that Ford is good at, that is probably building pickups.
So, when it comes to purchasing a pickup, you should always take the F-150 into consideration. But is Ford a good car? Well, more on that, we are going to cover it in a bit.
Is Ford A Good Car: Cons
So, we have covered the pros of owning a Ford, now let’s take a look at the cons of owning a Ford before we learn whether is Ford a good car or not. Are there any cons at all? Let’s find out.
Well, when it comes to cons, Ford has a few of them that are worth discussing. And the biggest con is probably the reliability. Reliability is not the strongest side when it comes to Ford vehicles.
Still, not all of their models are unreliable. For example, their truck lineup, as well as the Mustang is pretty much bulletproof. Yet, they have some models in their SUV lineup that have some reliability problems. Even though in recent years with the refinement of the EcoBoost engines, most of these issues were patched.
The second con is the build quality. When it comes to Ford, you cannot expect a lot when it comes to the build quality. Even in vehicles that cost $50,000 or more. Why so?
Well, Ford is not a luxury carmaker. For that, they have their Lincoln brand which offers high-end spec models. This is why when it comes to Ford models, you will come across cheap plastic in the interiors and in some cases big panel gaps.
This is why if you are looking for better interior quality, a Lincoln might be the way to go. But is Ford a good car? Well, more about that, we are going to cover it in a bit. Now let’s spend some time and learn more about their current lineup.
Is Ford A Good Car: Ford Cars Current Lineup
So, we learned a bit about the history of Ford and learned why this carmaker is one of the most legendary ones out there. Then we covered the pros and cons of owning a Ford.
We think that now it is time to discuss more about the current Ford lineup before we discuss whether is Ford a good car or not. Knowing the lineup will help you out when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle since you will be able to tell what is their offering and if their offering matches your preferences. So, let’s discuss the Ford lineup.
Ford Cars
Now as we covered the pros and cons of Ford. Before we learn if is Ford a good car, let’s take a look at its lineup. More specifically their car lineup.
And unfortunately, their car lineup is almost empty. Previously, there was the Taurus, Crown Victoria, Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion. But not anymore. The only car that Ford still sells is the Mustang.
Ford decided to step away from this market and focus more on their SUV lineup because these are the vehicles that matter the most nowadays and sell really well.
Nevertheless, the Mustang is the only model offered nowadays. The Mustang has a starting price of about $28,000.
What is good though is that from 2024, there will be a completely new Mustang with improved styling and a lot of interesting trims. Namely, the Dark Horse. So, it might be a better idea to wait and get the all-new Mustang. But is Ford a good car? More on that in a bit.
Ford SUVs
Now before we discuss whether is Ford a good car, let’s take a look at their SUV lineup. And this lineup is probably one of the biggest from any other carmaker in the US. Since it has 8 different models that offer quite a lot for the money.
The entry-level model is the EcoSport which starts at $22,000. This is the smallest in the whole lineup of SUVs.
Then comes the Ford Escape which starts at $27,200. In this class, there are also the Ford Bronco Sport and the standard Ford Bronco. Starting at $29,200 and $31,300 respectively. If you want something really special, the standard Bronco is the way to go.
Then in the mid-size category come the Ford Explorer, starting at $36,800, and the Ford Edge starting at $38,000.
In the full-size segment, the big Ford Expedition is the model that you want to go for. The Expedition starts at $53,900.
Also, there is a fully electric model known as the Mustang Mach-E. This model is probably one of the hottest all-electric SUVs right now. The Mach-E starts at $48,200. Rather pricey but all of the electric cars are rather expensive compared to the standard gas-powered models. But is Ford a good car? More on that, we will cover it in a bit.
Ford Trucks
And now lastly, let’s cover Ford’s lineup of pickup trucks before elaborating on whether is Ford a good car or not.
Similarly to their SUV lineup, the pickup lineup is rather strong since its introduction to the market. But Ford has slowly started to move out from the utilitarian style of designing their trucks. And with the last few generations, it started to implement a lot of features and commodities that were not present in trucks before.
Nevertheless, when it comes to pickup trucks, there are a lot of options when it comes to Ford. The entry-level truck is the Ford Maverick. The Maverick is the smallest truck and also the cheapest, starting at $22,200.
Next in the lineup is the Ford Ranger. The Ranger is a mid-size pickup truck that starts at $26,400. And the entry-level truck in the full-size lineup is the good old F-150. The F-150 starts at $34,500.
There are also the Super Duty trucks like the F-250, F-350, and so on. These trucks are understandably a lot more expensive. The F-250 starts at $43,000.
What is interesting to note is that there is also a fully electric model of the F-150, called the Lightning. The Lightning starts at $53,800. But is Ford a good car? More on that next.
Most Problematic Ford Models
Now let’s move on and before we learn whether is Ford a good car, let’s take a look at the most problematic Ford models. Which are the models that you need to be aware of and make sure that you definitely avoid unless you want to end up with a money pit full of problems? Let’s elaborate.
The most problematic Ford model out there is the Ford Explorer. The Explorer is probably the most troublesome model that you can buy. Especially the first three generations from this model. On carcomplaints.com, there are more than 13,000 complaints specifically on this vehicle. And the worst model year overall was 2006 with many transmission failures.
The second most problematic model is the Ford Escape with more than 4,661 complaints. There were a lot of serious issues reported with this model. Namely, transmission problems, and engine problems. 2008 was the most problematic year of all with 618 complaints overall. Only in recent years, this model has become a more reliable vehicle.
The next model that is rather problematic is the Ford Focus. Especially the years between 2012 and 2014. These years have had a ton of reports on transmission problems. So, you should definitely avoid 2012, 2013, and 2014.
And the last model on our list is the Ford Taurus. The Ford Taurus was the full-size model that Ford offered. The Taurus has about 2,628 complaints on carcomplaints.com. With the worst model years being 2003 and 2005 with the most complaints. But is Ford a good car? More on that, we are going to cover it in a bit.
Least Problematic Ford Models
Now let’s take a look at the least problematic models that Ford offers before we learn whether is Ford a good car or not. What are the best cars that Ford produced? Let’s elaborate.
When it comes to the most reliable models, the Mustang is definitely the most reliable vehicle overall. It has 1,500 complaints in total. But remember that this is a model introduced in 1964. So, this is a healthy record in our books.
The second most reliable Ford model on our list is the Crown Victoria. The Crown Victoria was produced in millions. And there are only 192 complaints. So, this is probably the car that you want in terms of reliability. They can also be found on the cheap for $2,000.
The next model when it comes to overall good reliability is the Expedition. The Expedition is the full-size SUV that Ford offers. On this model, there are a total of 1,600 complaints. But considering how many of these were made, this isn’t a lot.
Is Ford A Good Car
Now let’s take a look at whether is Ford a good car or not. This is the question that bothers us all along and we need to understand more about this brand and whether it is worth your attention or not.
We can clearly say that the Ford brand is generally a good brand. But there are some models that are rather problematic and you should be aware of them.
Namely, the SUV lineup. Some of the SUVs, especially the older generations can be rather problematic. Some of the models are the Explorer, Edge, and Escape. So, we would recommend that you should be particularly wary of these models if you plan to purchase a new car.
Also, be aware of the Focus, Fusion, and Taurus in the sedan lineup. Even though these cars are not produced anymore, you can still find them used. And some of the models have a lot of problems. Especially the early EcoBoost engine models. They tend to leak coolant into the cylinders.
As well as having issues with the transmission. Namely, the Ford Focus and Fusion have a lot of transmission-related problems. Now let’s conclude this article on the topic of whether is Ford a good car.
Is Ford A Good Car: Final Conclusion
In this article, we covered quite a bit when it comes to Ford. First, we learned a little bit about the history of Ford and why Ford is so popular.
Then we covered the pros and cons of owning a Ford. After that, we covered the Ford lineup of cars and their price tags. Then we covered the least reliable models by Ford, as well as the most reliable Ford models. Lastly, we learned if is Ford a good car or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
Is Ford American Made
Yes, Ford is an American automaker. Even though, they have a presence globally. Ford has factories in the US, Europe, and Asia. So, their presence is global. Even though the model lineup might differ from one to another location.
Where Is Ford Made
For the US market, the models that Ford sells are primarily produced in the US or Canada. Ford also has some factories in Mexico as well. Overall, Ford has a lot of factories in the US, namely, in Kentucky, Michigan, and Missouri.
How Many Cars Does Ford Sell A Year
The number of cars Ford sells is slowly reducing from year to year. For example, in 2014 they sold 6.3 million vehicles. And as of 2021, they sold 3.9 million vehicles. This was mostly due to Ford’s abandonment of the sedan market. Nowadays they primarily focus on selling SUVs and trucks.
Are Ford Explorers Reliable
The Ford Explorer is one of the least reliable models that Ford offers. Overall, the model has accumulated more than 13,000 complaints on carcomplaints.com. We would advise avoiding models produced before 2018. Mainly because these have the most complaints.
Are Ford Mustangs Reliable
Yes, the Mustang is a fairly reliable vehicle. Especially the 5.0L V8 engine. They are pretty much bulletproof cars. The EcoBoost is much more prone to problems.
How Long Do Fords Last
On average Ford cars last somewhere between 200,000 and 350,000 miles. It really depends on the model and how maintained the car was. Some models are rather more problematic than others. And we cannot generalize and make a statement for all of the models that Ford sells.
