Ford is a USA carmaker founded in 1903. The cars themselves are another matter: across 111 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 4 countries — the United States 69.7%, Canada 15.5%, Mexico 13.5%. 59 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 3.9 out of 5 across 59 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Ford
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, the company pioneered the moving assembly line for the Model T in 1913 and reshaped global manufacturing. Today Ford produces passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and electric vehicles across more than 65 plants in 21 countries, supported by approximately 3,000 dealerships in the United States. The Ford F-Series has been the best-selling pickup truck in the United States every year since 1977 and the best-selling vehicle of any type since 1981, a streak verified by Automotive News and IHS Markit registration data. Mustang remains the longest-running pony car nameplate, in production continuously since April 1964. The Bronco returned in 2021 after a 25-year hiatus, and the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning anchor the company's electrified lineup. Ford trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol F and reports vehicle recalls in real time to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). EPA fuel economy ratings, IIHS crash-test scores and J.D. Power dependability studies provide independent benchmarks for every Ford model year. Owners typically look up a Ford VIN to verify trim, factory-installed options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP — data that ForCar.org surfaces from the same NHTSA dataset Ford uses to notify dealers.
Henry Ford founded the company in a converted Detroit wagon factory in June 1903 with twelve investors and $28,000 in capital. The Model T, introduced in 1908, was the first automobile mass-produced on a moving assembly line, dropping its price from $850 in 1908 to $260 by 1925 and putting cars within reach of working-class Americans. The five-dollar workday Ford introduced in 1914 set a new wage benchmark for American industry.
| Ford | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1903 |
| Founded by | Henry Ford |
| Headquarters | Dearborn, USA |
| Listed as | F |
| Slogan | «Built Ford Tough» |
| Models tracked here | 55 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 4 countries |
Technology it is known for: EcoBoost turbocharged engines, SYNC 4 infotainment, BlueCruise hands-free Level 2 driving, Co-Pilot360 driver assistance, Pro Power Onboard generator (F-150).
This page covers Ford Motor Company, the American automaker — not Harrison Ford, Gerald Ford, the Ford Foundation, or Ford Models agency.
Where Ford cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 207,338 vehicles on record, 111 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1FM, 1FA, 1FT, 1ZV | 1981–2026 | |
| Canada | 2FM, 2FA, 2FT, 2FD | 1981–2024 | |
| Mexico | 3FA, 3FM, 3FT, 3SA | 1983–2026 | |
| India | MAJ | 2018–2022 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Ford beginning 1FM was assembled in the United States.
All Ford models 59
Every Ford model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Ford SUVs & crossovers 18
Ford Cars & sedans 19
Ford Trucks 5
Ford Minivans & vans 7
Ford More models 10
Ford by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Ford | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 5,163 campaigns | Most recalled: Exterior Lighting |
| Owner complaints | 198,462+ filed | Most reported: Explorer |
| Fuel economy | 110 mpg best | Leader: Mustang Mach-E |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 8 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,301/yr typical | Cheapest: E-350 |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Ford hybrids & electric models
Ford's electrified lineup — 13 hybrids and 6 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Ford hybrids 13
Ford electric & plug-in 6
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Ford window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Ford's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Ford window stickers →How to read a Ford VIN
Every Ford built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Ford and the country it was built in (real Ford codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA1F1 · 1F7 · 1FA · 1FB · 1FM · 1FT
- Canada2FA · 2FM · 2FT · 2LM · 2LN · 2ME
- Mexico3FA · 3FB · 3FM · 3FT · 3LN · 3MA
- GermanyWF0 · WF1
- Norway1FL
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. The whole position-by-position breakdown — year codes 2001–2026, country codes, stamping locations — lives in our VIN decoder tool.
Who owns Ford, and what you get
Ford is independent, USA-owned and publicly listed as F. Ford competes across nearly every passenger and light-commercial segment in North America, with particular strength in full-size pickups and body-on-frame SUVs. The company's Built Ford Tough marketing positions trucks for towing, payload and work-site use, while the Mustang and Bronco lines target enthusiast and lifestyle buyers. Ford's Model e division focuses exclusively on electric vehicles and is run as a separate profit-and-loss unit alongside Ford Blue (gasoline) and Ford Pro (commercial).
| Ford | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Ownership | Independent |
| Stock ticker | F |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Canada, Mexico, India |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Ford models actually start to break →
Ford — frequently asked
Is Ford usa?
Ford is a USA company, headquartered in Dearborn and founded in 1903. The cars are a separate question: 69.7% of the Ford vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are Ford cars made?
Across 111 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (69.7%), Canada (15.5%), Mexico (13.5%), India (0.9%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Ford?
Ford is independent, publicly traded as F.
How many Ford models are there?
We track 59 Ford models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Ford warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Ford reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Ford model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.