<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-11</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000037996</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FORD MOTOR CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>F</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190844</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAYMON JOE W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FORD MOTOR COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE AMERICAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEARBORN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Group Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-12-11</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>3807</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>13.55</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>34614</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>30.19</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-03-08</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>40000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>16.91</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-03-14</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>75000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>7.55</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-03-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>50000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>24.94</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F5" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2010-03-28</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F5" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>36268</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>9.78</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F6" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-12-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F6" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>40000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These shares were withheld by the Company to cover my income tax liability relating to a grant to me of Common Stock under the Co
mpany's 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">The option is exercisable to the extent of 33% of the shares optioned after one year from the date of grant (3/9/2001), 66% after
 two years, and in full after three years.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">The option is exercisable to the extent of 33% of the shares optioned after one year from the date of grant (03/15/2002), 66% aft
er two years, and in full after three years.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">The option is exercisable to the extent of 33% of the shares optioned after one year from the date of grant (03/19/2003), 66% aft
er two years, and in full after three years.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F5">This option is exercisable to the extent of 33% of the shares optioned after one year from the date of grant (3/29/2000), 66% aft
er two years, and in full after three years.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F6">The option is exercisable to the extent of 33% of the shares optioned after one year from the date of grant (12/6/2002), 66% afte
r two years, and in full after three years.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>s/Kathryn S. Lamping, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-12-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

