I think it has been talked about at length how awful a program the 2009 Cash for Clunkers was but apparently Fords wants to bring it back and is currently bugging the Government to do just that!

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/revisiting-cash-clunkers-spells-doom-200745995.html

Given the shortage in new cars due to chips and other inflation issues I don't understand why this would be a good idea. I do know Fords has LOTS of vehicles under recall for expensive repairs so I can only figure Fords is pushing this because they want them cars off the road to save the money having to fix them. The Takata air bag and ABS pumps on the Fusion, Milan and Zephyr / MKZ are just one of MANY recalls that are costing them lots of money. 

Apparently the wheels are falling off new F350 F450 F550 and F650 super duty trucks because they don't know if the rotor hub spacers got tightened or not, but it just goes to show that recalls are common in the Ford family. Cash for clunkers might not help them with their newer super duty truck recalls, but they would for sure help them with older 2006 vehicles they are having to fix as part of ongoing recalls.

Last time around it was something like $4500 cash allowance to trade in a clunker and most people were buying very inexpensive Toyota, Kia or Hyundai vehicles and not Ford, GM or Chrysler. I think it was said that the lions share of the cash for clunkers programs went to Asian car manufatures rather than US car makers. Even still, most new cars now days START at $40,000 at the low end and go up sharply from there! Most of the times the rebate just covers sales tax and dealer fee's so you'll still probably be getting into debt for $40,000 and losing a paid for vehicle if they re-instate the program and you use it.