Ford's shares have dropped more than those of the other two American car makers this year. Its stock has fallen 5.4% to $11.48. GM's shares are down 2.4% to $33.99 over the same period, while Fiat Chrysler's shares are up 15.6% to $10.54.

Among the reasons for the drop in Ford's shares are expectations its first-quarter results will be weak. Some 58% of the analysts who cover Ford rate its shares as only a "hold."

Ford's U.S. sales have weakened this year. Despite the ongoing success of its F-150 pickup, the company's flagship and the perennial best-selling vehicle in America, total company sales are down 4.4% in the first quarter of 2017 to 258,000. Industry sales over the same period are off 1.5% to 4,033,045. Ford's recent sales in China have been weak. It cannot afford to lose ground in what has become the world's largest car market.

Ford suffered a public rebuke recently when the value of Tesla's shares moved ahead of its own. That difference could increase if Ford's results do not start to show some promise.