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Where is the world without it Ford? The automotive company has given us so many vehicles that are now household names. The cars that Ford created truly helped shape the trajectory of the American auto industry. If your picture a muscle car in your mind, it’s probably a Ford Mustang. Think of one of the hottest hatchbacks, and probably; it’s a Ford Fiesta. But in the same way that Ford had such an impact on their cars in a positive light, the pendulum once swung in the opposite direction – with the doomed Ford Pinto.
Ford’s Pinto has become somewhat of a legend in the automotive world, but not in a good way. The dramas and nightmarish events that became part of the Ford Pinto seem like a scary story you’d tell around the campfire – except for the fact that it’s all true.
Everyone knows someone who knows someone else who had their world rocked by a Ford Pinto, and not in a good way. These small subcompact cars are notorious for many safety issues, despite only being in production for less than a decade.
A small (no pun intended) clue to the unfortunate series of missteps that plagued the Ford Pinto is that the word “pinto” carries a pejorative connotation in many Spanish-speaking countries.
We’ll let you Google that one for yourself, but we’ve got you covered when it comes to the spooky story behind the Ford Pinto.
The Background of the Ford Pinto
In the 1960s, smaller economy cars from Japanese and European automakers made a double take of American car buyers. Ford also noticed, and of course wanted their own fighter in the ring. They needed a car that could compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Beetle and Datsun 510. So, the creation of the Pinto began.
The Pinto began life as an idea in 1967, because Ford wanted to make a light car that weighed less than 2,000 pounds. They also want it to cost less than $2,000, which equates to about $17,845 today.
From the first vision of this little pony to its inception, the Ford Pinto saw rapid completion in 25 months, which was a record at the time. But we know what can happen when corners are cut. When Ford released their first subcompact vehicle in the form of a Pinto, the base model price was $1,850. The Pinto’s low price undercuts most of the competition.
Produced from 1971 to 1980, Ford’s new car was available as a fastback two-door, two-door station wagon, or three-door hatchback (also known as the Runabout).
The Perils of Ford Pinto Ownership
Notorious is an understatement for the Ford Pinto’s heritage. With the history that the Pinto has, you’d never guess that over three million rolled off the factory line during its production run. A major Pinto issue has drawn relentless media attention, and even eyes from Washington.
Discovering the problems with the Ford Pinto almost damaged Ford’s reputation beyond repair. The heart of the controversy for the Ford Pinto was its faulty fuel system which opened the door to lawsuits and controversy, ultimately tarnishing the Pinto’s image. In particular, the placement of the fuel system near the rear. This makes the Door susceptible to fire and possible explosions from impact. Unfortunately, these events ended up happening, and tragically, even led to fatalities. The fuel system issue was significant enough to warrant changes from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to test for 20 mph rear-end collisions. Subsequently, more stringent criteria have been proposed for where the fuel system should be located.
Although the Pinto’s fuel system placement was unusual for cars of the time, a leak and fire from the fuel system at lower speeds made the issue fatal. In 1974, there was a petition from the Center for Auto Safety to have the NHTSA issue a recall on Ford’s Pinto. However, NHTSA said there was not enough evidence to support the claims to issue an investigation.
The Ford Pinto: “The Little Carefree Car” – Or Was It?
Once stopped from the deathbed left by the Ford Pinto, it’s not a good car, period. In fact, most gearheads would say the Pinto is one of the worst cars of all time.
The rushed production of the Pinto shows in more ways than the ignorance of its faulty fuel tanks. Poor quality and a mediocre ride did the Pinto’s disrepair to begin with. One complaint about the Pinto’s quality came from the uncomfortable seats, while another spoke of its cheap construction that seemed unsafe…wonder why?
Ford Gets Deserved Criticism For Ford Pinto
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In 1977, an article written by Mother Jones called out Ford for being complacent on issues of rear-end accidents leading to fires. Media attention grew, and NHTSA’s hand was forced to investigate the issue and make findings that furthered the failure – by showing that the Pinto was flammable. In 1978, Ford received approximately 117 lawsuits involving rear-end collisions.
These incidents led to an award of $3.5 million, up from what the jury originally awarded a total of $256,306,000 in the case known as Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Co. Another case known as Indiana v. Ford Motor Co. brought criminal charges against the company, which is an important case. This is the first time a company has been convicted of criminal charges for defective vehicles.
While the Ford Pinto remains formidable even decades later, Ford has improved its standing in the automotive world over the years. I hope they have learned their lesson.
Sources: Ford, Auto Safety, Chicago Tribune, NHTSA
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