The automobile model recalled by Ford in 1978 after fuel-tank fires in rear-end crashes was the Ford Pinto.
The Pinto was a subcompact car introduced for the 1971 model year. Its fuel-tank location and rear structure became the focus of safety investigations after some rear-end collisions caused ruptures, leaks, and fires. The issue affected Pinto cars and related Mercury Bobcat vehicles built during the period.
Ford announced a recall in 1978 for approximately 1.5 million Pintos and Mercury Bobcats. The company’s action followed testing and investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A recall modification included changes intended to reduce fuel leakage after rear impacts.
The Pinto became a major subject in debates about corporate risk analysis, cost-benefit calculations, and automobile safety. Popular retellings sometimes simplify the engineering history, but the recall itself concerned rear-impact fuel-system vulnerability and fire risk.