Ford recalled about 1.5 million cars in 1978 because faulty fuel tanks could leak after rear-end collisions.
The recall involved Ford Pinto cars and related Mercury Bobcat models. Their fuel-system design left the tank and filler-neck area vulnerable in certain rear impacts. A ruptured tank could spill gasoline, increasing the risk of fire. Ford announced a recall and offered protective modifications.
The Pinto controversy became especially prominent because of allegations about Ford’s internal cost-benefit analysis. The company denied that it had knowingly accepted an unsafe design simply to avoid repair costs, while critics used the case to debate corporate ethics and product-liability decisions.
The recall did not mean every Pinto would catch fire in every crash. Risk depended on collision conditions and the vehicle’s fuel-system configuration. The episode remains a landmark in discussions of automobile safety, regulation, engineering design, and corporate responsibility.