RoadVitals

1972 Ford Pinto

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Oct 10, 1996
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jun 19, 1978
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1972 Ford Pinto, most frequently naming the seat belts category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
78V143000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jun 19, 1978
1,400,000 units potentially affected
The defect: IN THE EVENT THE VEHICLE IS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, THE FUEL FILLER PIPE COULD DISCONNECT FROM THE TANK OR THE TANK COULD BE PUNCTURED IN THE FORWARD FACE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A LONGER FUEL FILLER PIPE HAVING AN IMPROVED SEAL. ALSO, A POLYETHYLENE SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT OF THE FUEL TANK.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP78025ClosedDefect Petition

FUEL TANK FIRES

Opened Feb 7, 1978
Closed Jan 23, 1978

FUEL TANK FIRES

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Oct 10, 1996
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE SEAT BELTS SHATTERED. *AK

NHTSA ID
803420

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Pinto by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1980210—
1979030—
1978130—
1977050—
1976171—
1975031—
1974031—
1973041—
1972Viewing131—
1971051—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.