Ford Pinto

21 Pages 5242 Words

Intro

Back in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, Ford was considered one of the four major U.S. automobile manufacturers. This paper will focus on Ford, and the safety issues regarding the gas tank with the Ford Pinto between 1971 and 1977. In 1977, there was a criminal indictment brought against Ford stating that the Pinto had been considered a fire hazard, because of where the gas tank was located in the rear of the vehicle. Allegations were brought up that after detailed rear-end crash tests; the actual design of the gas tank, and the placement of the gas tank was a safety hazard, and considered dangerous to the driver, as well as to any passengers in the vehicle. It was stated in the case analysis that Ford was so anxious to get the car on the market, they decided that the design changes would not be made, because it would take too much time and cost too much money (1).

The controversy surrounding the fuel tank was that it was located behind the rear axle, instead of above it. This was initially done in an effort to create more trunk space. The problem with this design, which later became evident, was that it made the Pinto more vulnerable to a rear-end collision. This weakness was enhanced by other features of the car. The gas tank and the rear axle were separated by only nine inches. There were also bolts that were positioned in a way that threatened the gas tank. Finally, the fuel filler pipe design resulted in a higher probability that it would disconnect from the tank in the event of an accident, causing gas to leak, which could lead to dangerous fires. With a combination of the enactment of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rear-end fuel system integrity standard in1969, called Standard 301, and the abundant design defects of the Pinto, this case became the center of public debate.

Part 1--Element 1--Duties to the Consumer

When it comes to purchasing products or services from a merchant, the ...