How many people died in the Ford Pinto fire?

Number of Deaths in Ford Pinto Fires
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded a total of 27 deaths attributed to fire over the six years the Ford Pinto was manufactured up to that point. Additionally, between June 9, 1978, and the date when parts were available to repair the estimated 2.2 million vehicles, six people died in Pinto fires after a rear impact. This brings the total number of deaths in Pinto fires to at least 33.
The Pinto’s design made it extremely vulnerable to rear-end collisions, causing the fuel tank to be punctured and leading to massive fires. The doors also had a tendency to jam shut after an impact, often trapping victims inside as the wreck burned. This design flaw resulted in 27 deaths and 24 nonfatal burn injuries from rear-end impacts on Pintos.
In summary, the total number of deaths attributed to Ford Pinto fires is at least 33 based on the available information.

Did Ford know the Pinto would explode?

Internal company documents showed that Ford secretly crash-tested the Pinto more than forty times before it went on the market and that the Pinto’s fuel tank ruptured in every test performed at speeds over twenty-five miles per hour. This rupture created a risk of fire.

Was anyone criminally charged on the Ford Pinto case?

The car manufacturer was charged with reckless homicide in the deaths of three Indiana teenagers who were killed when their Ford Pinto was hit from behind. Ford was accused of having prior knowledge of a design defect in the gas tank that would rupture in rear-end collisions.

How many fire deaths from Ford Pinto?

27 deaths
An official total of 27 deaths was tied to the vehicle, though some estimates are far higher. Of course, even at the conservative end of the spectrum, 27 preventable fatalities caused by a car with a propensity to explode and burn is still 27 too many.

Was the Ford Pinto a death trap?

As a result, the Pinto was highly vulnerable to lethal fires in rear-end collisions and was in fact a “fire trap” and a “death trap.” Ford decided to ignore the defect anyway, because re-design would have delayed the entry of the car into the market and caused a potential loss of market share to competitors.

Why didn t Ford fix the Pinto?

Ford waited eight years because its internal “cost-benefit analysis,” which places a dollar value on human life, said it wasn’t profitable to make the changes sooner.

Did Ford know the Pinto was unsafe?

Thus, Ford knew that the Pinto represented a serious fire hazard when struck from the rear, even in low-speed collisions. Ford officials faced a decision. Should they go ahead with the existing design, thereby meeting the production timetable but possibly jeopardizing consumer safety?

How many Tesla’s caught fire?

How many incidents of Tesla car fires have been reported to date? As of June 2021, there have been approximately 50 reported incidents of Tesla car fires globally since 2013. However, this number may change as more incidents are reported or investigated. What are some common causes of Tesla car fires?

Was Ford to blame in the Pinto case?

Grimshaw and Gray’s family filed a tort action against Ford, and the jury awarded not only $2.516 million to the Grimshaws and $559,680 to the Grays in damages for their injuries, but also $125 million to punish Ford for its conduct.

What car would explode when rear ended?

The Pinto
The Pinto, a subcompact car made by Ford Motor Company, became infamous in the 1970s for bursting into flames if its gas tank was ruptured in a collision. The lawsuits brought by injured people and their survivors uncovered how the company rushed the Pinto through production and onto the market.

Why did Ford not fix the Pinto?

These included that Ford knew the Pinto was a “firetrap” and said that Ford did not implement design changes because the company’s cost-benefit analysis document showed that paying out millions in damages in lawsuits was less expensive than the design changes.