RecallMyCar

Ford Pinto Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 21 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints across 10 model years of the Ford Pinto (1971–1980). The most-complained-about year is 1980.

21
safety recalls, all years
5
owner complaints, all years
1976
year with most recalls
1980
year with most complaints

Pick your Ford Pinto model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1980 Ford Pinto02
1979 Ford Pinto20
1978 Ford Pinto21
1977 Ford Pinto40
1976 Ford Pinto61
1975 Ford Pinto10
1974 Ford Pinto20
1973 Ford Pinto40
1972 Ford Pinto31
1971 Ford Pinto50

What Ford Pinto owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The 1980 model year has the most, with 2.

All Ford Pinto recalls (21)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Pinto, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 83V025000 Reported 83,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The flexible blade engine cooling fan blades may crack and break off. This may be caused by high blade stresses that can result from vibration during vehicle operation.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the defective engine cooling fan at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1977, 1978, 1979

  2. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V012000 Reported 450 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Some of the involved vehicles do not have the hair pin clip used to retain the pushrod to the brake pedal pushrod pin installed. If this clip is missing, the pushrod may become disengaged from the brake pedal pushrod pin.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect vehicles for the presence of this hair pin clip and, if necessary, any missing parts will be installed at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1979

  3. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 78V143000 Reported 1,400,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    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.

    Model years: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

  4. Bumpers (structure)

    NHTSA 78V069000 Reported 284,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    In the event of a frontal impact, fuel leakage may occur at the fuel line to fuel pump connection in the engine compartment. These vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity".

    Remedy: Dealer will install a pair of front bumper bracket extension plates to supply added protection for this fuel line connection.

    Model years: 1976

  5. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 78V047000 Reported 1,956 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The automatic locking rear seat belt retractors on certain vehicles may fail to lock due to binding of the locking pawl against the retractor housing. This binding is caused by retractor housing deformation which occurred during assembly. As a result the passengers would be restrained only by the fully extended belt. This fails to…

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear seat belt assemblies free of charge.

    Model years: 1978

  6. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 78V022000 Reported 60,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On some of the involved vehicles the steering coupling flange may have been improperly assembled and could loosen during normal vehicle operation.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering coupling flange assembly.

    Model years: 1974

  7. Bumpers (structure)

    NHTSA 77V114000 Reported 642 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles were assembled with incorrect attaching u-nuts used to secure the rear bumper left isolator and bracket assembly. In the event of a rear-end collision, the u-nuts could contact and cut the fuel tank, causing fuel leakage.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the attaching hardware, without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1977

  8. Tires

    NHTSA 77V064000 Reported 46 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars". These light trucks were incorrectly classified as passenger vehicles and were equipped with load range "a" instead of load range "b" tires. This could lead to inadvertent vehicle…

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace load range "a" with the proper load range "b" tires, without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1977

  9. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 76V170000 Reported 372,584 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1976

  10. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 76V140000 Reported 18,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1977

  11. Recliner (seats)

    NHTSA 76V134000 Reported 5,200 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1976

  12. Recliner (seats)

    NHTSA 76V112000 Reported 6,373 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1976

  13. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 76V067000 Reported 410,580 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1976

  14. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 73V118000 Reported 11,301 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1973

  15. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 73V058000 Reported 55 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1973

  16. Trailer hitches

    NHTSA 73V025000 Reported 93 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1972, 1973

  17. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 71V216000 Reported 28,459 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1972

  18. Fluid (service brakes)

    NHTSA 71V111000 Reported 4,225 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1971

  19. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 71V045000 Reported 215,823 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1971

  20. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 70V134000 Reported 26,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1971

  21. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 70V114000 Reported 4,188 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1971

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.