1972 Ford Pinto Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1972 Ford Pinto, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1972 Ford Pinto
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
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.
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Trailer hitches
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Anchorage (seat belts)
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1972 Ford Pinto have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Consumer was involved in an accident in which the seat belts shattered. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 10, 1996 · Seat belts
Compare Ford Pinto model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Pinto model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 Ford Pinto | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 Ford Pinto | 3 | 1 |
| 1973 Ford Pinto | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 Ford Pinto | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford Pinto | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 Ford Pinto | 6 | 1 |
| 1977 Ford Pinto | 4 | 0 |
| 1978 Ford Pinto | 2 | 1 |
| 1979 Ford Pinto | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 Ford Pinto | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1972 Ford Pinto
How do I know if my 1972 Ford Pinto has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1972 Ford Pinto; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 71V216000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
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.