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How much money did Ford lose or gain from the sales and faults of their Pinto model?

Question #89438. Asked by kyleisalive.
Last updated Jun 29 2021.

brainiac62
Answer has 9 votes
brainiac62
18 year member
50 replies

Answer has 9 votes.
I believe Ford lost $131 million.
Ford also recalled 1.5 million Pintos in the year of 1978.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto#Safety_problems
link https://www.tortmuseum.org/ford-pinto/


Response last updated by gtho4 on Jun 29 2021.
Dec 05 2007, 7:51 PM
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zbeckabee star
Answer has 11 votes
Currently Best Answer
zbeckabee star
Moderator
19 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 11 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Ford eventually recalled 1.4 million 1971-76 Pinto's for safety modifications ($11 per vehicle) under pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Over 100 lawsuits against Ford forced the auto maker to pay out millions of dollars in damages. One Example: In February of 1978, a California jury created a nationwide sensation when it awarded the record-breaking sum of $128 million in a lawsuit stemming from a Pinto accident. At least fifty-nine people burned to death in rear-end collisions."

According to Ford's estimates, unsafe tanks would cause 180 burn deaths, 180 serious burn injuries, and 2,100 burned vehicles each year. It calculated that it would have to pay $200,000 per death, $67,000 per injury, and $700 per vehicle, for a total of $49.5 million. However, the cost of saving lives and injuries ran even higher: alterations would cost $11 per car or truck, which added up to $137 million per year. Essentially, Ford argued before the government that it would be cheaper just to let their customers burn!

link http://www.weldreality.com/ford%20pinto%20article.htm

Response last updated by gtho4 on Jun 29 2021.
Dec 06 2007, 10:03 AM
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