1972 Ford Pinto Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1972 Ford Pinto has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,428,552 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 78V143000 1978-06-19 1,400,000 affected
Defect

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.

TRAILER HITCHES 73V025000 1973-01-05 93 affected
Defect

FORD CAMPAIGN NO H-7A.POSSIBILITY THAT THE TRAILER HITCH MAY CAUSE FLEXING OFTHE REAR BUMPER HANGERS AND THE SHEET METAL AT THE HITCH ATTACHING POINTSRESULTING IN CRACKING OF THE METAL AND HANGERS.CONTINUED USAGE COULDEVENTUALLY CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE BUMPERAND HITCH ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.CORRECT BY INSPECTING…

SEAT BELTS 71V216000 1971-11-22 28,459 affected
Defect

FORD CAMPAIGN NO H-1B.LIGHT TRUCKS BUILT BETWEEN AUG.16, 1 971, AND OCT.14, 1971,F-100 THUR F-350 SERIES.POSSIBILITYTHAT SEAT BELT AND SHOULDERHARNESS ATTACHING BOLTS WERE IMPRO PERLY PROCESSED DURING HEAT TREATING ANDPLATING OPERATIONS. IF CONDITION EXISTS, MAY CAUSE BOLTS TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TOHYDR OGEN EMBRITTLEMENT…

Complaints by component

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
1crashes
Total complaints1

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Consumer was involved in an accident in which the seat belts shattered. *ak”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Defect investigations

Investigation DP78025 Opened 1978-02-07 · closed 1978-01-23

FUEL TANK FIRES

FUEL TANK FIRES

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1972 Ford Pinto as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.