no report yet
1978 Ford PintoProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1 owner complaint about the 1978 Ford Pinto, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 30, 2003. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1978 Ford Pinto has problems
1 complaint grouped by the system owners reported.
1Electrical system
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
1978 Ford Pinto recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Front: retractor
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Best & worst years
1978 vs. every other Pinto year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Pinto median. How we score
'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What Pinto owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PLASTIC PANELS ON THE BACK OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING WITH HEAT AND AGE ON 3 CARS. THESE WERE A 1976 FORD PINTO WAGON, A 1976 FORD E250 CLUB WAGON VAN, AND A 1972 AMC MATADOR (APPEARENTLY THE SAME FORD DESIGN OF THIS PART). THIS PART HOLDS…
Own a 1978 Pinto?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.