Would You Drive These Disasters? The 45 Worst Cars of All Time
Ford’s Most Explosive Mistake
The 1971 Ford “Pinto” was supposed to be a cheap, reliable compact—instead, it became a rolling fire hazard. Ford’s engineers, in a rush to compete with small imports, placed the gas tank right behind the rear bumper with almost no protection. That meant even a low-speed fender bender could turn the car into a barbecue.
Crash tests showed that impacts over 25 miles per hour could rupture the tank and ignite a fireball. Ford knew about the issue but decided that paying lawsuit settlements was cheaper than fixing the problem. That corporate decision backfired, leading to lawsuits, recalls, and one of the biggest scandals in automotive history.
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