50 Engineering Ethics: An Industrial Perspective
between the fuel tank and a bolt on the differential housing” (Strobel,
1994). Additionally, the tank was punctured twice by nearby metal objects
and both passenger doors jammed shut, which would have prevented
quick escape or rescue during a crash. This pattern of gasoline spillage
remained consistent in other crash tests at lower speeds. On December 15,
1970, when a Pinto was rear-ended by a moving barrier at 19.5 miles per
hour, the filler pipe pulled out, causing gas to escape and the left door to
jam shut.
Later, in early 1971, Ford engineers investigated various design changes to
improve crash test results.With a heavy rubber bladder reinforced with nylon
lining the metal gas tank, gasoline did not ...