Editing Ford Pinto (section)

===Recall===
Though Ford could have proceeded with the formal recall hearing, fearing additional damage to the company's public reputation, the company agreed to a "voluntary recall" program.<ref>{{harvnb|Danley|2005}}: Ford could have refused to recall and have chosen instead to defend the Pinto's design in the formal recall hearings at NHTSA." While this tactic could easily have delayed any forced recall for months, if not for more than a year, the cost of the publicized hearings to Ford's reputation could have been substantial, even if Ford had been successful in the end. Ford agreed to "voluntarily recall" the Pinto in June 1978.</ref> On June 9, 1978, days before the NHTSA was to issue Ford a formal recall order, Ford recalled 1.5&nbsp;million Ford Pintos and Mercury Bobcats, the largest recall in automotive history at the time.<ref>{{harvnb|Lee|Ermann|1999}}: the Pinto was the subject of the largest recall in automobile history at the time.</ref> The recall included sedans and hatchbacks, but not the station wagon.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.autosafety.org/wp-content/uploads/import/Pinto%20Recall.pdf |title=Re: 1971–1976 Pinto and 1975–1976 Bobcat Fuel Systems (Except Station Wagons) Campaign No. 293 |access-date=2021-10-02 |archive-date=2021-10-02 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211002232121/https://www.autosafety.org/wp-content/uploads/import/Pinto%20Recall.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Ford disagreed with the NHTSA finding of a defect, and said the recall was to "end public concern that has resulted from criticism of the fuel systems in these vehicles."<ref>{{harvnb|Jones|1978}}: In a prepared statement, Ford Vice President Herbert L. Misch said: "Ford informed NHTSA that it does not agree with the agency's initial determination of May 8 that an unreasonable risk of safety is involved in the design of these cars&nbsp;..." Misch said Ford decided to offer the modifications "so as to end public concern that has resulted from criticism of the fuel systems in these vehicles".</ref> The Ford recall placed a polyethylene shield between the tank and likely causes of puncture, lengthened the filler tube, and improved the tank filler seal in the event of a collision.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/1975/FORD/PINTO|title=1975 FORD PINTO|website=NHTSA|access-date=2017-05-14|archive-date=2019-11-16|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191116233751/https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/1975/FORD/PINTO|url-status=live}}</ref>