Ford & GM Case

Question 1

Why did Lee Iacossa rush the Ford Pinto project?

Answer 1

To compete with compact foreign imports

Question 2

What was wrong with the design of the Ford Pinto car?

Answer 2

The Pinto’s tank was placed behind the rear axle, which left only 9-10 inches of “crush space”

Question 3

Is the Ford Pinto’s 9-10 inches of “crush space” far more or less than any other American automobile?

Answer 3

Far less

Question 4

What did the Ford Pinto’s crash tests reveal?

Answer 4

That the Pinto’s fuel system could not meet the proposed 20 MPH standard

Question 5

What did Ford do after the Pinto had multiple failed crash tests?

Answer 5

They produced and sold the Pinto without doing anything to fix the defects

Question 6

Who approved the Pinto project?

Answer 6

Lead engineers

Question 7

What happened as a result of Ford releasing the Pinto?

Answer 7

Thousands of people filed product liability suits against Ford because the Pinto was bursting into flames after being rear-ended by cars going over 20 mph

Question 8

What type of case was the Ford & GM case?

Answer 8

Product liability case

Question 9

What was the ethical dilemma in the Ford & GM Case?

Answer 9

Should Ford release the defective Pinto or halt the release to fix the problem