A recent analysis by FuelArc has calculated that the Tesla Cybertruck's fire fatality rate is 17 times higher than that of the Ford Pinto, the 1970s vehicle infamous for fire risks. The comparison highlights five reported Cybertruck fire fatalities among 34,438 vehicles sold. This rate stands at 14.52 per 100,000 units, compared to the Pinto's 0.85 per 100,000 over its production decade.
FuelArc's examination compared the safety records of the Tesla Cybertruck and the Ford Pinto, a car produced from 1971 to 1980 that became a national scandal due to its fire hazards.
According to the analysis, the Cybertruck has experienced five fire fatalities in 34,438 vehicles, resulting in a rate of 14.52 fatalities per 100,000 units. In contrast, the Ford Pinto, with 3.17 million vehicles produced over a decade, recorded a rate of 0.85 per 100,000 units. This makes the Cybertruck's rate 17 times higher.
The Ford Pinto gained notoriety in the 1970s for its design flaws that increased fire risks in rear-end collisions, leading to lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny.
For the Cybertruck, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet conducted crash tests. Tesla has also not released official delivery numbers for the vehicle, which is marketed as a survivalist design and priced in the six-figure range.
Separately, the analysis notes that Tesla recently informed the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its Autopilot system does not enable fully driverless operation, contrary to some prior branding. Additionally, the researcher behind the FuelArc analysis reported receiving death threats from supporters of Elon Musk following the publication of these findings.
These details underscore ongoing discussions about electric vehicle safety, though official investigations remain pending.
