1991 Ford Probe

Defect. NOTE: DRIVER'S SIDE (LEFT) PASSIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.

Defect. NOTE: PASSENGER SIDE (RIGHT) SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.

Defect. THE GROOVE FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RETAINER RING WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED.

Risk. IF THE RETAINING RING DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THEGROOVE, THE AXLE LUG NUTS WILL BREAK, CAUSING THE BRAKE DRUM, WHEEL, AND TIREASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. MIDAS SHOPS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS WITH OTHER BRAKE DRUMS FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER.

Defect. BRACKETS MOUNTING AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AN UNDERSTRENGTH SPOT WELD.

Risk. SHOULDER BELT COULD FAIL IN A COLLISION INCREASING THERISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy. INSTALL TWO BOLTS IN THE BRACKETS TO PREVENT SHOULDER BELT FAILURE.

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK ON THE TRACK TOWARDS THE BACK OF IT'S TRACK AND NO LONGER MOVES OR ENGAGES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD PROBE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD PROBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY JAMMED AND CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 96V172001 DUE TO THE VIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 100,000.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING A VEHICLE, IT WAS NOTICED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND WAS JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE BELT INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN # 96V172001 COVERED THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE DESCRIPTION IN THE RECALL MATCHED EXACTLY THE PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT HAD.

I OWN A 1991 FORD PROBE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTO-RETRACT SEAT-BELT ASSEMBLY IS JAMMED. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, (AUTOZONE RECALLS AND THIS WEB-SITE FOR TWO), I FIND INTERESTING INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. PARTICULARLY NHTSA ID # 96V172001 / FORD RECALL 96S48 THAT DESCRIBES THIS. ALSO THE LINK ON YOUR SITE TO THIS PDF (RC-96V172-NN.PDF), IS ALSO OF INTEREST. MY ISSUE / COMPLAINT IS THAT I TOLD MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS HAD FORD MOTOR CO. RUN MY VIN AND THEY STATED MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. I DO NOTICE THAT IN THE ABOVE PDF A STATEMENT THAT ALL PROBES STARTING AS EARLY AS 1990 WITH THIS RESTRAINT SYSTEM ARE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THIS SYSTEM ON THIS CAR IS FAULTY. IN IOWA THERE IS A SEAT BELT LAW. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I KNOW 2 OF THE 3 OTHER OWNERS OF THIS. IT HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES. REGARDLESS OF AGE OR CONDITION, I UNDERSTAND THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN AND I SHOULD BE FREE OF ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ANY INPUT? *JB

(1) PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (2) LEARNED THE HORN DID NOT WORK (3) PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT HORN, AND REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM FORD AND 3 DEALERS WHERE IT WOULD BE LOCATED. ALL, EXCEPT 1 DEALER, REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY INFORMATION. THE LAST DEALER WAS NOT CERTAIN. FORD'S COMMENT WAS THIS WAS "PRIVATE COMPANY INFORMATION" OR "WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION". SUGGESTED WE CONTACT THEIR PRINTING COMPANY WHO WOULD SELL US SCHEMATICS. PRINTING COMPANY HAD NO IDEA WHICH SET OF SCHEMATICS WE WOULD NEED. VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE WORKING HORNS FOR SAFETY REASONS. FORD WANTED TO SELL US $100 WORTH OF SERVICE TO INSTALL A $15 PART.*AK

I READ YOUR COMPLAINT PAGE, HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 91 AND I HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBS, 1 PERSON SAID HE HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER IN THE CAR, TRY 6. THE PAINT WASNT RIGHT FROM DAY 1. THE CV JOINTS/AXELS WENT BAD AFTER 2 YEARS AND IVE GOT BY TILL NOW BUT THE RATTLE IS ANNOYING. THE EXHAUST SYS ALSO RATTLES. FRONT TIRES GO YEARLY. AIR CONDITIONER NEVER HAS BLOWN COLD. AND THE DOOR ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS TO HEAVY FOR THE LATCH, I RIDE 6 MNTHS OF EVERY YEAR WITH AN OPEN GLOVE COMPARTMENT.THE HATCHBACK LEAKS, AND THE PAINT WELL, WHO KNOWS WHERE THEY GOT THAT BLEND. THE CAR ALWAYS RUNS COLD WHICH CAUSES THE ROUGH IDLE AND START AND 14 INCH WHEELS WERENT SUFFICIENT FOR A CAR THAT BIG. I WILL SAY THAT FORD BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO GET THE ITEMS FIXED I JUST CANT LEAVE IT THERE BI-WEEKLY.THEY DID REPAINT IT TWICE AND HONORED THE SEATBELT RECALL THIS YEAR, 2003.THE CAR NOW HAS 200,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER FAILED SMOG OR SPENT ONE DAY ON A TOW TRUCK OR IN A SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULDNT START. ITS BEEN A LONG NOISY AND EXTREMELY HOT RIDE, AND I HOPE THEY LEARNED AFTER THOSE BAD YEARS. BUT JUST RECENTLY I ASKED A MECHANIC ON HIS OPINION IF I SHOULD BUY A TAURUS. HE POINTED TO A CAR IN THE BACK OF HIS SHOP AND SAID THAT CAR IS PAYING FOR HIS SONS COLLEGE. 6TH TIME THIS YEAR HES HAD IT AND HE STRONGLY ADVISED ME TO NEVER PURCHASE A FORD CAR. ALL THE PROBS WITH THE PROBE ARE SAME WITH THE TAURUS. I MIGHT GET 50000 MORE MILES BUT DOUBT IT. BUT I DONT THINK THEY TRIED TO CHEAT ME, FORD WORKED WITH ME F

THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER BY AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR RECALLS ON THE SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REMEDY SCOPE, BUT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. RECALL# 96V172001 AND 96V172002 SUBJECT: AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT.*AK *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BECAME JAMMED IN THE FORWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT RETRACT.*AK

I HAVE A SEAT BELT THAT DOES NOT WORK IT IS STUCK IN PLACE AND THEY WONT HELP ME AT ALL. *AK

HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR FORD PROBES. THIS ONE HAS BLOWN APART TWICE, LEAVING LARGE HOLES IN THE CASING. WHY ISN'T FORD STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT? BOTH TIMES THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND THEN DRIVER'S REAR TIRE CAME OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL 93VE035000 IN 1993, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK BUT WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THEY STOP IN A VERTICAL POSITIONS IN THE DRIVER'S VIEWING AREA. THE POWER STEERING HOSE COST ME OVER $200 TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS BUILT INTO THE FIREWALL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN APART IN ORDER TO GET TO THE HOSE.*AK

THE FINS ON THE WATER PUMP HAVE CORRODED BEYOND USE. POOR MANUFACTURING OF WATER PUMP TO ALLOW A NON-ALUMINUM METAL TO BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH A CORROSIVE ENGINE COOLANT. *AK

RECALL 96S48/96S99 "PASSIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY" REPAIRED AT DEALER SYSTEM FAILED NEEDS REPAIR DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COMPLY. *AK

MOTOR SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SOMETIMES WILL NOT RETRACT, ALWAYS LEAVING BELT HALFWAY WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. THIS HAD BEEN RAPAIRED BEFORE.*AK SHOULDER HARNESS/SEAT BELT(LAP) WAS REPLACED AS A RESULT OF A RECALL (96V-172) BUT IT STILL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

MOTOR SAFETY SEAT ON TRACK FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, CONSUMER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOESN'T RETRACT AT ALL. SEATBELT IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. SEATBELT WAS REPLACED UNDR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 96S48. FOUR YEARS AGO SEATBELT WAS FIXED. CURRENTLY, SAME PART OF THE SEATBELT WAS NOT OPERABLE. *AK

RECALL 96V172001/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT: DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AGAIN. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR RECALL AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SEAT BELT HARNESS LOCKS UP AND CHOKES DRIVER & PASSENGER REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASE, DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY SAYS NO PROBLEM FOUND. *AK

SHOUDLER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DO NOT RETRACT. IN NOVEMBER OF 1996, SHOULDER BELTS WERE SERVICED UNDER RECALL # 96V172000. IN DECEMBER OF 1998, DRIVER'S SIDE BELT STOPPED RETRACTING, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BELT STOPPED RETRACTIBNG 6 MONTHS LATER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SEAT BELT WAS FIXED DUE TO A RECALL. CURRENTLY SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AGAIN DUE TO LOCKING UP WHEN VEHICLE MOVES. *AK

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT AS IT SHOULD. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL NOT MOVE ALONG ON THE TRACK AND WILL NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. *AK

REAR WINDOW - THE SEAL ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK AREA AND SETTLE AROUND THE SPARE TIRE AREA.THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR HEAVY RAINSTORM. THE WATER HAS CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE COVERING TO WARP AND HAVE A "MOLDY" SMELL AND HAS CAUSED CONDENSATION TO SETTLE IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. ALSO, SINCE THE AREA IS DAMP MOST OF THE TIME , THERE IS MUCH INTERIOR FOGGING. THE EXTERIOR PAINT HAS FADED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS AND THE CLEAR COAT ON THE HOOD HAS STARTED PEELING. THE RED PAINT ON THE ROOF, SIDE PANELS, AND BACK OF CAR HAS FADED AND HAS A HAZY LOOK TO IT. THERE IS A WHITE FINISH ON THESE AREAS. THE CLEAR COAT ON THE HOOD HAS STARTED PEELING AND HAS LEFT FADED SPOTS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY PROBES HAVE SIMILAR PAINT PROBLEMS IN THE EXACT SAME AREAS.

THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY JAMMED, RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELTS INOPERABLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE RECALL, RESTRAINTS WERE REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA RECALL 96V-172. 001 FORD/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT: THIS RECALL WAS RECEIVED APPROX. ONE YEAR AGO, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURRING . CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FAILURE WHICH CAUSED DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CABLE TO CONSTANTLY WEAR OUT, CAUSING IT TO BECOME JAMMED, AND EVENTUALLY INOPERATIVE. WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

SHOULDER SEAT BELT FAILS TO WORK. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. OWNER FINALLY DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *ML

I PREVIOUSLY TOOK THE CAR IN TO CONSHOHOCKEN FORD FOR A RECALL BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT HAD STOPPED WORKING, AT THAT THE TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS STILL WORKING. CONSHOHOCKEN FORD FIXED THE DRIVER SIDE BELT, BUT ONLY INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SEE THAT IT WAS STILL WORKING. THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS STILL WORKING. RECENTLY ON 5/28/99, THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED CONSHOHOCKEN FORD TO SEE THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL 96V172002, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT AND TO BRING IT IN ON 6/, AND CLAIM THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR THE COST TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE FORD HOTLINE AND RECEIVED THE SAME STORY. THEREFORE, I AM CONTACTING NHTSA BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WITH AN OBVIOUS NATIONAL RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPAIR THIS BELT FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 80 THOUSAND MILES. WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED THE REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAID THIS CERTAIN CAR WAS KNOW FOR THIS DEFECT AND THAT MAZDA MOTOR CO. , WHO MADE THE POWER TRAIN FOR THIS VEHICLE, WAS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BE A ROD IN THE TRANMISSION NOT BEING TIGHT AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR.

RECALL 96S48. OCCUPANTS SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, IT GETS STUCK IN ONE POSITION. DRIVERS SIDE WAS REMEDIED AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS ONLY INSPECTED. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND REPAIRWORK WILL NOT BE DONE BECAUSE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RETRACTOR FAILS TO ALLOW SEAT BELT TO EXTEND WHEN ENTERING CAR. *AK

RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON ONE SAFETY BELT HOWEVER PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AFTER REPAIR.(96V-172).

RECALL 96S99; VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AND REPAIR WORK WAS DONE ON SHOULDER BELTS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THE CASE IS CLOSED.*AK

THE SEAT BELTS BECOME JAMMED WHEN DOOR OPENED. MOTOR IS STILL RUNNING, BUT SEAT BELTS DO NOT MOVE TO LET EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER OUT. BELTS DO NOT RELEASE FROM AUTOMATIC RAIL TRACT. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FAILED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO GET JAMMED OR STUCK. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THEM. HAS TO OPEN UP THE DOOR TO GET RELEASED FROM THE SEAT BELT. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL NO. 96V172002, SHOULDER BELTS. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE OCTOBER 96, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO PART BEING ON BACK ORDER FOR MORE THAN A YEAR . NHTSA'S RECALL ID # 96-V-172-000,001,002. CONSUMER CANNOT USE RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. *AK

RECALL 96V172002, SHOULDER BELTS; DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE PARTS WITHIN A YEAR. *AK

SEAT BELTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (LOCKED UP), AFTER RECALL WORK PERFORMED FAILURE CONTINUED (LOCKED UP).

WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND SHE SAID SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK OR OPERATE PROPERLY. PART WAS ON BACK ODER UNTIL NEXT MONTH. *AK

SEAT BELT RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME AND LIGHT COMES ON AT ANY TIME.

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING THE WIPER BLADES TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW, THUS IMPAIRING FORWARD VISION.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (97V172002),SHOULDER BELTS. CALLED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS FOR DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE NOT REPAIRED. PASSENGER'S SIDE IS BROKE & NOT WORKING. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR. SAID NOT RECALLED. MANUFACTURER SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. *AK

MOTORBELT RECALL REPAIR WORK NOT DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

RECALL 96V17200 AND 96V172002. THE OWNER HAS BEEN WAITING A YEAR FOR HIS RECALL ON VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED BECAUSE DEALER HAS NO PARTS.

SAFETY BELT RECALL SENT, HOWEVER NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR.