1993 Ford Probe

Above average

Owners filed 205 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Ignition23
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper21
000
Air Bags › Frontal15
1017
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline13
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc12
010
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Caliper10
000
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut7
003
Air Bags7
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip6
100

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E065000
Filed Jul 17, 20063,593 vehiclesAj Motorsport

Defect. CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Fuel System, Gasoline05E065000
Filed Oct 5, 200542,962 vehiclesSpx Filtran

Defect. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.

Risk. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut93V058000
Filed Apr 13, 19933,700 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER PIVOT PIN THAT JOINS THE LIFTGATE GAS STRUT TO THE BODY CAN SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER STRUT MOUNTING BRACKET DUE TO AN UNDERSIZED RIVET HEAD.

Risk. PIVOT PIN SEPARATION CAUSES THE LIFTGATE TO DESCEND SUDDENLY, RESULTING IN AN INJURY IF SOMEONE IS STRUCK BY THE LIFTGATE.

Remedy. REPLACE LIFTGATE STRUT ASSEMBLIES HAVING UNDERSIZED PIVOT PIN RIVET HEAD DIAMETERS WITH ASSEMBLIES WITH ADEQUATE PIVOT PIN RIVET HEADS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 16, 200774,550 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FUEL CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS OCCASIONALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,550 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 200712,600 milesSC

I HAVE OWED 2 1993 FORD PROBES AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE FIRST ONE WAS ONLY 1 AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND THERE'S A LOT MORE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM THE O/D LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH AND THE CAR STOPS SHIFTING PROPERLY THEN YOU TAKE IT TO FORD DEALER OR ANY OTHER SHOP THEY SAY NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. *JB

Parking Brake
Filed Nov 4, 200640,000 milesNC

RELEASE OF HAND BRAKE ON FORD PROBE GT FAILS TO DISENGAGE THE REAR BRAKES, REAR WHEEL(S) NOW PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY LOCKED, CURRENT METHOD OF CORRECTION INVOLVES MANUALLY RELEASING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR (ALWAYS PARK DOWNHILL NOW).*JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Nov 4, 200637,000 milesNC

ICM OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES THIS SUMMER (ALWAYS WHILE ON INTERSTATE), CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE AT 65+MPH, ALL POWER LOST (BRAKERS, STEERING, ACCELERATION). CAR ONLY AT 37,000 MILES DURING FIRST FAILURE. REPLACED ICM/DISTRIBUTOR (ICM BUILT INSIDE DISTRIBUTOR) WITH A NON-OEM PART. *JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 26, 2005MS

I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 1993 FORD PROBE GT (V6-CYLINDER). I HAD 3 PREVIOUS NEW AND REBUILT COMPRESSORS REPLACED. THEY ONLY LASTED BETWEEN 1 AND 2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME BETWEEN $750 AND $1100 FOR LABOR AND TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR, O-RING, CONDENSER, PULL A VACUUM, RECHARGE THE SYSTEM, ETC. I WAS INFORMED BY ALL OF MY AC REPAIR GUYS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A SMALL $10 VALVE ON THE COMPRESSOR THAT HAD A LIMITED 1-2 YEAR LIFE BUILT-IN TO IT BY THE FORD MANUFACTURER. FORD CALLS THIS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. THIS VALVE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. EVIDENTLY IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE TO AUTHORIZED FORD COMPRESSOR REBUILDERS. FORD HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO FIX THIS VALVE DESIGN FLAW. SO, WHEN MY COMPRESSOR (VALVE) WENT OUT FOR THE 4TH TIME, I DECIDED TO TRY REPAIRING IT MYSELF. THIS IS WHAT I DID TO REPAIR MY AIR CONDITIONER MYSELF FOR ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE COST 1). I PUT IN LEAK DETECTOR TO VERIFY THAT ONLY THE VALVE WAS LEAKING. IT WAS. 2). I SANDED AND CLEANED THE END OF THE DEFECTIVE VALVE. 3). I PUT JB WELD ON THE END OF THE VALVE TO PLUG UP THE HOLE. 4). I RECHARGED THE SYSTEM WITH FREON. THAT'S IT. 4 EASY STEPS AND MY AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING LIKE GANGBUSTERS AGAIN FOR LESS THAN $50. YOU WOULD THINK THAT FORD COMPRESSOR MANUFACTURERS WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS VALVE BY NOW, OR MAYBE MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR GUYS COULD HAVE JUST PLUGGED-UP THE HOLE IN THE VALVE WITH JB WELD JUST LIKE I DID. BUT NOOOOOOOO! THAT

Air Bags
Filed Mar 2, 2005CA

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1993 FORD PROBE FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAG BE DISCONNECTED. *NM *NM

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Sep 22, 2004TX

WINDOW ASSEMBLY ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE BROKE WITHIN A WEEK APART. THE REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN ON ITS OWN. *AK

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004MI

I CAN'T EVEN GET ANYONE TO WORK ON THIS TRANSMISSION. I CALL EVERY SINGLE TRANNY SHOP I COULD FIND IN 3 TOWNS, NOT 1 WILL HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A PROBLE TRANNY. THIS IS CRAZY, FORD OR MAZDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS, IF THEY HAVE A PRODUCT, WITH SUCH A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I WISH I WOULD OF KNOWN, NEVER WOULD OF BOUGHT IT!

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Dec 15, 2003200,000 milesNC

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ON MY 1993 PROBE GT HAS AN UNEXPLAINED DEFECT. MOST REPAIR BUSINESSES WILL NOT EVEN TOUCH THESE CARS DUE TO REPUTATION. AFTER $500 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES, THE PROBLEM WAS RULED UNEXPLAINED BY AAMCO.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 10, 2003140,000 milesMI

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 93 FORD PROBE IS SHOT. THERE IS NO SERVICE STATION, ETC. THAT WILL EVEN TOUCH THE THING. THEY ARE KNOW FOR THIS AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET SOMEONE TO WORK ON IT. FORD OR MAZDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS. *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Nov 15, 200291,100 milesSD

FUEL PUMP INERTIA CUT-OFF SWITCH IS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP IN A ROLLOVER OR SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CUT OF SWITCH ON MY PROBE CUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP (AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE) AFTER HITTING MINOR BUMPS. DEALER IN SPEARFISH, SD., INSTALLED NEW CUT OFF SWITCH ON 10/9. IT FAILED THAT AFTERNOON. I INSTALLED A THIRD SWITCH I BROUGHT FROM RAPID CITY, SD. FORD DEALER AND IT FAILED TWICE. VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION PARTICULARLY ON ROADS WITH LIMITED OR NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. TO GET VEHICLE RUNNING AGAIN I MUST PULL OVER, OPEN HATCHBACK AND PRESS THE RESET BUTTON. A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IS CREATED WHEN VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 10 TIMES WITH 3 SWITCHES (ALL FROM FORD, PART NUMBER #XF3Z-9341-AA FIRST INERTIA SWITCH). *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769769

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jun 25, 2002OH

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO AN EMBANKMENT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Jun 5, 2002CA

PIVOT PIN IN BOTH REAR CALIPERS CORRODES DUE TO FAULTY GASKET AND REAR BRAKES SEIZE AS A RESULT.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed May 25, 2002MN

1993 FORD PROBE GT. BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE EACH SEIZED TWICE (BOTH CALIPERS WERE REBUILT BY A DEALER AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURES). WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THERE IS A BURNING BRAKE SMELL, THE ROTOR GLOWS ORANGE, THE ENTIRE WHEEL GETS EXTREMEMLY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE IS DESTABILIZED TOWARDS OVERSTEER. THE BRAKE PADS ARE DESTROYED VERY QUICKLY RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE REAR BRAKES (INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE). THE BRAKE ROTOR MAY ALSO WARP DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE CORRECTLY SINCE IT INITIALLY JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A RUBBER SEAL (HANDBRAKE PIVOT-PIN SEAL) THAT DETERIORATES PREMATURELY ALLOWING MOISTURE AND CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE CALIPER WHERE IS CAUSES THE NEEDLE BEARINGS TO CORRODE. IT THEREFORE ONLY EFFECTS PROBE MODELS WITH REAR DISC BRAKES (PROBE GT). FORD REVISED THE REAR CALIPERS ON PROBE GT'S MANUFACTURED AFTER 5-JAN-1995 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT ALTHOUGH EARLIER MODELS WERE NEVER CORRECTED.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 2, 2002MN

THE DISTRIBUTOR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS BEEN NOTED TO FAIL ON THESE ENGINES AS THE RECALL FOR PRIOR YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HABIT OF FAILING. FOR MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS, PLEASE GO TO WWW.PROBETALK.COM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR DISTRIBUTORS AND TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 21, 2001MO

THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITOR THIS CAR HAS HAD. THIS IS A DEFECT FROM FORD. IT IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE TO LET FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS INJUSTICE. PROBE OWNERS ALL HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD MOTORS.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 26, 2001NY

VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. NARROWLY MISSED ACCIDENT. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR.*AK

Wheels › Rim
Filed Sep 24, 2001NC

WHILE DRIVING RIM ON RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE SPLIT IN HALF. CONSUMER HEARD A SOUND, AND WAS TRYING TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THAT WAS WHEN RIM SPLIT, AND VEHICLE FELL TO GROUND. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK *TT

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Aug 22, 2001NE

ALL OWNERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DISTRIBUTOR PROBLEMS FROM PAST CUSTOMERS. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Aug 17, 2001NC

THIS PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION--SAME AS THE CURRENT 'RECALL'. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTOR. I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF OVER $600. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE TSB WAS TO REPLACE THE THICK FILM IGNITION..... THIS HAPPENED AT 53000 MILES, WELL WITH. *AK

20 of 205 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1990
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19991000Routine
199727410Routine
199652410Routine
199586430Routine
1994166471Fatalities reported
1993 — this page205480Above average
199279311Fatalities reported
1991177450Routine
1990323451Fatalities reported

Compare every Probe year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 17, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.