Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 4 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
5
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
5
0
1
0
Seats
2
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
2
0
0
0
Electrical System › Ignition
2
0
0
0
Air Bags › Frontal
2
2
0
1
Air Bags
2
2
0
2
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
0
0
0
Tires › Tread/Belt
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
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.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine98V206002
Filed Nov 3, 19985,700 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POSSIBLE ENGINE STALLING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TENSIONER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 200698,000 milesIL
I HAVE A 1997 FORD PROBE GT 6 CYLINDER. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT KEEP FLICKERING OVER DRIVE OFF AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR DAYS. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT AND THE TPS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CHECK OUT BAD SO I HAD THIS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I WENT TO SEVERAL SERVICE STATIONS THEY ALL SAY I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD JUST IGNORE THIS BUT THE SLOWS DOWN TO LOWER GEAR THIS IS SCARY. I LOVE THIS FORD PROBE IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO. I FOUND A SIGHT ON THE INTERNET AND RELAYED A INTERCOOLING FOR THE TRANS, IS THIS CORRECT!!! *NM
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 200457,000 milesPA
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CD4E) HAS BEEN ACTING UP, OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON DASH STARTS FLASHING WHIH THEN CAUSES HARSH SHIFTING AND POWER LOSS IN TRANNY AND ENGINE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *AK
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 17, 2004NY
LTR REQUEST A COPY OF THE NHTSA REPORT RE AN AIRBAG PROBE OF THE 1997 FORD ESCORT. ATTY REPRESENTING CLIENT INJURED WHEN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 1997 FORD ESCORT. *MR *NM
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Dec 16, 2003MO
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DISTRUBUTOR WHICH CAUSED IT TURN OVER, BUT NOT START, AND CLUTCH WITH IN ONE MONTH. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AN DTHEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY, AND MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2003OH
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM ,WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. *AK
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 13, 200379,000 milesKY
INVOLVED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN LEXINGTON KY APPROXIMATE SPEED AT 20 MPH CRASHED THE FRONT OF VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED FRONT OF VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. *NLM
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 16, 200316,897 milesPA
ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE OWNING CAR. CAR CRANKS BUT WON'T START. HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. THE INCIDENT DATE I CHOSE WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME 2 MONTHS AFTER A RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE AND HAS CONTINUED UNTIL TODAY. THE VEHICLE COMPONENT I CHOSE IS A GUESS SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN DETERMINED. MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Jun 26, 2002MO
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED TWICE.THE SECOND FAILURE WAS 50000 MILES AFTER THE FIRST. *YH
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2001NJ
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, WHICH REQUIRED CONSUMER TO STEER WITHOUT POWER, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOT ONLY WAS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING BELT, BUT THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AS WELL, APPARENTLY AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE OFF AND GOT CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, CONSUMER STATES IN FEBURARY 1999 HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION (98S30) IN WHICH HE COMPLIED FOR THE SAME MECHANICAL FAILURE, AND TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES HE HAS INCURRED.*JB
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 12, 2001OH
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 2 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH, IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR FRONT OF VEHICLE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HIT HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD.*AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 15, 2001FL
OIL FROM ENGINE IS LEAKING ONTO SPARK PLUGS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Nov 30, 2000PA
FORD (HQ AND DEALER) HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY CONTACTED ON THESE ISSUES. FORD'S INTERNAL REVIEW BOARD ISSUED ARULING STATING THAT NO COMPENSATORY ACTION IS APPROPRIATE. FORD ISSUED AN OFFER TO HAVE A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE OVERSEE A REPRESENTATIVE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS OF THEIR RULING, WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE UNTIL THE OFFER HAD EXPIRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FORD GARAGE WITH SIMILAR DENIAL OF ANYTHING WRONG BEING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEIR IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES - THEY SQUEAL ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION POWER LOSS, VIBRATIONS, AND INTERMITTENT HESITATIONS HAVE INCREASED SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. I AM INTERESTED TO SEE IF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HOW THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED. THE ISSUE WITH THE BAR IN THE SEAT DEVELOPED WITHIN SIX MONTHS, I HAVE SIMPLY DEALT WITH IT, UNTIL NOW AS I HAVE READ ON YOUR SITE THAT OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I REQUEST THAT I BE CONTACTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AT THIS TIME, BY THE NHTSA, AS I DO NOT WISH TO DEAL WITH FORD OR THE INDICATED DEALER(S) ANY LONGER. ALSO, THE PA. ATTY GENERAL'S OFFICE - CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WAS CONTACTED WITH NO ACTION OTHER THAN "DOCUMENTATION OF THE INCIDENT".AT. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Seats
Filed Oct 7, 2000IN
METAL BAR HAS PROTRUDED THROUGH DRIVER'S SEAT ON RIGHT, UPPER SIDE AND CONTACTS DRIVER'S BACK.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 7, 2000FL
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER A SLIGHT PUDDLE OF WATER LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATE, AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK
Tires
Filed Aug 25, 2000NY
A MECHANIC SAID THE CHOPPED TIRES ARE THE RESULT OF HOW THEY ARE MANUFACTURED. HE SAID THEY SHOW THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS THE 2 FIRESTONE TIRES THAT ARE NOW RECALLED. THERES LOTS OF TREADS LEFT BUT I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSAFE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R14 )
Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 16, 2000IL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN A 1997 FORD PROBE. FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE SIZE P205/55R15, DOT#W2MJFXM426. ORIGINAL TIRES ON VEHICLE. PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. TIRE SHOP STATED THAT IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN WITH ALL TIRES. *AK *SLC
Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jun 13, 2000TX
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 50MPH, VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THERE WAS A FIVE CAR PILEUP. CONSUMER HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 22, 1999FL
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSES A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Jun 8, 1999MN
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *ET
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 8, 1999FL
BACK IN BEGINNING OF JANUARY I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD ON MY 1997 PROBE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THEIR RECALL NUMBER IS 98S30. THE LETTER SAID TO CALL FORD AND TELL THEM WHAT DEALERSHIP I WANTED TO TAKE MY CAR TO AND THEY WOULD SEND THE PART TO THAT DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE DEALERSHIP CONTACT ME. SO I CALLED THE NUMBER IN THE LETTER AND FORD GOT MY HOME AND WORK NUMBERS AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WANTED TO GO TO, AND SAID THAT I SHOULD HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN 5 DAYS, BUT THAT IF I DIDN'T I SHOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND SCHEDULE A TIME TO TAKE MY CAR IN. I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE MY CAR IN. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT BECAUSE THEY HADN'T RECEIVED THE KIT FROM FORD. SO I CALLED FORD BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART ORDERS HAD BEEN LOST AND THAT THEY WOULD RESUBMIT IT. SO I WAITED A WHILE AND STILL NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY STILL DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE CALLED FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT IT AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING. I CALLED THEM MOST RECENTLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND TOLD THEM I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN IN 3 WEEKS, AND WANTED IT CHECKED BEFORE THEN. I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WOULD BE. THAT TIME HAS PASSED AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. WHEN A MANUFACTURER PUTS OUT A RECALL ON A CAR AREN'T THEY REQUIRED TO FIX IT? I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MINE. SO I HA
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
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.