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Ford ProbeYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,193 NHTSA owner complaints across 10 model years, the Ford Probe years to avoid are 1990, and the strongest years are 1989, 1992, 1996 and 1997. The Probe has 8 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'90Use caution: 1991, 1993, 1994Best years'89 '92 '96 '97Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,193Top: Seat beltsSafety recalls81989–1999 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Ford Probe years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Probe median. Tap a year for its full report.

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1997Best73/10027 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid66/10052 complaints · 1 recall1995Solid50/10086 complaints · 0 recalls1994Caution35/100166 complaints · 1 recall1993Caution30/100205 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid58/10079 complaints · 2 recalls1991Caution38/100177 complaints · 3 recalls1990Avoid25/100323 complaints · 3 recalls1989Solid56/10077 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Probe problems

All model years combined: 1,193 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seat belts53425
Engine and engine cooling12214
Electrical system10926
Power train1075
Service brakes, hydraulic1069
Air bags5034
Visibility482
Steering464
Structure315
16 other systems19730
8 recalls

Ford Probe recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Engine and engine cooling: engine98V-206 · 1997 · Nov 3, 1998 · 5,700 vehicles–Front: webbing96V-172 · 1990–1992 · Sep 6, 1996 · 224,000 vehicles–Front: webbing96V-172 · 1990–1992 · Sep 6, 1996 · 224,000 vehicles–Air bags96V-090 · 1996 · Jun 3, 1996 · 2,740 vehicles–Air bags: frontal93V-169 · 1994 · Oct 15, 1993 · 217 vehicles–Hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut93V-058 · 1993 · Apr 13, 1993 · 3,700 vehicles–Front: anchorage91V-016 · 1991 · Jan 1, 1991 · 7,700 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: linkages89V-159 · 1990 · Sep 25, 1989 · 2,900 vehicles
10 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Probe

  1. SEATBACK RECLINE MECHANISM FAILUREDP07001 · 1989–1992 · closed Dec 5, 2007
    No recall
  2. AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTRQ98011 · 1990–1992 · closed Feb 16, 1999
    No recall
  3. ENGINE OIL PUMP FAILUREDP98005 · 1994 · closed Aug 27, 1998
    No recall
  4. AUDIO SYSTEM FIRESSQ98008 · 1993 · closed May 8, 1998
    No recall
  5. MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILUREPE96027 · 1989–1991 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-173
  6. PASSIVE RESTRAINT FAILURESEA94032 · 1990–1991 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-172
  7. PASS.RESTRAINT MALFUNCTIONPE94039 · 1990–1991 · closed Sep 8, 1994
    No recall
  8. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE91124 · 1989–1990 · closed Dec 23, 1991
    No recall
  9. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONPE91013 · 1991 · closed Jan 22, 1991
    No recall
  10. TRANSMISSION OIL LINE FIREPE89166 · 1988–1989 · closed Dec 22, 1989
    No recall