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1989 Ford ProbeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 77 owner complaints about the 1989 Ford Probe, most often about the seat belts. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

56
CarFlaw IndexSolid year20% below the Probe median · #6 of 9 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints7711 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage70kSeat belts, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 27, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1989 Ford Probe has problems

77 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 belts260
Engine and engine cooling135
Visibility100
Electrical system102
Power train71
Service brakes, hydraulic52
Steering30
Fuel system, gasoline30
Equipment20
10 other systems143

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

1989 Ford Probe recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

1989 vs. every other Probe year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Probe median. How we score

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1989 Ford Probe, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SEATBACK RECLINE MECHANISM FAILUREDP07001 · closed Dec 5, 2007
    No recall
  2. TRANSMISSION OIL LINE FIREPE89166 · closed Dec 22, 1989
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE91124 · closed Dec 23, 1991
    No recall
  4. MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILUREPE96027 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-173
In owners' words

What Probe owners report

Recent seat belts complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE ROAD, A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME AND I BRAKED HARD AND MY SEATBELT LOCKED. BUT AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE SEATBELT HAS NEVER WORKED THE SAME. THE SEATBELT DOESN'T LOCK, OR RETRACT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I CAN'T…
Complaint 11282735 · Nov 27, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1989 FORD PROBE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE…
Complaint 10611098 · Jul 16, 2014 · 2,000 miles
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THEREFORE, IT WILL NOT RETRACT IN AN ACCIDENT, IMPAIRING MY SAFETY. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THERE IS A 1990 RECALL THAT FORD USED TO SCAM THE OWNERS OF THE 1989 MODELS OUT OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE 1989 WAS THE FIRST…
Complaint 10611096 · Jul 16, 2014 · 70,000 miles

Own a 1989 Probe?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.