Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 205 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports8 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
205 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE READ ON THE WEB THAT AFTER SO MANY MILES THAT THE REAR ABS CALIPERS WOULD WEAR OUT BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW. UK FORD HAS AKNOWLEDGED THIS FLAW AND HAS HELPED TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS ON THE PROBE. ALTHOUGH MY CALIPERS ARE NOT YET LOCKING UP, MANY OTHER US PROBE'S HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A QUICK DE…
Read full complaint
I HAVE READ ON THE WEB THAT AFTER SO MANY MILES THAT THE REAR ABS CALIPERS WOULD WEAR OUT BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW. UK FORD HAS AKNOWLEDGED THIS FLAW AND HAS HELPED TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS ON THE PROBE. ALTHOUGH MY CALIPERS ARE NOT YET LOCKING UP, MANY OTHER US PROBE'S HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A QUICK DETERIORATING RUBBER SEAL ON THE REAR CALIPER. ONCE THE SEAL IS GONE, WATER CAN CAUSE THE BEARINGS TO CORRODE CAUSING A MAJOR BRAKE FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND WHY HAVEN'T US PROBE OWNERS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM SINCE UK PROBE OWNERS HAVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BRAKES CAN POSSIBLY MALFUNCTION AT ANY TIME. PLEASE SEND ME ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY HELP ME SOLVE MY DILEMNA. THANK YOU!
NHTSA ODI #702479
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. ALSO, BRAKES AND THE STEERING FAILED. DEALER INDICATED CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833876
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS TO SIT FOR AWHILE AND THEN IT WILL START BACK UP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833669
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1999
Electrical System
VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN DUE TO STARTER AND IGNITION MODULE DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA ODI #781793
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1999
Power Train
$100 SPEED SENSOR CAUSED $ 2,500 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT PER DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #701964
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
SuspensionCrash
HAD VEHICLE PARKED. ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED THE PROBE. TOOK VEHICLE TO BODY SHOP. HAD IT TEST DRIVEN BY MECHANIC. AFTER TEST DRIVEN, WAS INFORMED VEHICLE NEEDED A SWAY BAR & 2 EXTENSION RODS. THESE WERE DAMAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REARENDED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833037
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
PARKING BRAKES DO NOT DISENGAGE. EXTREME HIGH HEAT RUINED REAR ROTORS, POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #701906
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BOTH REAR CALIPERS SEIZED DUE TO DETERIORATED HANDBRAKE PIVOT-PIN SEAL AND NEEDLE BEARINGS INSIDE CALIPERS. CALIPER PISTON WON'T RELEASE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO PADS AND INTENSE HEAT TO ROTORS WITH BURNING SMELL. FORD-UK AND MAZDA-UK HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS COST OF REPLACING CALIPERS, BUT NOT FORD - USA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #701902
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1999
Visibility
SUN ROOF: CONTINOUS KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE BEEN TO FIVE DIFFERENT DEALERS IN THREE DIFFERENT STATES, NONE OF THEM HAD A MECHANIC QUALIFIED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. EVEN WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. DOOR PANEL: THE DOOR PANEL JUST SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES AND NOW THE RIGHT DOOR PANEL IS SEPARATING.
NHTSA ODI #701835
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BOTH OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ARE SEIZING UP. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS IT HEATS UP THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LOSS OF BREAKING ABILITY.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
SQ98008 · Audio System Fires
Opened May 4, 1998 · Closed May 8, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.
1993 Ford Probe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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