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1991 Ford Probe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Probe years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Ford Probe are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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 177 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports5 fire reports4 injury reports

Visibility complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
SteeringVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK BUT WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THEY STOP IN A VERTICAL POSITIONS IN THE DRIVER'S VIEWING AREA. THE POWER STEERING HOSE COST ME OVER $200 TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS BUILT INTO THE FIREWALL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN APART IN ORDER TO GET TO THE HOSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743059

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1999
Visibility

REAR WINDOW - THE SEAL ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK AREA AND SETTLE AROUND THE SPARE TIRE AREA.THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR HEAVY RAINSTORM. THE WATER HAS CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE COVERING TO WARP AND HAVE A "MOLDY" SMELL AND HAS CAUSED CONDENSATION TO SETTLE IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. ALSO,…

Read full complaint

REAR WINDOW - THE SEAL ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INTO THE TRUNK AREA AND SETTLE AROUND THE SPARE TIRE AREA.THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR HEAVY RAINSTORM. THE WATER HAS CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE COVERING TO WARP AND HAVE A "MOLDY" SMELL AND HAS CAUSED CONDENSATION TO SETTLE IN THE TAIL LIGHTS. ALSO, SINCE THE AREA IS DAMP MOST OF THE TIME , THERE IS MUCH INTERIOR FOGGING. THE EXTERIOR PAINT HAS FADED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS AND THE CLEAR COAT ON THE HOOD HAS STARTED PEELING. THE RED PAINT ON THE ROOF, SIDE PANELS, AND BACK OF CAR HAS FADED AND HAS A HAZY LOOK TO IT. THERE IS A WHITE FINISH ON THESE AREAS. THE CLEAR COAT ON THE HOOD HAS STARTED PEELING AND HAS LEFT FADED SPOTS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY PROBES HAVE SIMILAR PAINT PROBLEMS IN THE EXACT SAME AREAS.

NHTSA ODI #714546

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Visibility

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #709771

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1998
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING THE WIPER BLADES TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW, THUS IMPAIRING FORWARD VISION.

NHTSA ODI #533187

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1997
Visibility

PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT STAY UP , KEEPS FALLING DOWN. THIS IS A MOTORIZED WINDOW AND CAUS EOF FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810219

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1997
Visibility

SEALS AROUND WINDOWS IN VEHICLE, CAUSING A MOISTURE BUILD UP, AND IT IS WET INSIDE, IN FOR REPAIRS TWICE, RESEALED FRONT WINDOW ON THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT FAILED TO REMOVE ALL WATER FROM VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807831

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1996
Visibility

WHEN USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, THEY CUT OFF, STOP HALF WAY AND DO NOT GO BACK INTO ORIGINAL POSITION. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.*JB

NHTSA ODI #806136

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1996
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, THEY DO NOT GO ALL THE WAY BACK AND FORTH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804941

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1996
VisibilityFire

CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, SMOKE CAME FROM PANEL OF THE POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, WIRING IN THE PANEL BURNED, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803762

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1996
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN EXPERIENCED REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE, UPON SWITCHING ON , WIPERS WILL FLY OFF REAR WINDOW, MUST GET OUT OF VEHICLE TO PUT BACK IN PLACE, RENDERING THEM INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804185

Official recalls

3

96V172001 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Sep 6, 1996

NOTE: DRIVER'S SIDE (LEFT) PASSIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.

96V172002 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Sep 6, 1996

NOTE: PASSENGER SIDE (RIGHT) SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.

91V016000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Jan 1, 1991

BRACKETS MOUNTING AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AN UNDERSTRENGTH SPOT WELD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULDER BELT COULD FAIL IN A COLLISION INCREASING THERISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: INSTALL TWO BOLTS IN THE BRACKETS TO PREVENT SHOULDER BELT FAILURE.

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

6

DP07001 · Seatback Recline Mechanism Failure

Opened Jul 30, 2007 · Closed Dec 5, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

ON JUNE 29, 2007, NHTSA RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. RICHARD H. MCSWAIN OF MCSWAIN ENGINEERING INC., REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE SEATBACK RECLINER FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE PETITIONER IDENTIFIED A FAILURE MODE INVOLVING BYPASS OF THE SEATBACK STOP PIN WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FALSE OR PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE SECTOR AND PAWL TEETH, ALLOWING THE SEATBACK TO RECLINE IN A VEHICULAR COLLISION.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ALLEGED FAILURE MODE MAY BE THE RESULT OF PROGRESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE SEATBACK STOP PIN, THE SEATBACK STOP, AND OTHER SEAT COMPONENTS IN VEHICLES THAT ARE, ON AVERAGE, 17 YEARS OLD.AVAILABLE DATA DO NOT SUGGEST THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH A NOTABLE FREQUENCY. ODI REVIEWED ITS CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED OVER THE LAST NINETEEN YEARS AND FOUND NO COMPLAINTS OF SEATBACK COLLAPSE (WITH OR WITHOUT A VEHICLE COLLISION) IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.CONSIDERING THE ADVANCED AGE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY DOES NOT APPLY IF THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BY THE FIRST PURCHASER MORE THAN 10 CALENDAR YEARS BEFORE AN ORDER IS ISSUED. THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

RQ98011 · Automatic Shoulder Belt

Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Feb 16, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing

There is no summary currently available

PE96027 · Mazda RX7 Automatic Seat Belt Failure

Opened Apr 16, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM

EA94032 · Passive Restraint Failures

Opened Sep 8, 1994 · Closed Sep 30, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE94039 · Pass.restraint Malfunction

Opened May 4, 1994 · Closed Sep 8, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE91013 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened Nov 14, 1990 · Closed Jan 22, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available