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1993 Ford Probe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Probe years

Owner complaints for the 1993 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 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
74,550 miles · Nov 16, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FUEL CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS OCCASIONALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR A PROPER DIAGNO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FUEL CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS OCCASIONALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,550 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10209159

12,600 miles · Feb 17, 2007
Power Train

I HAVE OWED 2 1993 FORD PROBES AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE FIRST ONE WAS ONLY 1 AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND THERE'S A LOT MORE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM THE O/D LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH AND THE CAR STOPS SHIFTING PROPERLY THEN YOU TAKE IT TO FORD DEALER OR ANY OTHER SHOP THEY SAY NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182838

37,000 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Electrical System

ICM OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES THIS SUMMER (ALWAYS WHILE ON INTERSTATE), CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE AT 65+MPH, ALL POWER LOST (BRAKERS, STEERING, ACCELERATION). CAR ONLY AT 37,000 MILES DURING FIRST FAILURE. REPLACED ICM/DISTRIBUTOR (ICM BUILT INSIDE DISTRIBUTOR) WITH A NON-OEM PART. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10172616

40,000 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Parking Brake

RELEASE OF HAND BRAKE ON FORD PROBE GT FAILS TO DISENGAGE THE REAR BRAKES, REAR WHEEL(S) NOW PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY LOCKED, CURRENT METHOD OF CORRECTION INVOLVES MANUALLY RELEASING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR (ALWAYS PARK DOWNHILL NOW).*JB

NHTSA ODI #10172614

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2005
Unknown Or Other

I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 1993 FORD PROBE GT (V6-CYLINDER). I HAD 3 PREVIOUS NEW AND REBUILT COMPRESSORS REPLACED. THEY ONLY LASTED BETWEEN 1 AND 2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME BETWEEN $750 AND $1100 FOR LABOR AND TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR, O-RING, CONDENSER, PULL …

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I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 1993 FORD PROBE GT (V6-CYLINDER). I HAD 3 PREVIOUS NEW AND REBUILT COMPRESSORS REPLACED. THEY ONLY LASTED BETWEEN 1 AND 2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME BETWEEN $750 AND $1100 FOR LABOR AND TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR, O-RING, CONDENSER, PULL A VACUUM, RECHARGE THE SYSTEM, ETC. I WAS INFORMED BY ALL OF MY AC REPAIR GUYS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A SMALL $10 VALVE ON THE COMPRESSOR THAT HAD A LIMITED 1-2 YEAR LIFE BUILT-IN TO IT BY THE FORD MANUFACTURER. FORD CALLS THIS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. THIS VALVE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. EVIDENTLY IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE TO AUTHORIZED FORD COMPRESSOR REBUILDERS. FORD HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO FIX THIS VALVE DESIGN FLAW. SO, WHEN MY COMPRESSOR (VALVE) WENT OUT FOR THE 4TH TIME, I DECIDED TO TRY REPAIRING IT MYSELF. THIS IS WHAT I DID TO REPAIR MY AIR CONDITIONER MYSELF FOR ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE COST 1). I PUT IN LEAK DETECTOR TO VERIFY THAT ONLY THE VALVE WAS LEAKING. IT WAS. 2). I SANDED AND CLEANED THE END OF THE DEFECTIVE VALVE. 3). I PUT JB WELD ON THE END OF THE VALVE TO PLUG UP THE HOLE. 4). I RECHARGED THE SYSTEM WITH FREON. THAT'S IT. 4 EASY STEPS AND MY AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING LIKE GANGBUSTERS AGAIN FOR LESS THAN $50. YOU WOULD THINK THAT FORD COMPRESSOR MANUFACTURERS WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS VALVE BY NOW, OR MAYBE MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR GUYS COULD HAVE JUST PLUGGED-UP THE HOLE IN THE VALVE WITH JB WELD JUST LIKE I DID. BUT NOOOOOOOO! THAT WOULD BE TO EASY, AND THEY WOULDN'T MAKE A TON OF MONEY OFF ME. IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE ALL IN IT TO MAKE MAJOR BUCKS OFF OF THE SUPPOSED DESIGN FLAW OF A VALVE.

NHTSA ODI #10130061

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1993 FORD PROBE FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAG BE DISCONNECTED. *NM *NM

NHTSA ODI #10113757

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2004
Visibility

WINDOW ASSEMBLY ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE BROKE WITHIN A WEEK APART. THE REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN ON ITS OWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10093002

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Power Train

I CAN'T EVEN GET ANYONE TO WORK ON THIS TRANSMISSION. I CALL EVERY SINGLE TRANNY SHOP I COULD FIND IN 3 TOWNS, NOT 1 WILL HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A PROBLE TRANNY. THIS IS CRAZY, FORD OR MAZDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS, IF THEY HAVE A PRODUCT, WITH SUCH A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I WISH I WOULD OF KNOWN, NEVER WOULD OF BOUGHT IT!

NHTSA ODI #10068908

200,000 miles · Dec 15, 2003
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ON MY 1993 PROBE GT HAS AN UNEXPLAINED DEFECT. MOST REPAIR BUSINESSES WILL NOT EVEN TOUCH THESE CARS DUE TO REPUTATION. AFTER $500 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES, THE PROBLEM WAS RULED UNEXPLAINED BY AAMCO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049761

140,000 miles · May 10, 2003
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 93 FORD PROBE IS SHOT. THERE IS NO SERVICE STATION, ETC. THAT WILL EVEN TOUCH THE THING. THEY ARE KNOW FOR THIS AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET SOMEONE TO WORK ON IT. FORD OR MAZDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018485

Official recalls

1

93V058000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

Apr 13, 1993

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.