IllustrationICM 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
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
Compare all Probe years →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
Electrical System complaints
32 reportsTHE DISTRIBUTOR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS BEEN NOTED TO FAIL ON THESE ENGINES AS THE RECALL FOR PRIOR YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HABIT OF FAILING. FOR MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS, PLEASE GO TO WWW.PROBETALK.COM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT T…
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THE DISTRIBUTOR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS BEEN NOTED TO FAIL ON THESE ENGINES AS THE RECALL FOR PRIOR YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HABIT OF FAILING. FOR MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS, PLEASE GO TO WWW.PROBETALK.COM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR DISTRIBUTORS AND TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES.*AK
THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITOR THIS CAR HAS HAD. THIS IS A DEFECT FROM FORD. IT IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE TO LET FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS INJUSTICE. PROBE OWNERS ALL HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD MOTORS.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. NARROWLY MISSED ACCIDENT. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR.*AK
ALL OWNERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DISTRIBUTOR PROBLEMS FROM PAST CUSTOMERS. *AK
THIS PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION--SAME AS THE CURRENT 'RECALL'. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTOR. I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF OVER $600. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE TSB WAS TO REPLACE THE THICK FILM IGNITION..... THIS HAPPENED AT 53000 MILES, WELL WITH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 60 MPH RPMS STARTED TO DROP. VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND DIE. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER REPLACED TFI MODULE ,AND REPLACED IT WITH SAME PART. THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN OF P…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 60 MPH RPMS STARTED TO DROP. VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND DIE. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER REPLACED TFI MODULE ,AND REPLACED IT WITH SAME PART. THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN OF PART. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
IT WAS A HOT DAY. WE HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE FOR APPROX 10 MINUTES WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE RPM INDICATOR DROPPED TO ZERO BY THE TIME WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS ALONE WAS A MIRACLE AS WE LOST COMPLETE POWER WITHIN SECONDS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLE AS THE DISTRIBUTOR. WE'VE JUST LEARNED…
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IT WAS A HOT DAY. WE HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE FOR APPROX 10 MINUTES WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE RPM INDICATOR DROPPED TO ZERO BY THE TIME WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS ALONE WAS A MIRACLE AS WE LOST COMPLETE POWER WITHIN SECONDS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLE AS THE DISTRIBUTOR. WE'VE JUST LEARNED THAT THE TFI (THICK FILM MODULE) IS BEING QUESTIONED AS FAULTY IN SOME MAKES OF FORDS. THE COMPLAINTS HAVE SPARKED RECALL CRIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE HAD A NEW DISTRIBUTOR INSTALLED YESTERDAY, AUGUST 13, 2001. IT HAS THE SAME TFI MODULE MOUNTED ON THE DISTRIBUTOR THAT THE PREVIOUS FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR HAD. SO, ARE WE RIDING IN ANOTHER TIME BOMB FOR A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY SUSTAIN INJURY OR EVEN LOSS OF LIFE. I SURE HOPE NOT.
1993 FORD PROBE GT STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE STALLS SEEMS TO OCCUR RANDOMLY. I STALLED ON HOT DAYS AND COOL DAYS. THIS PROBLEM WAS PRIMED TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE MAIN PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE IN IGNITION COIL.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
193V058000 · 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
1SQ98008 · Audio System Fires
Opened May 4, 1998 · Closed May 8, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.