IllustrationTHIS HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY, COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1993 AND 1994 OWNERS OF THE PROBE GT. EACH FIX IS TEMPERAMENTAL. RECENT FORD RECALL IN CA ORDERED BY COURT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
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 IGNITOR MODULE FAILED WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK AGAIN UNTIL IT HAS A COUPLE OF MINTUES TO SIT. BUT NOW IT HAS FAILED FOR THE LAST TIME BECAUSE MY ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON UNTIL I GOT A WHOLE NEW DISTRUBITOR.*AK
I AM JUST WONDERING WHEN THE NEW ONES GOING TO FAIL. ITS STILL IN THE SAME SPOT-RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOT ENGINE. *AK
IGNITOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER A THERMAL RESET I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHEREUPON IT WOULD RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND QUIT AGAIN. IT WOULD DO THIS UNTIL THE LENGTH OF TIME IT WOULD WORK BECAME ZERO. THANKFULLY I HAD A REPLACEMENT READY.
OK, SO A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN IT DID START THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED THE CODES AND GOT CODES 3 AND 4, WHICH PERTAIN TO A FAULTY IGNITER. TO EXPLAIN MY COMPLAINT, THE FORM ASKED HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED AND I WROTE 12... 12 BEING THE NUMBER OF TIMES ROU…
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OK, SO A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN IT DID START THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED THE CODES AND GOT CODES 3 AND 4, WHICH PERTAIN TO A FAULTY IGNITER. TO EXPLAIN MY COMPLAINT, THE FORM ASKED HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED AND I WROTE 12... 12 BEING THE NUMBER OF TIMES ROUGHLY, THAT IT HAS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. I'VE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1993 PROBES AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT SOON. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. CHECKED MYSELF FOR SPARK AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS NONE. A LOCAL SHOP REPAIRED THE DISTRIBUTOR FOR OVER $400. A MONTH LATER, IN AN UNRELATED INCIDENT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND AFTER 4 WEEKS, 2-3 REBUILDS AND $2300 LATER I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HEARD AND READ O…
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THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. CHECKED MYSELF FOR SPARK AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS NONE. A LOCAL SHOP REPAIRED THE DISTRIBUTOR FOR OVER $400. A MONTH LATER, IN AN UNRELATED INCIDENT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND AFTER 4 WEEKS, 2-3 REBUILDS AND $2300 LATER I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HEARD AND READ OF NUMEROUS FELLOW 1993-1997 FORD PROBE OWNERS REPORTING THESE FAILURES TIME AND AGAIN.
AT 37000 MILES THE IGNITOR WITHIN THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED, STALLING THE ENGINE AND STOPPING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC. AT 37000 MILES THE THROWOUT BEARING IN THE CLUTCH WAS ALSO VIBRATING BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEN THE AIRBAG MONITOR SHORTED OUT FOR SOME REASON.
VEHICLE STALLS IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *AK THE VEHICLE STARTS AFTER PARKED FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *YH
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AT HWY SPEEDS 65 MPH PLUS. AFTER WAITING 2 TO 3 MINUTES, VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND GO ANOTHER 7 TO 8 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD RECUR. ENGINE DIED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING AT HIWAY SPEEDS.*AK
THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 02/14/0 DUE TO THE THE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TOTAL $515.28 AND THE DIAGNOSED AND FILTERING STSEM WAS REPLACE AT $161.00. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS 03/03/00 WHERE PHIL FITTS SPOTTED A PLUGGED IDLE AIR VALVE THAT WAS REPLACED. PHIL FITTS. 3250 WILMINGTON RD, NEW CASTLE, PA 16105. I DIDN'T MIND THE …
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THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 02/14/0 DUE TO THE THE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TOTAL $515.28 AND THE DIAGNOSED AND FILTERING STSEM WAS REPLACE AT $161.00. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS 03/03/00 WHERE PHIL FITTS SPOTTED A PLUGGED IDLE AIR VALVE THAT WAS REPLACED. PHIL FITTS. 3250 WILMINGTON RD, NEW CASTLE, PA 16105. I DIDN'T MIND THE OCCURANCE ON 03/03/00 BUT THE ONE 2/14/00 WAS QUOTED AS SOMETHING THAT WAS RARE ON CAR FOR THE WHOLE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM TO GO. I HAD TO BE TOWED TICE WHICH I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT I HAVE INSURANCE TO COVR THAT.WHEN I BROKE DOWN IT WAS A COLD EVENING AND THE CAR HAD JUST DIED AND STARTED TO SMOKE TO ME THAT WAS ALOT OF MONEY TO PUT IN A CAR THAT YOU JUST PURCHASED 2 MONTHS PRIOR.I ALWAYS LIKE DEALING WITH FORD I HOPE SOMEONE COULD LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME I KNOW THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR USED BUT, TO ME THAT IS ALOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU, CAROLE NOCERAE
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.