IllustrationENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *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 reportsVEHICLE STALLS WHEN VEHICLE IS COMING TO A STOP. I AM UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO IDLE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE PROBLEM INTERMITENTLY PERSISTS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE IAC VALVE, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE DISTRIB…
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VEHICLE STALLS WHEN VEHICLE IS COMING TO A STOP. I AM UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO IDLE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE PROBLEM INTERMITENTLY PERSISTS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE IAC VALVE, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, THE PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES, AND NOW THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE IAC VALVE FOR A 2ND TIME! BY REVIEWING THIS DATABASE I SEE THAT MANY OTHER PROBE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE DEALER HAS A SOLUTION TO FIX IT. ALSO, AFTER TALKING TO FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PHONE LINE, IT DOES NOT APPEAR AS IF FORD IS EVEN WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM! IT COSTS ME AT LEAST $500 EVERYTIME I HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SO THAT THEY CAN ATTEMPT TO "FIX" THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND I AM GETTING QUITE FED UP WITH THE ENTIRE SITUATION! *AK
THE PRO-LOCK SYSTEM THAT IS IN MY CAR IS HAVING TO BE REMOVE BECAUSE IT IS SPARKING. THE ITEM HAS BEEN DIS-CONTINUED. THE DEALERS WERE NOT SURE WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I CALLED THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED ANYMORE. ONE DEALER SAID HE HAS TO DO THE
VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN DUE TO STARTER AND IGNITION MODULE DESIGN FLAW.
DISTRIBUTOR/IGNITOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
AT TIMES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE NEEDED TO CONTINUE RUNNING, IT STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
STARTED THE ENGINE, TWO MINUTES LATER SMOKE STARTED GUSHING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TEN MINUTES LATER FLAMES WERE IN THE DASH LEADING OUT TO THE UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE DASH AREA. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATES EXCESS OIL DRIPPING FROM FILER CAP DIRECTLY ONTO ALTERNATOR AND ELECTRICAL PARTS SHORTING OUT SYSTEM AND RESULTED IN FIRE, CONSUMER REROUTED ELECTRICS AWAY FROM ENGINE AND SEALED CONNECTIONS IN BACK OF ALTE…
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ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATES EXCESS OIL DRIPPING FROM FILER CAP DIRECTLY ONTO ALTERNATOR AND ELECTRICAL PARTS SHORTING OUT SYSTEM AND RESULTED IN FIRE, CONSUMER REROUTED ELECTRICS AWAY FROM ENGINE AND SEALED CONNECTIONS IN BACK OF ALTERNATOR AFTER REPLACING THEM. *SLC
SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES RADIO TO STAY ON AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF/KEY REMOVED.
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.