IllustrationI 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
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
Power Train complaints
17 reportsI 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!
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
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
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 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
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.
THIS WAS A CAR I SAVE FOR MY FIRST CAR AN TO HAVE TO PUT 2,500 IN TO THE CAR FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD AN TO FINE OUT SO MANY PROBE OWNERS AN MAZDA OWNERS ARE GOING THROUGH THIS IS A SHAME .*AK
WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL. HOWEVER, WHEN CHANGING TO DRIVE #2 VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL. DLR HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
NO SUMMARY
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.