IllustrationHAND BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE. REAR CALIPERS SIEZE REAR CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES- APPROXIMATELY EVERY 43K MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN IT MENTIONED REPEATEDLY AT FORD PROBE SITES ON THE INTERNET
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
Service Brakes, Air complaints
11 reportsBOTH CALIPER FAILED AT SEPARATE TIMES
BRAKE CALIPER FAILED TO RELEASE FULLY AFTER PARKING BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED.
BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZE CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL.
REAR BRAKE LOCKED IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
REAR BRAKE LOCKED IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CALIPER FROZE RESULTING IN THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP.
REAR CALIPERS FAIL BECAUSE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE PROPERLY CAUSING THE BRAKE TO REMAIN ENGAGED DURING MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
HAND BRAKE PIVOT HAS CORRODED INTERNALLY IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO HANG UP PERIODICALLY.
BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE.
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.