IllustrationPIVOT PIN IN BOTH REAR CALIPERS CORRODES DUE TO FAULTY GASKET AND REAR BRAKES SEIZE AS A RESULT.*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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
48 reports1993 FORD PROBE GT. BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE EACH SEIZED TWICE (BOTH CALIPERS WERE REBUILT BY A DEALER AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURES). WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THERE IS A BURNING BRAKE SMELL, THE ROTOR GLOWS ORANGE, THE ENTIRE WHEEL GETS EXTREMEMLY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE IS DESTABILIZED TOWARDS OVERSTEER. THE BRAKE PADS ARE DES…
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1993 FORD PROBE GT. BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE EACH SEIZED TWICE (BOTH CALIPERS WERE REBUILT BY A DEALER AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURES). WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THERE IS A BURNING BRAKE SMELL, THE ROTOR GLOWS ORANGE, THE ENTIRE WHEEL GETS EXTREMEMLY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE IS DESTABILIZED TOWARDS OVERSTEER. THE BRAKE PADS ARE DESTROYED VERY QUICKLY RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE REAR BRAKES (INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE). THE BRAKE ROTOR MAY ALSO WARP DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE CORRECTLY SINCE IT INITIALLY JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A RUBBER SEAL (HANDBRAKE PIVOT-PIN SEAL) THAT DETERIORATES PREMATURELY ALLOWING MOISTURE AND CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE CALIPER WHERE IS CAUSES THE NEEDLE BEARINGS TO CORRODE. IT THEREFORE ONLY EFFECTS PROBE MODELS WITH REAR DISC BRAKES (PROBE GT). FORD REVISED THE REAR CALIPERS ON PROBE GT'S MANUFACTURED AFTER 5-JAN-1995 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT ALTHOUGH EARLIER MODELS WERE NEVER CORRECTED.*AK
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DO NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN HANDBRAKE IS RELEASED. THIS CAUSES FRICTIONAL HEATING AND WARPED ROTORS. FORD UK HAS PAID FOR NEW CALIPERS, BUT FORD US HAS REFUSED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MAJORITY OF 2ND GENERATION PROBE OWNERS HAVE PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. SEIZING OF LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER MAY CAUSE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO NOT OPERATE DURING EMERGENCY. THE BRAKE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO SEIZED PIVOT PIN IN THE CALIPER OR CAN CAUSE UNBALANCED BRAKING SINCE ONE SIDE WILL NOT WORK. IF EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE APPLIED…
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MAJORITY OF 2ND GENERATION PROBE OWNERS HAVE PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE. SEIZING OF LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER MAY CAUSE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO NOT OPERATE DURING EMERGENCY. THE BRAKE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO SEIZED PIVOT PIN IN THE CALIPER OR CAN CAUSE UNBALANCED BRAKING SINCE ONE SIDE WILL NOT WORK. IF EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE APPLIED DURING SOME SPEED THE UNBALANCING OF REAR BRAKES MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO SPIN OUT INTO DEADLY CRASH. *AK
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKES WHICH ARE MADE WITH NON-ABSESTOS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO RUSTED THROUGH AND A SQUEAKING NOISE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH MAY RESULT A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
AFTER RELEASING THE HAND BRAKE THE REAR WHEELS REMAIN LOCKED. I UNDERSTOOD THAT TIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAD TO DRIVE 6 MILES FROM WORK WITH THE REAR WHEELS ALMOST LOCKED AND DUE TO THE OVERHEATING OF THE REAR DISCS, WITH ALMOST NO BRAKES!!!! FORD HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! I HAVE CONTACTED A FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER AND I A…
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AFTER RELEASING THE HAND BRAKE THE REAR WHEELS REMAIN LOCKED. I UNDERSTOOD THAT TIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAD TO DRIVE 6 MILES FROM WORK WITH THE REAR WHEELS ALMOST LOCKED AND DUE TO THE OVERHEATING OF THE REAR DISCS, WITH ALMOST NO BRAKES!!!! FORD HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! I HAVE CONTACTED A FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER AND I AM WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE. I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE 93 PROBE. IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FIXED IT IN '95 AND LATER PROBES WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE 93 AND 94 MODELS??? THERE SHOUD BE SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY SHOULD DO ABOUT THIS! FORD HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT HAS A VALUE OF MORE THAN 250 $. PEASE HELP US! ALIN.
REIMBURSEMENT IS DESIRED SINCE OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED, FAILING TO RELEASE. SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS. *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.