IllustrationENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. ALSO, BRAKES AND THE STEERING FAILED. DEALER INDICATED CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET. *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 reportsPARKING BRAKES DO NOT DISENGAGE. EXTREME HIGH HEAT RUINED REAR ROTORS, POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *AK
BOTH REAR CALIPERS SEIZED DUE TO DETERIORATED HANDBRAKE PIVOT-PIN SEAL AND NEEDLE BEARINGS INSIDE CALIPERS. CALIPER PISTON WON'T RELEASE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO PADS AND INTENSE HEAT TO ROTORS WITH BURNING SMELL. FORD-UK AND MAZDA-UK HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS COST OF REPLACING CALIPERS, BUT NOT FORD - USA. *AK
BOTH OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ARE SEIZING UP. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS IT HEATS UP THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LOSS OF BREAKING ABILITY.
THE BRAKE ROTORS BECOME WARPED AT EVERY 20,000 MILES OR LESS, WHICH MAY CAUSE REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY AND AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED SENSOR ON WHEEL, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK
LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER INTERMITTENTLY RUBS WITH FRICTION, SOMETIMES CAUSING A BURNING METAL SMELL.
LEFT REAR CALIPER INTERMTTENTLY RUBS WITH FRICTION.
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE INTO LOCKE DPOSITION, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO OVERHEAT.
LEFT REAR CALIPER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
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.