IllustrationWHEN LIFTING THE HATCHBACK, THE HATCHBACK SUPPORT ROD FAILED, CAUSING THE HATCHBACK TO FALL DOWN ON CONSUMERS BACK. *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
What owners actually said
205 reportsIDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT FAILED, CAUSING CAR NOT TO START.
IN COLD WEATHER THERE IS A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING AND IT IS LOOSE, TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED GEAR BOX FOR THE STEERING AND BUSHING . *AK
OWNER STATES THAT SHE HAD JUST DRIVEN VEHICLE AND PARKED IT WHEN SHE WENT IN THE HOUSE AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE NOTES THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT COULD HAVE STARTED FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD-ON AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO CUT DRIVER'S FACE. THE DEALER REPLACED THA AIR BAG. *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…
Read full complaint
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
UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AT APPROX. 20MPH, REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT STOPPED SHORT, AIRBAG DEPLOYED, EXHIBITING WHITE SMOKE/POWDER SUSTANCE WHICH CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS TO FACE AND NECK. *AK *JB
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKESFAILED TWENTY TIMES, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ONCE RESULTIN GIN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
AIRBAG PARTIALLY INFLATED THEN VIOLENTLY EXPLODED IN DRIVERS FACE, CAUSING INJURY.
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.