IllustrationNEWLY 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
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 reportsTHERE IS A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. *AK
CAR STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER. *AK
I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF THE PROBE THAT FACED THE SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY.
THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 02/14/0 DUE TO THE THE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TOTAL $515.28 AND THE DIAGNOSED AND FILTERING STSEM WAS REPLACE AT $161.00. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS 03/03/00 WHERE PHIL FITTS SPOTTED A PLUGGED IDLE AIR VALVE THAT WAS REPLACED. PHIL FITTS. 3250 WILMINGTON RD, NEW CASTLE, PA 16105. I DIDN'T MIND THE …
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THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED 02/14/0 DUE TO THE THE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TOTAL $515.28 AND THE DIAGNOSED AND FILTERING STSEM WAS REPLACE AT $161.00. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS 03/03/00 WHERE PHIL FITTS SPOTTED A PLUGGED IDLE AIR VALVE THAT WAS REPLACED. PHIL FITTS. 3250 WILMINGTON RD, NEW CASTLE, PA 16105. I DIDN'T MIND THE OCCURANCE ON 03/03/00 BUT THE ONE 2/14/00 WAS QUOTED AS SOMETHING THAT WAS RARE ON CAR FOR THE WHOLE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM TO GO. I HAD TO BE TOWED TICE WHICH I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT I HAVE INSURANCE TO COVR THAT.WHEN I BROKE DOWN IT WAS A COLD EVENING AND THE CAR HAD JUST DIED AND STARTED TO SMOKE TO ME THAT WAS ALOT OF MONEY TO PUT IN A CAR THAT YOU JUST PURCHASED 2 MONTHS PRIOR.I ALWAYS LIKE DEALING WITH FORD I HOPE SOMEONE COULD LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME I KNOW THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR USED BUT, TO ME THAT IS ALOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU, CAROLE NOCERAE
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.
HATCHBACK WOULD NOT STAY UP. IT HIT CONSUMER ON THE HEAD AND BACK ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. *AK
AT 50,000 LOST STEERING CONTROL AT 50 MPH. FELT LIKE I HAD LOST POWER ASSIST. HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE ON A HIGHWAY EXIT. STEERING RETURNED AFTER STOPPING AND FORCING THE WHEEL BACK A FORTH. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO RECALLS AND WOULD NOT REPAIR. PREVIOUSLY BOTH REAR BRAKE…
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AT 50,000 LOST STEERING CONTROL AT 50 MPH. FELT LIKE I HAD LOST POWER ASSIST. HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE ON A HIGHWAY EXIT. STEERING RETURNED AFTER STOPPING AND FORCING THE WHEEL BACK A FORTH. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO RECALLS AND WOULD NOT REPAIR. PREVIOUSLY BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CLOSED. THIS OCCURRED AT 38,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE REFERRING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
IDLE AIR SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED IN 1995 & HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC, SLOWING UP UPON APPROACHING A STOP. CONSUMER HAS TO COVER COST OVER $1,000. ORIGINAL OWNER. DEALER SAID PART WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS. *AK
REIMBURSEMENT IS DESIRED SINCE OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *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.