VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. . TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *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.
What owners actually said
205 reportsWHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE DIED. . SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITH FOOT ON GAS PEDAL TO KEEP VEHICLE IDLING, AND IT REVVED AND THEN IDLED. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN IT WOULD STALL. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED IT FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME, WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED, FAILING TO RELEASE. SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS. *AK
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN VEHICLE IS COMING TO A STOP. I AM UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO IDLE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE PROBLEM INTERMITENTLY PERSISTS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE IAC VALVE, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE DISTRIB…
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VEHICLE STALLS WHEN VEHICLE IS COMING TO A STOP. I AM UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO IDLE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE PROBLEM INTERMITENTLY PERSISTS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE IAC VALVE, THE DISTRIBUTOR, THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, THE PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES, AND NOW THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE IAC VALVE FOR A 2ND TIME! BY REVIEWING THIS DATABASE I SEE THAT MANY OTHER PROBE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE DEALER HAS A SOLUTION TO FIX IT. ALSO, AFTER TALKING TO FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PHONE LINE, IT DOES NOT APPEAR AS IF FORD IS EVEN WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM! IT COSTS ME AT LEAST $500 EVERYTIME I HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SO THAT THEY CAN ATTEMPT TO "FIX" THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND I AM GETTING QUITE FED UP WITH THE ENTIRE SITUATION! *AK
WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL. HOWEVER, WHEN CHANGING TO DRIVE #2 VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL. DLR HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
REAR CALIPERS SIEZED, FAILING TO RELEASE BRAKE PADS FROM DISC. *AK
PASSANGER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP, DESTROYING ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS, MANY PROBE OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *AK
LEFT REAR CALIPER LOCKED UP ON A COLD MORNING. WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL, DROVE FOR 1 MILE, ROTOR HEATED UP ENOUGH TO TURN CHERRY RED, SMOKING VERY BADLY. THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM, EVERY '93 & '94 FORD PROBE GT HAS THIS PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE NO PARKING BRAKE WHICH I SHOULD HAVE. I AM ALWAYS HEARING OF PROBLEMS FROM OTHERS ON A …
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LEFT REAR CALIPER LOCKED UP ON A COLD MORNING. WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL, DROVE FOR 1 MILE, ROTOR HEATED UP ENOUGH TO TURN CHERRY RED, SMOKING VERY BADLY. THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM, EVERY '93 & '94 FORD PROBE GT HAS THIS PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE NO PARKING BRAKE WHICH I SHOULD HAVE. I AM ALWAYS HEARING OF PROBLEMS FROM OTHERS ON A PROBE FAQ SITE. YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM OTHERS ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE FORD RECALL THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM! *AK
THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT OF 1993/94 FORD PROBE GT'S. I HEAR A REDESIGN CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH 95 MODELS. JUST NO ONE WANTS TO PAY FOR THE DEFECT FOR US 93 OWNERS. SEE HTTP://WWW.KLIO.NET/PROBE/ISSUES.HTML FOR MORE INFORMATION. *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.
Illustration