IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1994 Ford Probe
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Probe years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 14 of 166 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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports7 fire reports11 injury reports
Power Train complaints
29 reportsI WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF THE CD4E 1994 TRANSMISSION. THERE IS ONLY 113000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN PAYING TO GET THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM REPAIRED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. ONLY 2 WEEKS AFTER SPENDING NEARLY $600 ON REPLACING THE FRONT AXLES, THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH AND FELT A SLIGHT JERK. AFTER WHICH, THE CAR WOULDN'T KICK INTO GEAR. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THE CAR WOULDN'T MO…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED. ONLY 2 WEEKS AFTER SPENDING NEARLY $600 ON REPLACING THE FRONT AXLES, THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH AND FELT A SLIGHT JERK. AFTER WHICH, THE CAR WOULDN'T KICK INTO GEAR. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CD4E TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE EX-FORD MECHANIC. HE ALSO USED THE TERM "THROW AWAY CAR?! I USUALLY GET RUDE LOOKS, OR LAUGHED AT WHEN I MENTION THAT I NEED A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR A FORD PROBE. HELP ME! MY CAR HAS BEEN UNDRIVABLE FOR NEARLY 7 MONTHS.*AK
CONSUMER HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. NLM
O/D LIGHT BLINKING- COMPUTER ERROR REPORTS GEAR RATIO PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN REPORTS THAT FORD HAD MAJOR PROBLEMWITHTHE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING REDESIGN OF PUMP AND OTHER PARTS. FORD RAN OUT OF PARTS ANDOPTED TO REDESIGN. FORD NOW REPLACES TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE RATHER THAN ATTEMPT REPAIRS, PER FORD TECHNICIAN. THUS, FORD …
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O/D LIGHT BLINKING- COMPUTER ERROR REPORTS GEAR RATIO PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN REPORTS THAT FORD HAD MAJOR PROBLEMWITHTHE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING REDESIGN OF PUMP AND OTHER PARTS. FORD RAN OUT OF PARTS ANDOPTED TO REDESIGN. FORD NOW REPLACES TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE RATHER THAN ATTEMPT REPAIRS, PER FORD TECHNICIAN. THUS, FORD ACKNOWLEDGES A POOR DESIGN BUT REQUIRES OWNERS TO BEAR BURDEN OF $2,000+ COST. WHOM DO I CONTACT AT FORD?
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AUTO TRANSMISSION TWICE,FORD IS TELLING THE REPAIR PEOPLE THAT ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BAD IN PROBES.PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE SHELLED OUT 2,300.OO DOLLARS SO FAR AND I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR. *AK
NO SUMMARY
CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND IT WOULD JERK, AND NEVER SWITCH OUT OF FIRST GEAR.
Official recalls
193V169000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 15, 1993
IF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THAT SEATING POSITION, THE AIR BAG CAN DETACH FROM, AND DEFORM, THE MOUNTING BRACKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INSTALLATION OF A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAGWOULD BE IMPEDED BY THE DAMAGE TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND WOULD REQUIRE MOREEXPENSIVE REPAIR WORK. THIS MAY DETER THE VEHICLE OWNER FROM HAVING THE REPAIRMADE AND THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG INSTALLED, WHICH WOULD PLACE FUTURE PASSENGERSAT HIGHER RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: A NEW AIR BAG MODULE WITH A SLIGHTLY REVISED DOOR TO IMPROVE FIT AND APPEARANCE WILL BE INSTALLED AND A DOUBLER WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO MORE SECURELY RETAIN THE MODULE.
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
1DP98005 · Engine Oil Pump Failure
Opened Jun 4, 1998 · Closed Aug 27, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available