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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

33 reports
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104,948 miles · Sep 18, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE RUSTED, WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM MOVING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE RUSTED, WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM MOVING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,948.

NHTSA ODI #10203360

70,400 miles · May 26, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR CALIPER BRAKES SEIZED ON MY 1994 FORD PROBE GT, CAUSING EXTREME OVERHEATING AND SMOKING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019288

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2002
Parking BrakeService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

PARKING BRAKE: PARKING BRAKE IS USELESS. BOTH CALIPERS REPLACED BECAUSE PARKING BRAKE FROZEN. BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND THEN PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, I ASSUME THAT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE…

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PARKING BRAKE: PARKING BRAKE IS USELESS. BOTH CALIPERS REPLACED BECAUSE PARKING BRAKE FROZEN. BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND THEN PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, I ASSUME THAT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING. I AM SURE IT WILL NOT BE LONG AND I WILL BE REPLACING MY BRAKE PADS AGAIN, UNLESS OF COURSE THERE IS A FIRE DUE TO THIS CALIPER PROBLEM IT SEEMS THE 1994 PROBE HAS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WERE OTHERS THAT HAD THEIR SPARK PLUG WELLS FILL UP WITH OIL. THAT HAPPENED TO MY PROBE ALSO WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 50000 MILES DRIVEN ON THE VEHICLE. NOW, I AM EXPERIENCING MY PROBE STALLING OUT FOR NO REASON WHILE IT IS ON THE ROAD? THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND I NOTICE THAT THE RECALL FOR THE FORD IGNITION MODULES DO NOT INCLUDE THE PROBE, BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS RELATED. I AM ALSO NOW HAVING ANTIFREEZE LEAKS AND I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT IT IS THE HEAD GASKET. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THERE ARE GASKET PROBLEMS WITH 93-95 FORDS AND THE OIL FILLING UP IN THE SPARK PLUG WELLS MIGHT BE AN INDICATOR. ALL OF MY PROBLEMS ARE LISTED MANY MANY TIMES ON THIS SITE AND OTHER, ESPECIALLY THE BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #758022

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN MARCH OF 1999 THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER OF MY FORD PROBE LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE WHILE I DROVE AND ADVERSELY AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING FROM THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE WARNING SYSTEM OR OTHERWISE - I WAS UNAWARE OF THE P…

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IN MARCH OF 1999 THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER OF MY FORD PROBE LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE WHILE I DROVE AND ADVERSELY AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING FROM THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE WARNING SYSTEM OR OTHERWISE - I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE FROM THAT WHEEL. AT THE TIME, I HAD BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER (DILLON FORD), WHO SAID THAT BOTH HAD FAILED. ON MAY 18, 2001 (ABOUT 20,000 MILES LATER) THE REPLACEMENT LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER AGAIN LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AGAIN CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO OVERHEAT AND BURN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS VEHICLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME SITUATION - HOWEVER, I CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR CO. ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND THEY REFUSE TO GET INVOLVED, SAYING THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL OR TECH. SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THAT PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME - I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745543

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DO NOT DISENGAGE AFTER USING THE HANDBRAKE. THE HANDBRAKE IS CURRENTLY USELESS ON THE CAR SINCE IT NEVER DISENGAGES PROPERLY. THIS ESSENTIALLY MAKES THE CAR IMMOBILE AT THE POINT WHERE THE HANDBRAKE WAS USED. ANY PASSENGER OR DRIVER CAN ENGAGE THE HANDBRAKE NOT KNOWING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT D…

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THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DO NOT DISENGAGE AFTER USING THE HANDBRAKE. THE HANDBRAKE IS CURRENTLY USELESS ON THE CAR SINCE IT NEVER DISENGAGES PROPERLY. THIS ESSENTIALLY MAKES THE CAR IMMOBILE AT THE POINT WHERE THE HANDBRAKE WAS USED. ANY PASSENGER OR DRIVER CAN ENGAGE THE HANDBRAKE NOT KNOWING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT DISENGAGING. IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION THERE COULD BE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS A WRECK DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING NORMAL CONTROL AND FIRE DUE TO THE BRAKE DISCS OVERHEATING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF DANGER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721823

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels

FOR MY BRAKE PROBLEM. THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS APPLIED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE WHEEL PROBELM, I WAS COMING OFF OF AN ON-RAMP WHEN I STRUCT A POTHOLE AND THE FACTORY WHEEL SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES.

NHTSA ODI #711980

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR DISC CALIPERS FREEZE UP WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET. UPON RELEASE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CALIPERS DO NOT RELEASE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS. THIS CAUSED BY FAILUR OF PIVOT PIN WHICH HAS BECOME CORRODED DUT TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL.

NHTSA ODI #539801

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingParking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEEL SPLIT CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT.

NHTSA ODI #544902

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BOTH REAR CALIPERS ON MY 1994 FROD PROBE GT HAVE SIEZED AND ONE ALMOST STARTED THE CAR ON FIRE, WITH THE LEFT REAR ROTOR GLOWING ORANGE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR SIGNS OF SIEZING, AND NO TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKE HANDLE. FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE YEARS AFTER 1995, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE UPDATED CALIPERS SHOULD BE RETROFITTED TO AL…

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BOTH REAR CALIPERS ON MY 1994 FROD PROBE GT HAVE SIEZED AND ONE ALMOST STARTED THE CAR ON FIRE, WITH THE LEFT REAR ROTOR GLOWING ORANGE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR SIGNS OF SIEZING, AND NO TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKE HANDLE. FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE YEARS AFTER 1995, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE UPDATED CALIPERS SHOULD BE RETROFITTED TO ALL OF OUR CARS THAT HAVE FAILING CALIPERS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS, RESULTING FROM THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705106

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #704483

Official recalls

1

93V169000 · 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

1

DP98005 · 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