IllustrationCORROSION OF A PIVOT PIN IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, CAUSING PARKING BRAKE TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING. *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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
33 reportsWHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PIVOT ARM RUSTS PREVENTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FROM DISENGAGING, UPON MOVING FORWARD THE CALIPER GETS STUCK TO ROTOR. FRICTION CAUSES THE ROTOR TO OVERHEAT, CAUSING ROTOR TO WARP AND PRE MATURE WEAR OF PADS. *AK
REAR BRAKE CALIPER WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN HAND BRAKE IS RELEASED, ESPECIALLY IN SNOW AND ICE.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZES DURING NORMAL OPERATION, CAUSING AN ENORMOUS AMOUN TOF HEAT THROUGHOUT ENTIRE BRAKE/ROTOR ASSEMBLY. *AK
RIGHT REAR CALIPER DOES NOT FULLY RELEASE, RESULTING IN THE FOLLOWING: BRAKE PADS DRAG, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FRICTION WHEN DRIVING, OVERHEATING OF BRAKE COMPONENTS AND SMOKE. COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FIRE HAZARD. *AK
CONTINUAL USE OF HADNBRAKES CAUSES THE REAR CALIPERS TO SEIZE, ALMOST CAUST AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE ALTERNATOR FAILED.
LEFT REAR CALIPER LOCKS UP WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AND WILL NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL MANUALLY PULLED BACK. *AK
LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, NOTICED SMOKE AND SMELLED BURNING WIRING. *AK
EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, HAD AN ACCIDENT. *AK
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