IllustrationMileage unknown · Sep 16, 2000
SteeringInjury
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #731679
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
Steering complaints
7 reportsNO SUMMARY
WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND YOU GO TO MAKE A LANGE CHANGE TO THE RIGHT OR TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. SOME TIMES THE STERRING WHEEL WON'T MOVE WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT(ACTS LIKE THE STEERING FREEZES). AFTER SUFFICIENT FORCE YOU CAN FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT,THEN THE STEERING RESPONDS AND EVERY THING IS ALL …
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WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND YOU GO TO MAKE A LANGE CHANGE TO THE RIGHT OR TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. SOME TIMES THE STERRING WHEEL WON'T MOVE WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT(ACTS LIKE THE STEERING FREEZES). AFTER SUFFICIENT FORCE YOU CAN FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT,THEN THE STEERING RESPONDS AND EVERY THING IS ALL RIGHT UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU HAVE TO REACT QUICKLY ESPECIALLY IF TAKING AN OFF RAMP OR FIND YOURSELF COLLIDING WITH THE SOUND WALL. THIS IS SOMETHING I DO NOT ENJOY THAT THOUGHT AT ALL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY MATTER AND ONE OF THESE DAYS SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT DRIVE PROBES AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO TALKED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEIR RESPONCE WAS SINCE THE WARRENTY HAS EXPIRED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. ALSO SEARCHED YOUR DATA BASE OF RECALLS AND S/B'S AND FOUND NOTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THIS SITUATION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP US WITH THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *AK
WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT IT. THEY SAY THAT NO WARRANTY FOR THIS EVENTHOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. I TALKED TO FORD DEALER IN KENT WASHINGTON, SCAFF FORD. MANAJOR VINCE STRONG. I DISCCUSED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE FROM RACK AND PINION BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT MANUFACTURER'S PROCESS. HE JUS…
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WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT IT. THEY SAY THAT NO WARRANTY FOR THIS EVENTHOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. I TALKED TO FORD DEALER IN KENT WASHINGTON, SCAFF FORD. MANAJOR VINCE STRONG. I DISCCUSED ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE FROM RACK AND PINION BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT MANUFACTURER'S PROCESS. HE JUST SAY NO WARRANTY FOR THIS. I FOUND MANY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT CAUSE BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE OF STEERING FAILURE AND CALIPER SEIZE.
AT 4,000 RPM OR HIGHER POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED TO OPERATE UNTIL IT WAS ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN; THEN IT FUNCIONED NORMALLY UNTIL REVVED ABOVE 4,000 RPM AGAIN. *AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW AND TURN IN A CURVE, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND AT THE LAST MINUTE IT LOOSENED DRASTICALLY, CAUSING ME TO OVERCOMPENSATE. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND WRONG ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IT HAPPENS AT MOST ANY SPEED, AND WHEN TURNING…
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WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW AND TURN IN A CURVE, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND AT THE LAST MINUTE IT LOOSENED DRASTICALLY, CAUSING ME TO OVERCOMPENSATE. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND WRONG ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IT HAPPENS AT MOST ANY SPEED, AND WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF A PERSON WAS CAUGHT UNAWARES, WAS WEAK AND COULDN'T COMPLETE THE TURN ETC. *AK
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE; MOSTLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN EXITING AN OFFRAMP; DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM; FIX ACTION WAS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP; SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILS, CAUSING STEERING TO STIFFEN. THEN THE POWER STEERING BECOMES TOO LOOSE.
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