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
What owners actually said
166 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001
Electrical System
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT A GARAGE SINCE AUG. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE CAR COULD BE STARTED AGAIN, AND WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE A SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO THE DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. A WEEK LATER I SAY AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER AB…
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MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT A GARAGE SINCE AUG. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE CAR COULD BE STARTED AGAIN, AND WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE A SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO THE DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. A WEEK LATER I SAY AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT A FORD SETTLEMENT INVOLVING FAULTY IGNITIONS AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR THAT CAUSES ENGINE STALLS. AS FAR AS MY BRAKES GO, I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CALIPERS NOT RELEASING. I PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN. I PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN. FINALLY I HAD THEM COMPLETELY REPLACED, IN TOTAL COSTING NEARLY 1500 DOLLARS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753944
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753705
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2001
Electrical System
AT 75000 MILES THE 2.5L V6 ENGINE HAD STALLED INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND ON THE INTERNET WHERE 1993 AND 1994 2.5L ENGINES EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO TRANSISTOR DEGRADES BECAUSE OF HEAT, CAUSING THE DISTRIBUTOR MODULE TO FAIL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE PART AND 8000 MILES LATER FAILED AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #896184
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Electrical System
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AFTER A SHORT TIME CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND EVENTUALLY GOT VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILING PART WITHIN THE DISTRIBUTOR.*JB
NHTSA ODI #562969
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #751322
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Suspension
CONSUMER STATES BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT LINKS TO THE REAR SWAY BAR HAVE BROKEN TWICE.*YH
NHTSA ODI #562343
Mileage unknown · May 29, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
VEHICLE HAS A USED WIRE HARNESS IN FUEL PUMP THAT WILL CAUSE ENGINE TO STALL*AK. *JB
NHTSA ODI #889293
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 · May 8, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #887693
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2001
Electrical System
THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN IT WAS HOT, WHEN IT COOLED DOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. NLM
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
1994 Ford Probe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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