1994 Ford Probe

THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR: IGNITION CUT-OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO HEAT. THE IGNITOR OVERHEATS, CAUSING SUDDEN STOP OF THE ENGINE IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE STOPPED ENGINE ALSO CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL. 1995 AND LATER PROBES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A REDESIGNED DISTRIBUTOR THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 60MPH+, RPM DROPPED TO ZERO, THEN VEHICLE DIED. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES STARTING IN EARLY FEB. 2000. DEALER FOUND A TSB (TRADE SERVICE BULLETIN), AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THEIR SHOP, SHOWING THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR STATOR HAD FAILED IN OTHER FORD PROBES. POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS WHEN A VEHICLE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY - ESPECIALLY IN A METRO AREA LIKE SEATTLE.

ENTIRE YOKOHAMA TIRE TREAD AND CARCASS SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE SIDEWALL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. SIDEWALL REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE RIM. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT 48523 MILES ON VEHICLE WERE SOLD WITH A 40000 MI WARRANTY. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE DRIVER (SOLE OCCUPANT). VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE, CRASHED INTO CONCRETE BARRIER SEVERAL TIMES, DRIVER STILL RECOVERING FROM INJURIES. THESE HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM SEARS 12/13/97, AND STILL HAD ALMOST 2,000 MILES LEFT ON THE WARRANTY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22550V16 )

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

IGNITION COIL IN DISTRIBUTOR DETERIORATES ON 93 & 94 FORD PROBE V-6 MODELS. FORD HAS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE DIES, AS IF SOMEONE REACHED OVER & TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF. IT HAPPENED TO US ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS 93 & 94 AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE ENGINE IS THE WELLS THE SPARK PLUGS SIT IN FILL UP WITH OIL AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE GASKETS (VALVE COVER OR SPARK PLUG GROMMETS). AGAIN FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS BUT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER FIX A DESIGN PROBLEM. IT SHORTS OUT THE ENGINE AND THE PLUG WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR, ROTOR AND ENGINE ALL HAVE TO BE FIXED. VERY EXPENSIVE (OVER $600 FOR THIS AND OVER $700 FOR THE DISBRIBUTOR PROBLEM.

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