SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1996 Ford Probe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Probe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.

About this comparison →
52Owner complaints

Model-year median: 78

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
205
1993166
199486
199552
199627
19971
1999
Compare all Probe years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
17Engine And Engine Cooling
13Electrical System
4Seat Belts
4Steering
4
All reported categories
Suspension
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Air Bags
2Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Structure
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
1

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: 8 of 52 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

17 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2001
Power Train

MY O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, I TOOK IT IN AND PAID $300 TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION. . ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, I TOOK IT BACK, THEY CHARGED $65 MORE AND TOLD ME THE TORQUE CONVERTOR AND SOLENOIDS WERE BAD. NEED TO REPLACE WHOLE TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT $3000. HAPPENED ON MY 95 FORD PROBE SE ALSO AT 62000 MILES …

Read full complaint

MY O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, I TOOK IT IN AND PAID $300 TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION. . ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, I TOOK IT BACK, THEY CHARGED $65 MORE AND TOLD ME THE TORQUE CONVERTOR AND SOLENOIDS WERE BAD. NEED TO REPLACE WHOLE TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT $3000. HAPPENED ON MY 95 FORD PROBE SE ALSO AT 62000 MILES RIGHT BEFORE I GOT IN A WRECK WITH IT AND TRADED IT ON THIS ONE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747829

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Power Train

GEARS WOULD SHIFT BY THEMSELVES, AND TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND SLOWLY BREAK DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888242

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN JULY 1999, BY THE DEALER. THE BLUE "O/D OFF" LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING TODAY, SO I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY GAURANTEE THE NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 12 MONTHS/OR 12000 MILES. I HAVE APPROX. 20000 ON THE NEW TRANSMISSION,SO THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE A SREVICE CHARGE TO LOO…

Read full complaint

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN JULY 1999, BY THE DEALER. THE BLUE "O/D OFF" LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING TODAY, SO I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY GAURANTEE THE NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 12 MONTHS/OR 12000 MILES. I HAVE APPROX. 20000 ON THE NEW TRANSMISSION,SO THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE A SREVICE CHARGE TO LOOK AT OR REPAIR IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO ANY FACTORY DEFECTS THAT COVERS MY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720203

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715829

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE GEARS ARE HARDER TO SHIFT. THE 5TH GEAR FEELS AS IF IN 3RD. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851097

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 1998
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, IN WHICH IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825186

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 1997
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT COME UP.

NHTSA ODI #516361

Official recalls

1

96V090000 · Air Bags

Jun 3, 1996

THE SUPPLEMENTARY AIR BAG INFLATABLE RESTRAINT CAUTION LABEL LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT CONTAIN THE STATEMENT, "DO NOT INSTALL REARWARD FACING CHILD SEATS IN ANY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITION." THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OPERATORS COULD FAIL TO NOTICE AND HEED THE WARNING LABEL.

Remedy: A NEW CAUTION LABEL, WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO OWNERS. OWNERS CAN INSTALL THE LABEL OR, IF THEY WISH, CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.