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
What owners actually said
52 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
PREVIOUSLY HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER/AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR AND OTHER MINOR ITEMS REPAIRED IN 04/1999. NOW 2 YEARS LATER I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST SEEM RIGHT THAT THE SAME MAJOR PROBLEM WOULD ARISE AGAIN SO SOON UNLESS THERE IS A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE EMISSION OF MY CAR OR THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE.…
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PREVIOUSLY HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER/AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR AND OTHER MINOR ITEMS REPAIRED IN 04/1999. NOW 2 YEARS LATER I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST SEEM RIGHT THAT THE SAME MAJOR PROBLEM WOULD ARISE AGAIN SO SOON UNLESS THERE IS A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE EMISSION OF MY CAR OR THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME SINCE I HAVE LONG SURPASSED THE 100,000 REQUIRED MARK TO HAVE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. I WANTED TO KNOW IF OTHER PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED FOR THE SAME ISSUE OR AM I A LONER IN THIS SITUATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752542
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 …
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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 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THE NEEDLE WENT BACK DOWN INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. THEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED PICKING UP SPEED. THE NEXT THING I KNEW WAS THAT MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T NOT MOVE ANY FASTER THAN 5MPH. LUCKILY THE …
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ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THE NEEDLE WENT BACK DOWN INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. THEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED PICKING UP SPEED. THE NEXT THING I KNEW WAS THAT MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T NOT MOVE ANY FASTER THAN 5MPH. LUCKILY THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE NOT TRAVELING AT GREAT SPEEDS. THIS ALLOWED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. MY CAR HAD SHUT DOWN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND REAR HEAD GASKET ALL NEEDED REPAIRING.
NHTSA ODI #742022
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WATER PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #785099
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE PANEL. ABS SENSOR ASSEMBLY IS MAIN PROBLEM. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS OTHER DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #875087
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2000
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL/PASSENGER'S SIDE COLLISION AT 40 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPOLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #863124
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…
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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 · Feb 26, 2000
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury
I AM HAVING A REPEATED PROBLEM OF THE TRUNK HOOD FALLING AND SMASHING YOUR HEAD. USUALLY I TRY TO HAVE SOMEONE HOLD IT OPEN FOR ME, BUT WHEN IN A HURRY I FORGET AND END UP WITH A CONCUSSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719302
Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train
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.
1996 Ford Probe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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