IllustrationTHERE 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
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 →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: 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 reportsI HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY GOODYEAR BECAUSE I WAS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. INITIALLY ITWAS THOUGH TO BE THE CV JOINT, BUT WAS DEFINATELY CONFIRMED AS THE RACK AND PINON ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT I DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD YET …
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I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY GOODYEAR BECAUSE I WAS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. INITIALLY ITWAS THOUGH TO BE THE CV JOINT, BUT WAS DEFINATELY CONFIRMED AS THE RACK AND PINON ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT I DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD YET AND I GET ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY COULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE LOOK INTO BECAUSE IT IS VERY DISTURBING.
I CHAGNED MY OIL REGULARLY AND A ROD INSIDE THE ENGINE BROKE. I HAD NO INDICATION ON MY CONTROL PANEL OF ANY ENGINE PROBLEM OR OIL ISSUES.
BELTS WERE REPLACED. WHEN DRIVING AT 60MPH, AND TURNING ON EXIT, A REPLACED BELT BROKE, CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK. THE DEALER CONTACTED AND WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY 288 AT 70 MILES PER HOUR MY POWER STEERING BELT BROKE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK. I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT ON TO HWY 6 AND LUCKILY I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE BELT AND ALL KINDS OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BLINDING ME AND MAKING ME THINK THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME A…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY 288 AT 70 MILES PER HOUR MY POWER STEERING BELT BROKE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK. I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT ON TO HWY 6 AND LUCKILY I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE BELT AND ALL KINDS OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BLINDING ME AND MAKING ME THINK THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME AND I COULD NOT STEER, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS CONNECTED TO THAT BELT ALONG WITH THE AIRCONDITIONING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED BECAUSE THE BELT WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BELT WAS GOOD BUT THE CONDESOR HAD CAUSED THE CAR TO LOCK BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIIONING AND THE POWER STEERING ARE ON THE SAME BELT. IF I HAD NOT BEEN A STRONG PERSON I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE WRECKED MY CAR, SOME ONE NOT AS STRONG OR OLDER WOULD HAVE DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD. PLEASE CHECK AND SEE IF THIS MATTER HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND PUT A BULLETIN OUT TO THE PUBLIC TELLING THEM HOW THIS CAN CAUSE A WRECK BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE CAR.
SEAT BELT HAS EXTENDED BEYOND FORD'S MAXUMUM SPECS, REVEALING A "REPLACE IMMEDIATELY" NOTICE ATTACHED TO BAS EOF SEAT BELT WEBBING. WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINING SYSTEM REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY RETRACTOR.
CONSUMER WAS PUMPING GAS WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK. DURING THE PROCESS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT REASON.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BURNT OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, IN WHICH IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK
Official recalls
196V090000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.