IllustrationTHE ACCELERATOR MECHANISM WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AND THE HOSE NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR MECHANISM WAS TURNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE BEND IN THE HOSE CAUGHT THE ACCELERATOR AT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING.
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 reportsPASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FAILED.
GAS/FUEL DOOR FAILED.
SEAT BELTS FAILED.
SQUEAKING IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSED BY MISSING BOLT.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE DUE TO A MISADJUSTMENT OF THE IGNITION TIMING.
WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE FROM 2ND TO 3TH GEAR AND THE RPMS ARE AT 2900, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT NO WARNING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER MODULE. *AK
CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT COME UP.
STRONG ODOR FROM VENTILATION SYSTEM,
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK.
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.