Ford Probe recall history and complaint patterns

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Ford Probe, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 12
Total Complaints 1483
Years Covered 1984–1999

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Ford Probe, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Seats and restraints

3 campaigns · Years: 1990–1992

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Airbags

2 campaigns · Years: 1994, 1996

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Engine and cooling

1 campaign · Years: 1997

These campaigns relate to engine or cooling components where failures can lead to stalling or overheating risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Other

1 campaign · Years: 1990

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):

Structure

1 campaign · Years: 1993

These campaigns relate to structural components such as frame/body parts that can affect crash protection or integrity.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Ford Probe in NHTSA complaint data are Seat belts, Seat belts:front:webbing, Seat belts:front:retractor.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
1999 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting:headlights.
1997 1 38 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Power train:automatic transmission.
1996 1 77 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system:ignition, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1995 0 130 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Steering:hydraulic power assist system, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1994 1 207 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper, Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system:ignition.
1993 1 249 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper, Air bags:frontal.
1992 2 101 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:webbing, Seat belts:front:retractor.
1991 3 198 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:webbing, Seat belts:front:retractor.
1990 3 378 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:webbing, Seat belts:front:retractor.
1989 0 103 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:retractor, Power train:automatic transmission, Seat belts.
1984 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system.

What to Do Next

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Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Seat belts , Air bags and Engine and engine cooling

Show recall evidence by year

1997

  • Engine and engine cooling: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V206002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner can break and get caught in the timing belt.

1996

  • Air bags: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V090000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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 protect

1994

  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (93V169000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: If the passenger-side air bag deploys in an accident and there is no passenger in that seating position, the air bag can detach from, and deform, the mounting bracket.

1993

  • Structure: Support device/strut: Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (93V058000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower pivot pin that joins the liftgate gas strut to the body can separate from the lower strut mounting bracket due to an undersized rivet head.

1992

  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V172001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Note: driver's side (left) passive seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative.
  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V172002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Note: passenger side (right) seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative.

1991

  • Seat belts: Anchorage: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (91V016000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Brackets mounting automatic shoulder belt retractor assembly may have an understrength spot weld.
  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V172001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Note: driver's side (left) passive seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative.
  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V172002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Note: passenger side (right) seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative.

1990

  • Vehicle speed control: Linkages: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (89V159000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Throttle levers may have been bent during assembly.
  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V172001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Note: driver's side (left) passive seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative.
  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V172002) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Note: passenger side (right) seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative.

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Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

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