Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 77 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford Probe. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 77 · page 1 of 4
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE ROAD, A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME AND I BRAKED HARD AND MY SEATBELT LOCKED. BUT AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE SEATBELT HAS NEVER WORKED THE SAME. THE SEATBELT DOESN'T LOCK, OR RETRACT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I CAN'T EVEN FIND PARTS TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS SO OLD. VERY UNSAFE!
AFTER PULLING ALL FUSES IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH VEHICLE OFF, TO CHECK THEM AND PUTTING THEM ALL BACK, VERIFYING SEVERAL TIMES THE CORRECT LOCATION, THE CAR CRANKS BUT NO LONGER STARTS. THERE IS NO SPARK, NO FUEL PRESSURE. IGNITION COIL GETS 12V POWER TO BOTH PRONGS UNTIL CRANKING, THEN LOSSES ALL POWER. 4EAT COMPUTER UNDER THE DASH REPORTS FAULT WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND THIS WAS VERIFIED BY TESTING IT MANUALLY USING A VOLTMETER, A BAD TPS WILL NOT CAUSE A NO START SITUATION ANYWAY. REPLACED THE 4EAT CONTROL MODULE AND NO CHANGE. TRIED PULLING CODES FROM ECM, NO CODES REPORTED. REPLACED ECM, NO CHANGE IN SITUATION. VERIFIED THE FUEL CUTOFF SWITCH WAS NOT TRIGGERED, VERIFIED THE RELAYS ARE WORKING. CAR IS DEAD AND I'M OUT OF MONEY TO FIX IT. IF FORD WOULD MAKE TOOLS LIKE THE BREAKOUT BOX AND 4EAT TESTER AFFORDABLE FOR CONSUMERS THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT NO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1989 FORD PROBE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THEREFORE, IT WILL NOT RETRACT IN AN ACCIDENT, IMPAIRING MY SAFETY. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THERE IS A 1990 RECALL THAT FORD USED TO SCAM THE OWNERS OF THE 1989 MODELS OUT OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE 1989 WAS THE FIRST YEAR MADE AND ONLY MADE FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE BUILDING THE 1990S AND THE 1990 WAS THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME COMPONENTS. FORD IS CHEATING US OUT OF OUR RECALL AND ENDANGERING OUT LIVES. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT FORD INCLUDES US 1989 PROBE OWNERS IN A NEW RECALL SO THAT WE WON'T DIE BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF US DYING TO MAKE FORD ACKNOWLEDGE US. I TRIED TO PHONE IN A COMPLAINT BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THAT GOT THROUGH AND WAS RECORDED CORRECTLY. *TR
THE CAR VIBRATES TERRIBLY FROM THE FRONT END SINCE NEW. ALL NINE TIMES I TOOK IN DURING THE FIRST YEAR, WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND DID NOT MENTION MY WARRANTY, AND I WAS GIVEN A $10,000 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. FORD STILL REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT TURNS OUT THE FRONT AXLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND NOT MADE BALANCED. REPLACING THEM AFTER THEY DESTROYED THE FRONT CV JOINTS SOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT FORD GOT AWAY WITH A RIP OFF AND I SUFFERED FOR SIX YEARS AND 60,000 MILES. *TR
THE ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CUTTING OUT THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING AND MAKING MY FRONT-HEAVY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR VERY VERY HARD TO STEER AND VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY OFTEN, WITHOUT WARNING. I THOUGHT THIS WAS TIED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT CHANGING THE SWITCH AND WIRING DID NOT HELP. AT THE SAME TIME OF THIS PROBLEM, THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED TURNING ON THE STARTER, BUT WILL LET THE ENGINE RUN. *TR
SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLED WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *PH THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
I PURCHASED A DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ON 8/17/02. I PAID 131.00 FOR THE PART .ALL FORD PARTS ARE WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. INCLUDING SEAT BELTS, EVEN IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AFTER THAT WARRANTY EXPIRES THEY KEEP MY MONEY AND I HAVE A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT THAT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I DECIDED TO SAVE MONEY AND INSTALL IT MYSELF. THE SEAT BELT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT SEIZED AND WOULD NOT PULL DOWN OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER. I GOT ANOTHER UNDER WARRANTY, INSTALLED IT MYSELF AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WENT BACK TO PENINSULA FORD OF SAN BRUNO AND PAID THEM 198.00 TO INSTALL MY THIRD WARRANTED SEAT BELT. I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND PROVED IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY AGREED AND ORDERED ME A NEW ONE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SEAT BELT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS ANGRY BECAUSE I WAS LOSING HOURS (WAGES) AT MY WORKPLACE. I HAD A FEW WORDS WITH THE MANAGER AT THE TIME AND GOT MY 198.00 BACK. THEY INSTALLED THE SEAT BELT AND AGAIN IT DID NOT WORK. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE UNPROFESSIONALLY WROTE DOWN MY INFO TOLD ME HE'D ORDER THE PART LATER THAT DAY AND THAT IT SHOULD ARRIVE IN 2 DAYS. I CALLED BACK 2 DAYS LATER, SPOKE TO HIM AND HE SAID HE WAS HOPING IT WOULD COME TODAY BUT IT'S NOT HERE YET. I REASONABLY CALLED BACK 7 DAYS LATER AND ASKED FOR HIM. HE NO LONGER WORK'S HERE SIR WAS THE ANSWER. I WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH NO SEAT BELT. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL HAD BECOME MORE STRICT ABOUT THE SEAT BELT LAW AT THAT EXACT MOMENT. I TALKED TO THE MANAGER AND DEMANDED MY MONEY BACK AND HE TOLD ME TO COME BACK TOMORROW. NEXT DAY, I CALLED AND SPOKE TO ANOTHER MANAGER WHO WAS EXTREMELY RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL AND CONFRONTATIONAL. I WASN'T GETTING ANYWHERE ON THE PHONE SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THERE WITH A SEAT BELT THAT DID NOT WORK. I ARGUED FOR HALF HOUR TO GET MY MONEY BACK AND THEY DISCREETLY HINTED NO. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD ALL THEY COULD DO WAS ORDER ME ANOTHER SEAT BELT. MY WARRANTY EXPIRES ON AUG 17, 2003. I AM AN UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER.
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO RELEASE FOR MORE ROOM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE IMPROPERLY WORN OR NOT WORN AT ALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NO SNAP RING AVAILABLE FROM DEALER OR PARTS (DRUM/BEARING) SUPPLIES. COMPLETE REAR TIRE AND DRUM ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. LUCKY THAT SPEED WASN'T TOO HIGH - POTENTIAL FOR GETTING KILLED. *AK
CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECALL INFORMATION. I HEARD OTHERWISE WHICH IS WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED IN REGARD TO OPERATION OF DRIVER'S LAP AND SHOULDER BELT. BELT FAILS TO EXTEND AND RETRACT, RESULTING IN FAILURE TO BUCKLE BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AND THE MOTOR AND RADIATOR FAILED. *MJS
TIRE SIZE 19570R14 WITH 20,000-25,000 MILES, AFTERMARKET AND WITH 65,000 RATING. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM REST OF TIRE INTO 2 PIECES, AND SIDEWALL SHREADED INTO PIECES WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN MILD WEATHER CONDITIONS.*AK GOODYEAR AQUATRED II TIRE DOT MKRW5BHRD63. *SLC
DO NOT YET KNOW FULL DAMAGE COST AS OTHER CAR WAS DAMGED AND DON'T KNOW THE COST YET. NO SAFETY DEFECT IN SUMMARY. *AK
CARS STALLS; BEEN TO MECHANICS, THEY CANT SEE THE PROBLEM IT STALLS WHEN WARM IT SHOULDNT VERY DANGEROUS. *AK
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TFI MODULE. *SLC
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER RETRACT. FAILURE OCCURED DURING NORMAL USE.*AK
RIGHT WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, DRIVER'S SIDE IS CRACKED AND ABOUT TO FAIL THE DEALERSHIP ASKED FOR $379.00 FOR REPLACEMENT PART. I THEN CALLED WRECKING YARDS (2) AND EXPLAINED THAT I NEEDED A WINDOW REGULATOR FOR A FORD PROBE 1989 THEY INFORMED ME THAT PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE I WOULD HAVE TO GET ON A WAITING LIST DUE TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY HAVE FAILED. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE LEFT SIDE I WAS QUOTED $150 AND $125 BOTH PLACES NEEDED A WEEK TO GET THE PART. DUE TO THE STATEMENTS FROM THE WRECKING YARDS AND THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS ONLY 2700 MILES ON IT AND IS ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS I THOUGHT MAYBE FORD MIGHT HAVE REALIZED THAT THESE PARTICULAR WINDOW REGULATORS WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND WOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE REGULATORS. *AK
THERE IS A GAS LEAK AT THE SEAM OF THE GAS TANK. ALSO, FUEL LINE RUSTED OUT, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *ML
UPPER PLATE THAT HOLDS THE STRUT HAS DISINTEGRATED, COULD CAUSE STRUT TO GO THROUGH THE HOOD AND THE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
PLASTIC TOP OF RADIATOR FAILED UPON OPENING THE HOOD..17 YEAR OLD WAS SPRAYED WITH HOT LIQUID AND STEAM HOSPITALIZED WITH 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS 50% OF BODY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
AFTER STOPPING THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT--IT LOCKED UP. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THE SEATBELT WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 1994 BY HOLLYWOOD FORD. CAR PURCHASED AT GALPIN BUT SERVICED AT STAR NOW. CALLED STAR AND THEY SAID THE VIN DIDN'T COME UP ON THE "OASYS" DATABASE AS EVER HAVING BEEN RECALLED--SO WON'T FIX. NEW BELT COSTS $107.01 PLUS LABOR. I REPLACED THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, SUSPENSION, BRAKES ETC, BUT FEEL SAFETY COMPONENTS LIKE A SEATBELT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WOULD APPRECIATE A CONTACT TO RECTIFY.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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