RoadVitals

1989 Ford Probe Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Nov 4, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 77 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford Probe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 4, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10788385
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
168,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 16, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10611084
Incident
Jul 6, 2004
Mileage
98,950 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 5, 2000

CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AND THE MOTOR AND RADIATOR FAILED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
557540
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2000

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TFI MODULE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555396
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 13, 1997

ALTERNATOR BELT BRACKET ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY, CAUSING THE BELTS TO CONTINUE TO BREAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
807494
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 1996

GENERATOR/ALTERNATOR FAILED, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
509781
Incident
Aug 1, 1995
Electrical
Filed Feb 29, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE HOOD FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
979902
Incident
Jan 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Nov 20, 1995

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED SEVEN (7) TIMES. TT *JB

NHTSA ID
975200
Incident
Nov 20, 1995
Electrical
Filed Jul 10, 1995

EVERY 12000 MILES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALTENATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THIS IS THE 4TH COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
968499
Incident
Feb 11, 1994
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Apr 15, 1995

DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW MOTOR BROKE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
489291
Incident
Jan 1, 1992

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Seat belts27Engine14Visibility10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .