RoadVitals

1989 Ford Probe Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
14
Latest Jul 16, 2014
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.
18%
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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 14 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 engine

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

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
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10068566
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 5, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
557540
Engine
Filed Oct 11, 2000

CARS STALLS; BEEN TO MECHANICS, THEY CANT SEE THE PROBLEM IT STALLS WHEN WARM IT SHOULDNT VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ID
734060
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2000
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA ID
553317
Incident
Jun 30, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 1999
1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
708546
Incident
Jul 9, 1999
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 1999
Fire reported

THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR TWO HOURS. IT THEN MUST HAVE IGNITED THE STARTER AND STALLED ITSELF, AND FORCED ITSELF TO MOVE FORWARD 10 TO 20 FEET. WHEN MOVING FORWARD ,UP HILL, IT RAN INTO A BUILDING, DOING NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR FIRE BURNS LEFT ON THE WALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
702620
Incident
Jan 23, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 1998

AT TOP OF A HILL VEHICLE AT LOW IDLE. SUDDENLY VEHICLE STALLED OUT. STEERING SHUTDOWN. HAD NO CONTROL. VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL DOWN HILL. APPLIED BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. USED EMERGENCY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL GRAVITY ENDED. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
822281
Incident
Feb 18, 1998
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 1997
1 injury reported

RADIATOR EXPLODED SPEWING HOT WATER ONTO DRIVER, CAUSING FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON FACE, HAND, ARM, STOMACH AND LOWER ABDOMINAL REGION. REPAIRMAN STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF FAULTY PLASTIC USED IN RADIATOR.

NHTSA ID
521797
Incident
Jul 17, 1997
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
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 1996

CAMSHAFT SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION, RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
505875
Incident
May 25, 1995
Engine
Filed Apr 22, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT DROVE ITSELF INTO A DITCH AND IT WENT UP INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983189
Incident
Mar 13, 1996
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 1996

RADIATOR REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE. *SD

NHTSA ID
501968
Incident
Feb 10, 1996
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 belts27Electrical10Visibility10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .