1996 Ford Probe Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Probe, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission1726.2%
- Engine1320.0%
- Electrical57.7%
- Seat belts46.2%
- Steering46.2%
- Suspension34.6%
- Driver assistance34.6%
- Visibility23.1%
- Body & structure23.1%
- Brakes23.1%
- Interior & seats23.1%
- Exterior lighting23.1%
- Other / unspecified23.1%
- Airbags23.1%
- Fuel system11.5%
- Tires & wheels11.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SECOND TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *TR
1996 FORD PROBE SE AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE,SAME AS MAZDA 626 ALL OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT COST THOUSANDS TO FIX,CHECK THE INTERNET,WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL?
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS SOON AS I GOT UP TO SPEED PAST 30 MILES PER HOUR IT KICKED INTO TO GEAR REALLY HARD AND I COULD FEEL THE TRANSMISSION BARELY SLIPPING INTO GEAR..AND HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP FLUSHED IT WAS OVER HEATING THOUGHT IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT BUT IT WAS CHECKED AND FINE SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP...WAS MISSING A MOTOR MOUNT ON ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER WAS CORRODDED.. WHEN I ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CAN HEAR MY CAR 4 BLOCKS AWAY..BRAKES AREN'T RIGHT THEY DON'T PRESS DOWN LIKE THEY SHOULD AND HALF THE TIME THEY JUST DON'T WORK...IF I AM LUCKY, I HAVE TO START BRAKING AROUND 2 BLOCKS AWAY, I MAY STOP IN TIME. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON JULY 16,2006 AND THIS ALL HAPPENED STARTING JULY 17,2006. PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON TIME AND HAVE HAD TWO ESTIMATES AS THEY REQUESTED FOR ALL THE REPAIRS BUT THEY STILL ARE STATING I HAVE TO COME UP WITH HALF THE MONEY UPFRONT AND THEN THEY WILL TACT ON THE REST TO THE END OF MY BILL I OWE TO PAY OFF THE CAR. *JB
THERE IS OIL LEAKING INTO THE SPARK PLUG CYLINDERS. A TUNE UP WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. OIL CONTINUES TO SEEP INTO THE SPARK PLUG CYLINDERS, AND THIS IS CAUSING A DEGRADATION IN PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS ROUGH OPERATION. WHAT IS MOST INTERESTING, HOWEVER, IS THAT MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH SUCH A PROBLEM. SEVERAL FORD PROBE OWNERS HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS AS WELL (DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS).*AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ENGINE CRANKED BUT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. ALSO WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. MECHANIC REPLACED THE GROUND WIRE AND DISTRIBUTOR, BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS PUMPING GAS WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK. DURING THE PROCESS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT HAS EXTENDED BEYOND FORD'S MAXUMUM SPECS, REVEALING A "REPLACE IMMEDIATELY" NOTICE ATTACHED TO BAS EOF SEAT BELT WEBBING. WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINING SYSTEM REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY RETRACTOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. *JB
I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY GOODYEAR BECAUSE I WAS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. INITIALLY ITWAS THOUGH TO BE THE CV JOINT, BUT WAS DEFINATELY CONFIRMED AS THE RACK AND PINON ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT I DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD YET AND I GET ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY COULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE LOOK INTO BECAUSE IT IS VERY DISTURBING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACED RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW PART FROM O'REILLY AUTOPARTS STORE ON 8/31/10 AND ON 11/05/10 THE BALL JOINT CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE NEW CONTROL ARM MAKING AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. DEFECTIVE NEW PART, REPLACED IT AGAIN ON 11/09/10 WITH ANOTHER NEW REPLACEMENT PART FROM O'REILLY AUTOPARTS STORE. *TR
LT FRONT SPRING BROKE & PUNCTURED THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE MAKING IT GO FLAT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE 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.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE DUE TO A MISADJUSTMENT OF THE IGNITION TIMING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE DUE TO A MISADJUSTMENT OF THE IGNITION TIMING.
STRONG ODOR FROM VENTILATION SYSTEM,
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FAILED.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE DUE TO A MISADJUSTMENT OF THE IGNITION TIMING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS SOON AS I GOT UP TO SPEED PAST 30 MILES PER HOUR IT KICKED INTO TO GEAR REALLY HARD AND I COULD FEEL THE TRANSMISSION BARELY SLIPPING INTO GEAR..AND HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP FLUSHED IT WAS OVER HEATING THOUGHT IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT BUT IT WAS CHECKED AND FINE SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP...WAS MISSING A MOTOR MOUNT ON ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER WAS CORRODDED.. WHEN I ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CAN HEAR MY CAR 4 BLOCKS AWAY..BRAKES AREN'T RIGHT THEY DON'T PRESS DOWN LIKE THEY SHOULD AND HALF THE TIME THEY JUST DON'T WORK...IF I AM LUCKY, I HAVE TO START BRAKING AROUND 2 BLOCKS AWAY, I MAY STOP IN TIME. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON JULY 16,2006 AND THIS ALL HAPPENED STARTING JULY 17,2006. PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON TIME AND HAVE HAD TWO ESTIMATES AS THEY REQUESTED FOR ALL THE REPAIRS BUT THEY STILL ARE STATING I HAVE TO COME UP WITH HALF THE MONEY UPFRONT AND THEN THEY WILL TACT ON THE REST TO THE END OF MY BILL I OWE TO PAY OFF THE CAR. *JB
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE PANEL. ABS SENSOR ASSEMBLY IS MAIN PROBLEM. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS OTHER DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM HAVING A REPEATED PROBLEM OF THE TRUNK HOOD FALLING AND SMASHING YOUR HEAD. USUALLY I TRY TO HAVE SOMEONE HOLD IT OPEN FOR ME, BUT WHEN IN A HURRY I FORGET AND END UP WITH A CONCUSSION. *AK
PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE DUE TO A MISADJUSTMENT OF THE IGNITION TIMING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR RIM EXPLODED. CONSUMER CHANGED THE TIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THEIR IS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THE CV JOINTS HAD BROKEN, GOT PART REPLACED. PROBLEM REOCCURED TWICES SINCE THEN. DEALER CONTACTED. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL/PASSENGER'S SIDE COLLISION AT 40 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPOLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS/FUEL DOOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 20MPH HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING HEARD A BIG BANGING NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK, P20555R15 (FTX 2SR). *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .