RoadVitals

1997 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.
13
Latest Jul 14, 2003
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.
48%
of 27 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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Probe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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

Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM ,WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027217
Incident
Jul 14, 2003
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2002

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED TWICE.THE SECOND FAILURE WAS 50000 MILES AFTER THE FIRST. *YH

NHTSA ID
786026
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, WHICH REQUIRED CONSUMER TO STEER WITHOUT POWER, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOT ONLY WAS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING BELT, BUT THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AS WELL, APPARENTLY AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE OFF AND GOT CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, CONSUMER STATES IN FEBURARY 1999 HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION (98S30) IN WHICH HE COMPLIED FOR THE SAME MECHANICAL FAILURE, AND TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES HE HAS INCURRED.*JB

NHTSA ID
563101
Engine
Filed May 15, 2001

OIL FROM ENGINE IS LEAKING ONTO SPARK PLUGS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
888254
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Nov 30, 2000

FORD (HQ AND DEALER) HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY CONTACTED ON THESE ISSUES. FORD'S INTERNAL REVIEW BOARD ISSUED ARULING STATING THAT NO COMPENSATORY ACTION IS APPROPRIATE. FORD ISSUED AN OFFER TO HAVE A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE OVERSEE A REPRESENTATIVE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS OF THEIR RULING, WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE UNTIL THE OFFER HAD EXPIRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FORD GARAGE WITH SIMILAR DENIAL OF ANYTHING WRONG BEING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEIR IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES - THEY SQUEAL ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION POWER LOSS, VIBRATIONS, AND INTERMITTENT HESITATIONS HAVE INCREASED SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. I AM INTERESTED TO SEE IF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HOW THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED. THE ISSUE WITH THE BAR IN THE SEAT DEVELOPED WITHIN SIX MONTHS, I HAVE SIMPLY DEALT WITH IT, UNTIL NOW AS I HAVE READ ON YOUR SITE THAT OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I REQUEST THAT I BE CONTACTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AT THIS TIME, BY THE NHTSA, AS I DO NOT WISH TO DEAL WITH FORD OR THE INDICATED DEALER(S) ANY LONGER. ALSO, THE PA. ATTY GENERAL'S OFFICE - CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WAS CONTACTED WITH NO ACTION OTHER THAN "DOCUMENTATION OF THE INCIDENT".AT. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
737115
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Sep 7, 2000

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER A SLIGHT PUDDLE OF WATER LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATE, AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ID
869874
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSES A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
848372
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Jun 8, 1999

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *ET

NHTSA ID
782492
Incident
May 9, 1999
Engine
Filed May 8, 1999

BACK IN BEGINNING OF JANUARY I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD ON MY 1997 PROBE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THEIR RECALL NUMBER IS 98S30. THE LETTER SAID TO CALL FORD AND TELL THEM WHAT DEALERSHIP I WANTED TO TAKE MY CAR TO AND THEY WOULD SEND THE PART TO THAT DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE DEALERSHIP CONTACT ME. SO I CALLED THE NUMBER IN THE LETTER AND FORD GOT MY HOME AND WORK NUMBERS AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WANTED TO GO TO, AND SAID THAT I SHOULD HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN 5 DAYS, BUT THAT IF I DIDN'T I SHOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND SCHEDULE A TIME TO TAKE MY CAR IN. I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE MY CAR IN. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT BECAUSE THEY HADN'T RECEIVED THE KIT FROM FORD. SO I CALLED FORD BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART ORDERS HAD BEEN LOST AND THAT THEY WOULD RESUBMIT IT. SO I WAITED A WHILE AND STILL NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY STILL DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE CALLED FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT IT AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING. I CALLED THEM MOST RECENTLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND TOLD THEM I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN IN 3 WEEKS, AND WANTED IT CHECKED BEFORE THEN. I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WOULD BE. THAT TIME HAS PASSED AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. WHEN A MANUFACTURER PUTS OUT A RECALL ON A CAR AREN'T THEY REQUIRED TO FIX IT? I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MINE. SO I HAVE TAKEN THIS ACTION TO TRY AND GET MY CAR CHECKED OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
706334
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 MILES AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. RECALL NHTSA 98V-206/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S30. DEALER INSPECTED TIMING BELT TENSIONER, AND STATED THAT IT WAS OK. *AK

NHTSA ID
835752
Incident
Mar 9, 1999
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 1999

WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (OFF) THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE TOOK PLACE APPROX 15 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROX 3 MINUTES. THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT A FIRE WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. IE; SMOKE OR TEMP INDICATOR READING HOT.

NHTSA ID
704321
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 1997

ENGINE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID
524347
Incident
May 26, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 21, 1997

THE VEHICLE "DIED" AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING.

NHTSA ID
523729
Incident
May 26, 1997

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

Data on this page last refreshed .