FORD PROBE · model year

1994 FORD PROBE

207 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994FORDPROBE carries 207 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 11 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 PROBE is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 23 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (22) and electrical system:ignition (15). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1994 PROBE, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

207
Complaints
25
Crashes
11
Fires
22
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

207 filings

Crashes Reported

25 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER23
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE11
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
SEAT BELTS7
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH4
PARKING BRAKE4
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
WHEELS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3

Recent Complaints

20151123TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE EQUIPPED WITH HERCULES RAPTURE (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 18570R14 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE STICKING OUT OF THE TIRE TREAD AREA. THE TIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000

20141208SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE GT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED TO LOCK TO SECURE THE PASSENGERS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

Mileage: 153,000

20101123ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE ONE 1994 FORD PROBE 2.0 IS AFFILIATED WITH TSB NO. 96-21-3 THAT RECOGNIZES A DEFECT IN THE OIL PUMP. THE DEFECT IS ASSOCIATED WITH LIFTER BLEED DOWN, LOW OR HIGH OIL PRESSURE AND LACK OF POWER. WHILE OPERATING THIS MOTOR VEHICLE IN A TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT, I MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE EFFICIENTLY AND/OR CEASE THE MOTOR DUE TO IMPROPER DISBURSEMENT OF ENGINE OIL. THIS CONDITION COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE A HAZARD OR ACCIDENT TO MYSELF OR OTHERS

Mileage: 220,000

20101025TIRES:TREAD/BELT

1994 FORD PROBE, TRAVELING WEST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE , THE RUBBER TREAD ON THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF, AND CAUSED DISABLING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0375-89)*JB

20070918SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE RUSTED, WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM MOVING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,948.

Mileage: 104,948

20070218POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHIN A 4 YEAR PERIOD EVEN WITH A TRANSMISSION COOLER INSTALLED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115000 MILES. LAST TRANSMISSION LASTED ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. *NM

Mileage: 82,000

20060318POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I JUST BOUGHT A 1994 FORD PROBE GT, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD IN IT. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE CAR I FOUND OUT THE 626 MAZDA TRANSMISSION THAT WAS PUT INTO THE CAR IS KNOWN FOR FAILING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH WHEN MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN AND DROPPED ALMOST 15 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BUT IF A CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND ME I LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL FORD PROBE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MAZDA WHO SAID THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FORD AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET A CALL BACK FROM FORD. *NM

20050821CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS DRIVING A 1994 FORD PROBE SE, GOING NORTH ON WESTNEDGE IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN WHEN I NOTICED TOO LATE THAT CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED MOVING. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND REAR ENDED IT. I WAS TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 35 MPH AND WAS SLOWING DOWN CONSIDERABLY BUT RAN OUT OF BRAKING ROOM. I BRACED FOR THE IMPACT AND HEARD A LOUD KRACK! AND THEN SOMETHING WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL BOMB HAD GONE OFF INSIDE MY CAR. I FELT A BURNING SENSATION AND THEN LOOKED AT MY ARM. IT LOOKED MANGLED, WITH GLASS IMBEDDED IN MY WRIST. THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE AND I HAD TROUBLE BREATHING. I HEARD MY WIFE SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LAID ON THE GRASS. THE PAIN WAS AWFUL. I COULD NOT BEAR TO LOOK AT MY DISFIGURED ARM. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED. THEY SPENT A LONG TIME CHECKING ME OVER FOR INTERNAL BLEEDING AND A BROKEN NECK. MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF THE PAIN IN HER WRIST. I OVERHEARD THE PARAMEDIC DISCUSS OUR SITUATION. THEY EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE EXTENT OF OUR

20050509CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT: THE DISTRIBUTER WENT OUT ON THE CONTACTS VEHICLE AND WHEN IT DID THE VEHICLE STOPPED CAUSING THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO GO OUT ALSO. IN RESULT THIS CAUSED A CRASH AND HER SON HIS LICENSE FOR A YEAR. NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS THREE LETTERS FROM THREE DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS STATING THAT IF THE DISTRIBUTER WENT OUT HE WOULD HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DID RESULT IN A AN ACCIDENT THE CONTACTS SON HIT A OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER. THE VECHILE HAS BEEN FIXED A NEW DISTRUBTER WAS PUT BACK ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

20050505PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER, SPECIFICALLY THE PARKING BRAKE PIVOT PIN, IS PRONE TO SEIZURE DUE TO WATER AND DIRT INTRUSION PAST A RUBBER SEAL. REPAETED CLEANING AND LUBRICATING ONLY TEMPORARILY FORESTALLS THIS CONDITION. RESULTANT CALIPER DRAG CAUSES INDREASED PAD WEAR AND HIGH TEMPERATURES, A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO GREATLY INCREASED BRAKES PAD/ROTOR WEAR. EVENTUAL HEAT, WEAR AND CORROSIVE STICKING RENDER THE PARKING BRAKE VERY INEFFECTIVE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS CALIPER TWICE DUE TO THE SAME CONDITION.

Mileage: 60,000

20041118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FIRST, THE CAR MAKES A LITTLE JERK AND THEN THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK AND THEN ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE RPM'S STARTS TO JUMP AND THE WHOLE CAR BUCKS AS IF YOU HAD HYDRALICS. THE ENGINE STARTS TO JUMP BACK THEN FORTH. IF YOU STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR SPEEDS UP BUT IT BUCKS A LOT. I THOUGHT I COULD STOP IT BECAUSE I HAVE PLAYED WITH THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON AND IT HAS STOPPED , BUT THAT WAS WHEN IT FIRST STARTS. THE WEIRD THING IS THAT IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME. THE GUY THAT HAD IT BEFORE ME WHICH IS MY BOSS RAN EVERY TEST THEY COULD AND IT CAME OUT PERFECT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO? *AK

20040802ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. AS RESULT, VEHICLE LOST STEERING, AND BRAKE POWER. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OF THE OF THE ROAD. THREE MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE RESTARTED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

20040728POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE 1994 FORD PROBE WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION, THE CAR HAS 132,000 MILES 3RD TRANNY TO GO BAD. *AK

Mileage: 132,000

20040422CrashPOWER TRAIN

THE VALVE BOX IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LETTING GO I HAVE FIXED IT 2 TIMES AND IT JUST LET GO AGAIN I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD HAS TO BE LOOKIN INTO THE RECALLS ON THE FROD PROBE... I AM STILL TRING TO GET THE TRANMISSON FIXED AGAIN

Mileage: 84,000

20040422CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE VALVE BOX IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LETTING GO I HAVE FIXED IT 2 TIMES AND IT JUST LET GO AGAIN I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD HAS TO BE LOOKIN INTO THE RECALLS ON THE FROD PROBE... I AM STILL TRING TO GET THE TRANMISSON FIXED AGAIN

Mileage: 84,000

20040422CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE VALVE BOX IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LETTING GO I HAVE FIXED IT 2 TIMES AND IT JUST LET GO AGAIN I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD HAS TO BE LOOKIN INTO THE RECALLS ON THE FROD PROBE... I AM STILL TRING TO GET THE TRANMISSON FIXED AGAIN

Mileage: 84,000

20040422CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE VALVE BOX IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LETTING GO I HAVE FIXED IT 2 TIMES AND IT JUST LET GO AGAIN I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD HAS TO BE LOOKIN INTO THE RECALLS ON THE FROD PROBE... I AM STILL TRING TO GET THE TRANMISSON FIXED AGAIN

Mileage: 84,000

20040410POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: OVER DRIVE LIGHT BLINKS AND DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. HAS BEEN REBUILT.

Mileage: 108,000

20040202POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ATX TYPE FORD CD4E FAILURE. O/D LIGHT ON, SLIPPING CLUTCH. STABILIZER LINKS WORN OUT. CRUISE CONTROL WIRING DEFECT. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

20040202VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

ATX TYPE FORD CD4E FAILURE. O/D LIGHT ON, SLIPPING CLUTCH. STABILIZER LINKS WORN OUT. CRUISE CONTROL WIRING DEFECT. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

Compare 1994FORDPROBE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 FORD PROBE have?
The 1994 FORD PROBE has 207 NHTSA complaints, 25 crashes, 11 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 FORD PROBE?
The most-complained component for the 1994 FORD PROBE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1994 FORD PROBE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.