The Ford Probe has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1989–1997. On average a defect was admitted 6.7 years after the car was built, the slowest took 13 years. The most recalled system is Air Bags (3 campaigns). Owners also filed 922 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Ford Probe
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Air Bags 3 Read
What's wrong. The supplementary air bag inflatable restraint caution label located on the driver side sun visor does not contain the statement, "do not install rearward facing child seats in any front passenger seat position." this does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk. Consequence of non-compliance: operators could fail to notice and heed the warning label
Fix. A new caution label, with installation instructions, will be sent directly to owners. Owners can install the label or, if they wish, can have their dealer install the label for them
What's wrong. The passenger side air bag has an inflator body that cracked during forming of the curl that retains the igniter plug in the end of the inflator. Also the igniter end cap can separate from the inflator
Risk. The passenger side air bag may not inflate properly resulting in reduced occupant protection in a vehicle accident. If the igniter end cap separates in a frontal collision, hot gases can be released and ignite flammable material or cause burn injuries
Fix. Dealers will remove and replace the passenger side air bag module
What's wrong. If the passenger-side air bag deploys in an accident and there is no passenger in that seating position, the air bag can detach from, and deform, the mounting bracket
Risk. Installation of a replacement passenger-side air bagwould be impeded by the damage to the mounting bracket and would require moreexpensive repair work. This may deter the vehicle owner from having the repairmade and the replacement air bag installed, which would place future passengersat higher risk of injury in an…
Fix. A new air bag module with a slightly revised door to improve fit and appearance will be installed and a doubler will be installed on the mounting bracket to more securely retain the module
Seat Belts 3 Read
What's wrong. Note: passenger side (right) seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative
Risk. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant would not be adequately restrained increasing the risk of personal injury
Fix. Dealers will replace driver side and inoperative passenger side shoulder belt track assemblies
What's wrong. Note: driver's side (left) passive seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative
Risk. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant would not be adequately restrained increasing the risk of personal injury
Fix. Dealers will replace driver side and inoperative passenger side shoulder belt track assemblies
What's wrong. Brackets mounting automatic shoulder belt retractor assembly may have an understrength spot weld
Risk. Shoulder belt could fail in a collision increasing therisk of injury to the occupant
Fix. Install two bolts in the brackets to prevent shoulder belt failure
Exterior Lighting 2 Read
What's wrong. Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
Risk. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988
What's wrong. Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
Risk. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
Fix. Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on july 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026
What's wrong. Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
Risk. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain spx filtran fuel filters with a 45-degree angle inlet tube, model 800f350-s1, sold as replacement filters for 1993-1997 ford probe,1993-2001 mazda 626 and mx-6, and 1983-1994 loyal, 3-door coupe, hatchback, sedan, wagon, brat, dl, gl, gl-10, rx, xt, and xt6 passenger vehicles with efi or turbo engines. These filters are packaged as wix, napa, and carquest brand fuel filters. Certain spx filtran fuel filters with a 90-degree angle inlet tube, model 800f300-s2, sold as replacement filters for 19983-1994 subaru vehicles with efi or turbo engines. These filters are packaged as wix, napa, and carquest brand fuel filters. Fuel may leak from the filter due to non-conforming brazing welds…
Risk. In the presence of an ignition source, a vehicle fire can occur
Fix. Spx will notify its customers and provide a full refund. The recall began september 27, 2005. Owners may contact mr. Chris greeson at 704-869-3733 or contact the wix information hotline at 800-949-6698
What's wrong. Certain spx filtran fuel filters with a 45-degree angle inlet tube, model 800f350-s1, sold as replacement filters for 1993-1997 ford probe,1993-2001 mazda 626 and mx-6, and 1983-1994 loyal, 3-door coupe, hatchback, sedan, wagon, brat, dl, gl, gl-10, rx, xt, and xt6 passenger vehicles with efi or turbo engines. These filters are packaged as wix, napa, and carquest brand fuel filters. Certain spx filtran fuel filters with a 90-degree angle inlet tube, model 800f300-s2, sold as replacement filters for 19983-1994 subaru vehicles with efi or turbo engines. These filters are packaged as wix, napa, and carquest brand fuel filters. Fuel may leak from the filter due to non-conforming brazing welds…
Risk. In the presence of an ignition source, a vehicle fire can occur
Fix. Spx will notify its customers and provide a full refund. The recall began september 27, 2005. Owners may contact mr. Chris greeson at 704-869-3733 or contact the wix information hotline at 800-949-6698
What's wrong. Certain spx filtran fuel filters with a 45-degree angle inlet tube, model 800f350-s1, sold as replacement filters for 1993-1997 ford probe,1993-2001 mazda 626 and mx-6, and 1983-1994 loyal, 3-door coupe, hatchback, sedan, wagon, brat, dl, gl, gl-10, rx, xt, and xt6 passenger vehicles with efi or turbo engines. These filters are packaged as wix, napa, and carquest brand fuel filters. Certain spx filtran fuel filters with a 90-degree angle inlet tube, model 800f300-s2, sold as replacement filters for 19983-1994 subaru vehicles with efi or turbo engines. These filters are packaged as wix, napa, and carquest brand fuel filters. Fuel may leak from the filter due to non-conforming brazing welds…
Risk. In the presence of an ignition source, a vehicle fire can occur
Fix. Spx will notify its customers and provide a full refund. The recall began september 27, 2005. Owners may contact mr. Chris greeson at 704-869-3733 or contact the wix information hotline at 800-949-6698
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner can break and get caught in the timing belt
Risk. This condition can result in possible engine stalling
Fix. Dealers will inspect the tensioner and replace it if necessary
Structure 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower pivot pin that joins the liftgate gas strut to the body can separate from the lower strut mounting bracket due to an undersized rivet head
Risk. Pivot pin separation causes the liftgate to descend suddenly, resulting in an injury if someone is struck by the liftgate
Fix. Replace liftgate strut assemblies having undersized pivot pin rivet head diameters with assemblies with adequate pivot pin rivet heads
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. The groove for the rear wheel bearing retainer ring was incorrectly machined
Risk. If the retaining ring does not sit correctly in thegroove, the axle lug nuts will break, causing the brake drum, wheel, and tireassembly to separate from the vehicle
Fix. Midas shops will replace the brake drums with other brake drums from another supplier
What's wrong. The groove for the rear wheel bearing retainer ring was incorrectly machined
Risk. If the retaining ring does not sit correctly in thegroove, the axle lug nuts will break, causing the brake drum, wheel, and tireassembly to separate from the vehicle
Fix. Midas shops will replace the brake drums with other brake drums from another supplier
What's wrong. The groove for the rear wheel bearing retainer ring was incorrectly machined
Risk. If the retaining ring does not sit correctly in thegroove, the axle lug nuts will break, causing the brake drum, wheel, and tireassembly to separate from the vehicle
Fix. Midas shops will replace the brake drums with other brake drums from another supplier
Vehicle Speed Control 1 Read
What's wrong. Throttle levers may have been bent during assembly
Risk. Throttle may stick and not return fully to idleposition
Fix. Place affected vehicles on delivery hold until repaired
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 6.7 years |
| Slowest campaign | 13 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 63.3% |
| Campaigns on record | 13 |
Which Probe years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1996 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1995 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1994 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1993 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1992 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1991 | Seat Belts | |
| 1990 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 1989 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Ford Probe have?
13 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1989–1997. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Probe still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 6.7 years, and the slowest campaign came 13 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.