Model year record

1991 Ford Probe recalls & problems

The 1991 Ford Probe has 4 safety recalls and 177 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (149 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints177filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 5reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsSep 6, 1996

Front › Webbing

Recall 96V172002224,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.

Seat beltsSep 6, 1996

Front › Webbing

Recall 96V172001224,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicOct 13, 1993

Foundation components › Drum › Drum

Recall 93E035000300 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Seat beltsJan 1, 1991

Front › Anchorage

Recall 91V0160007,700 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1991 Ford Probe 2-DR. HB.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Probe

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Probe

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Probe

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

Probe

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

Probe

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Probe

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Webbing; Front › Retractor	149	3	0	4	100,000 mi
VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Windshield wiper/washer	13	0	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	7	0	1	0	—
SuspensionFront	5	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	5	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring › Interior/under dash	5	0	4	0	—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control	3	0	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections	3	0	0	0	—
StructureBody	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Tires	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK ON THE TRACK TOWARDS THE BACK OF IT'S TRACK AND NO LONGER MOVES OR ENGAGES.
Jan 1, 2000 · 80,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD PROBE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113000.
May 16, 1991 · 113,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD PROBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY JAMMED AND CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 96V172001 DUE TO THE VIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 100,000.*AK
Jan 6, 1996 · 100,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING A VEHICLE, IT WAS NOTICED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND WAS JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE BELT INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN # 96V172001 COVERED THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE DESCRIPTION IN THE RECALL MATCHED EXACTLY THE PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT HAD.
Oct 18, 2006 · 174,356 miles
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
I OWN A 1991 FORD PROBE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTO-RETRACT SEAT-BELT ASSEMBLY IS JAMMED. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, (AUTOZONE RECALLS AND THIS WEB-SITE FOR TWO), I FIND INTERESTING INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. PARTICULARLY NHTSA ID # 96V172001 / FORD RECALL 96S48 THAT DESCRIBES THIS. ALSO THE LINK ON YOUR SITE TO THIS PDF (RC-96V172-NN.PDF), IS ALSO OF INTEREST. MY ISSUE / COMPLAINT IS THAT I TOLD MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS HAD FORD MOTOR CO. RUN MY VIN AND THEY STATED MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. I DO NOTICE THAT IN THE ABOVE PDF A STATEMENT THAT ALL PROBES STARTING AS EARLY AS 1990 WITH THIS RESTRAINT SYSTEM ARE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THIS SYSTEM ON THIS CAR…
Aug 1, 2006
Electrical system › Horn
(1) PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (2) LEARNED THE HORN DID NOT WORK (3) PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT HORN, AND REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM FORD AND 3 DEALERS WHERE IT WOULD BE LOCATED. ALL, EXCEPT 1 DEALER, REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY INFORMATION. THE LAST DEALER WAS NOT CERTAIN. FORD'S COMMENT WAS THIS WAS "PRIVATE COMPANY INFORMATION" OR "WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION". SUGGESTED WE CONTACT THEIR PRINTING COMPANY WHO WOULD SELL US SCHEMATICS. PRINTING COMPANY HAD NO IDEA WHICH SET OF SCHEMATICS WE WOULD NEED. VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE WORKING HORNS FOR SAFETY REASONS. FORD WANTED TO SELL US $100 WORTH OF SERVICE TO INSTALL A $15 PART.*AK
Aug 4, 2004 · 130,000 miles
Wheels
I READ YOUR COMPLAINT PAGE, HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 91 AND I HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBS, 1 PERSON SAID HE HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER IN THE CAR, TRY 6. THE PAINT WASNT RIGHT FROM DAY 1. THE CV JOINTS/AXELS WENT BAD AFTER 2 YEARS AND IVE GOT BY TILL NOW BUT THE RATTLE IS ANNOYING. THE EXHAUST SYS ALSO RATTLES. FRONT TIRES GO YEARLY. AIR CONDITIONER NEVER HAS BLOWN COLD. AND THE DOOR ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS TO HEAVY FOR THE LATCH, I RIDE 6 MNTHS OF EVERY YEAR WITH AN OPEN GLOVE COMPARTMENT.THE HATCHBACK LEAKS, AND THE PAINT WELL, WHO KNOWS WHERE THEY GOT THAT BLEND. THE CAR ALWAYS RUNS COLD WHICH CAUSES THE ROUGH IDLE AND START AND 14 INCH WHEELS WERENT SUFFICIENT FOR A CAR THAT BIG. I WILL SAY…
Jan 15, 1993 · 15,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER BY AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR RECALLS ON THE SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REMEDY SCOPE, BUT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. RECALL# 96V172001 AND 96V172002 SUBJECT: AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT.*AK *JB
Aug 20, 2003

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

SEATBACK RECLINE MECHANISM FAILUREClosed
ON JUNE 29, 2007, NHTSA RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. RICHARD H. MCSWAIN OF MCSWAIN ENGINEERING INC., REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE SEATBACK RECLINER FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE PETITIONER IDENTIFIED A FAILURE MODE INVOLVING BYPASS OF THE SEATBACK STOP PIN WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FALSE OR PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE SECTOR AND PAWL TEETH, ALLOWING THE SEATBACK TO RECLINE IN A VEHICULAR COLLISION.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ALLEGED FAILURE MODE MAY BE THE RESULT OF PROGRESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE SEATBACK STOP PIN, THE SEATBACK STOP, AND OTHER SEAT COMPONENTS IN VEHICLES THAT ARE, ON AVERAGE, 17 YEARS OLD.AVAILABLE DATA DO NOT SUGGEST THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH A NOTABLE FREQUENCY. ODI REVIEWED ITS CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED OVER THE LAST NINETEEN YEARS AND FOUND NO COMPLAINTS OF SEATBACK COLLAPSE (WITH OR WITHOUT A VEHICLE COLLISION) IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.CONSIDERING…
DP07001 · opened Jul 30, 2007 · closed Dec 5, 2007
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTClosed
There is no summary currently available
RQ98011 · opened Jul 31, 1998 · closed Feb 16, 1999
MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILUREClosedLed to recall 96V173000
MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM
PE96027 · opened Apr 16, 1996 · closed Sep 30, 1996
PASSIVE RESTRAINT FAILURESClosedLed to recall 96V172001
There is no summary currently available
EA94032 · opened Sep 8, 1994 · closed Sep 30, 1996
PASS.RESTRAINT MALFUNCTIONClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94039 · opened May 4, 1994 · closed Sep 8, 1994
STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE91013 · opened Nov 14, 1990 · closed Jan 22, 1991