Model year record

1997 Ford Probe recalls & problems

The 1997 Ford Probe has 4 safety recalls and 27 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (15 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints27filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E0650003,593 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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.

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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, gasolineOct 5, 2005

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 05E06500042,962 vehicles

Problem: 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 WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
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 coolingNov 3, 1998

Engine

Recall 98V2060025,700 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

1997 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

25mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Probe

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Probe

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

Probe

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/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*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	15	0	1	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers; Ignition	5	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	4	4	0	3	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	3	2	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	3	0	0	0	—
Seats	2	0	0	0	—
Suspension	2	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	2	0	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system	1	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly	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

Power train › Automatic transmission
I HAVE A 1997 FORD PROBE GT 6 CYLINDER. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT KEEP FLICKERING OVER DRIVE OFF AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR DAYS. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT AND THE TPS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CHECK OUT BAD SO I HAD THIS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I WENT TO SEVERAL SERVICE STATIONS THEY ALL SAY I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD JUST IGNORE THIS BUT THE SLOWS DOWN TO LOWER GEAR THIS IS SCARY. I LOVE THIS FORD PROBE IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO. I FOUND A SIGHT ON THE INTERNET AND RELAYED A INTERCOOLING FOR THE TRANS, IS THIS CORRECT!!! *NM
Sep 9, 2006 · 98,000 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CD4E) HAS BEEN ACTING UP, OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON DASH STARTS FLASHING WHIH THEN CAUSES HARSH SHIFTING AND POWER LOSS IN TRANNY AND ENGINE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *AK
May 14, 2004 · 57,000 miles
Air bagsCrash1 injury
LTR REQUEST A COPY OF THE NHTSA REPORT RE AN AIRBAG PROBE OF THE 1997 FORD ESCORT. ATTY REPRESENTING CLIENT INJURED WHEN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 1997 FORD ESCORT. *MR *NM
May 17, 2004
Electrical system › Ignition
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DISTRUBUTOR WHICH CAUSED IT TURN OVER, BUT NOT START, AND CLUTCH WITH IN ONE MONTH. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AN DTHEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY, AND MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. *AK
Nov 17, 2003
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM ,WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. *AK
Jul 14, 2003
Air bagsCrash1 injury
INVOLVED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN LEXINGTON KY APPROXIMATE SPEED AT 20 MPH CRASHED THE FRONT OF VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED FRONT OF VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. *NLM
Jun 11, 2003 · 79,000 miles
Electrical system › Ignition
ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE OWNING CAR. CAR CRANKS BUT WON'T START. HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. THE INCIDENT DATE I CHOSE WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME 2 MONTHS AFTER A RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE AND HAS CONTINUED UNTIL TODAY. THE VEHICLE COMPONENT I CHOSE IS A GUESS SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN DETERMINED. MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
Oct 5, 1999 · 16,897 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED TWICE.THE SECOND FAILURE WAS 50000 MILES AFTER THE FIRST. *YH
Jun 26, 2002

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