Ford Probe Complaints

1,193 consumer complaints on file.

#10143504November 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1996 FORD PROBE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ( SAME AS MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION . ITS BEEN REBUILT 2 TIMES ALREADY AND NOW NEEDS A 3RD , ONLY 120000 MILES AND ALL THAT!!! COSTS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133651August 21, 2005
AIR 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 INJURIES IN COMPARISON TO THE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH. WE SPENT 5 HOURS AT THE ER. MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CLOSED FRACTURES TO HER RIGHT WRIST AND A BROKEN FINGER. I HAD BURNS ON MY RIGHT ARM WHERE THE END OF THE FOREARM AND ELBOW MEETS. I HAVE DEEP CUTS, ABRASION, AND BRUISES ON THAT ARM. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER CAR WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT AND DROVE HOME AFTERWARDS. YET, WE ARE STILL COPING WITH THE INJURIES CAUSED BY THE INFLATION OF THE AIRBAGS IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LOW SPEED IMPACT. WE WERE WEARING OUR SEATBELTS AND DID NOT RECEIVE SEATBELT LACERATIONS. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, NO COLLAPSING OF THE A PILLARS OR ROOF THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED MY WIFE'S BROKEN ARMS OR ME TO SUFFER SERIOUS BURNS AND CUTS. WHAT DID HAPPEN WAS THAT THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED, SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH SENT GLASS ONTO MY WRIST, AND CAUSED CONCUSSIVE DAMAGE TO MINE AND MY WIFE'S RIGHT ARM.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130061July 26, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 1993 FORD PROBE GT (V6-CYLINDER). I HAD 3 PREVIOUS NEW AND REBUILT COMPRESSORS REPLACED. THEY ONLY LASTED BETWEEN 1 AND 2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME BETWEEN $750 AND $1100 FOR LABOR AND TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR, O-RING, CONDENSER, PULL A VACUUM, RECHARGE THE SYSTEM, ETC. I WAS INFORMED BY ALL OF MY AC REPAIR GUYS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A SMALL $10 VALVE ON THE COMPRESSOR THAT HAD A LIMITED 1-2 YEAR LIFE BUILT-IN TO IT BY THE FORD MANUFACTURER. FORD CALLS THIS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. THIS VALVE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. EVIDENTLY IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE TO AUTHORIZED FORD COMPRESSOR REBUILDERS. FORD HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO FIX THIS VALVE DESIGN FLAW. SO, WHEN MY COMPRESSOR (VALVE) WENT OUT FOR THE 4TH TIME, I DECIDED TO TRY REPAIRING IT MYSELF. THIS IS WHAT I DID TO REPAIR MY AIR CONDITIONER MYSELF FOR ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE COST 1). I PUT IN LEAK DETECTOR TO VERIFY THAT ONLY THE VALVE WAS LEAKING. IT WAS. 2). I SANDED AND CLEANED THE END OF THE DEFECTIVE VALVE. 3). I PUT JB WELD ON THE END OF THE VALVE TO PLUG UP THE HOLE. 4). I RECHARGED THE SYSTEM WITH FREON. THAT'S IT. 4 EASY STEPS AND MY AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING LIKE GANGBUSTERS AGAIN FOR LESS THAN $50. YOU WOULD THINK THAT FORD COMPRESSOR MANUFACTURERS WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS VALVE BY NOW, OR MAYBE MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR GUYS COULD HAVE JUST PLUGGED-UP THE HOLE IN THE VALVE WITH JB WELD JUST LIKE I DID. BUT NOOOOOOOO! THAT WOULD BE TO EASY, AND THEY WOULDN'T MAKE A TON OF MONEY OFF ME. IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE ALL IN IT TO MAKE MAJOR BUCKS OFF OF THE SUPPOSED DESIGN FLAW OF A VALVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119888June 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INVOLVING: THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, INTERIOR LIGHTS, ETC. AS FAR AS SHE KNOWS THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE WORKING. THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND THEY WERE FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER JUST TWO DAYS AGO, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *AK *SB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122057May 24, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, EQUIPMENT
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RESTRAINT (SHOLDER HARNESS) DOESN'T FUNCTION. 1990 FORD PROBE LX. WAS ISSUE OF A RECALL IN 1996. SUBJECT RESTRAINT HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR. FIRST REPAIR WAS UNDER VEHICLE WARRANTY. SECOND REPAIR TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO RECAL AND WAS PAID FOR BY OWNER. THIRD FAILURE HAS OCCURED WITHING THE LAST YEAR AND LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120462May 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL 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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120010May 5, 2005
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119363May 2, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #96V172001) IS NOT BEING HONORED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF THE CAR IS THE SAME, THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE MANUFACTURER DATABASE ASSOCIATING IT WITH THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HONOR THE RECALL SINCE IT TOTALLY MATCHES THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM STATED IN THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113757March 2, 2005
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1993 FORD PROBE FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAG BE DISCONNECTED. *NM *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111999February 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, TRANNY BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2-->3 AND THEN ALSO FROM 3-->4. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE NOW TOTALLY LOST 4TH GEAR.*AK THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110134February 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE MAKING A 500 MILE TRIP TO GO TO A FUNERAL AND WHEN CLIMBING A LONG, STEEP GRADE THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. I STOPPED AT THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND OBSERVED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I QUICKLY ADDED ENOUGH FLUID TO BRING THE LEVEL UP TO NORMAL. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, EVERY TIME THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, THE SMOKE WAS QUITE NOTICABLE. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE AND AFTER MANY HOURS OF LABOR, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS IN DANGER OF TRANSMISSION FIRE ,AND ALL I COULD DO WAS SPEND ABOUT $3,000 ON TRANSMISSION WORK. I HAVEN'T HAD THE REPAIRS DONE YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104946January 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND NOTICED A POOR SHIFT PATTERN IN THE TRANSMISSION. A WEEK LATER I HAD NO REVERSE AND COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. TRANSMISSION REPAIR COST $1400 TO $2200 DEPENDING ON WARRANTY VALUES. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE YET.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103438December 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100635November 28, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 96 FORD PROBE WITH A CD4E TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 66000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT UP. IT WOULD REV HIGH THEN SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, WHEN ATEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, IT JUST WOULDN'T. THIS CAUSES MY CAR TO ONLY GO A BLISTERING SPEED OF 45MPH?!? THIS TRANSMISSION , THE CD4E, IS PRODUCED BY MAZDA AND IS ALSO IN THE 626. I SEARCH THE WEB TO SEE IF ANYONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NOW I WANT TO GET RID OF MY CAR I FELL IN LOVE WITH 4 YEARS AGO. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM 94-TO 99. THOUSAND OF REPORTED PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALL? WE NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINT MAZDA AND THE PROBLEM TRANSMISSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100128November 18, 2004
POWER 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099330November 3, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR RIM EXPLODED. CONSUMER CHANGED THE TIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097939October 28, 2004
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093002September 22, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW ASSEMBLY ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE BROKE WITHIN A WEEK APART. THE REAR HATCH DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN ON ITS OWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090730September 9, 2004
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10084018August 2, 2004
ENGINE 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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