1994 Ford Probe: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 166 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (19% of complaints); the 1992 and 1995 and 1996 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Tires · Nov 2015
“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.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jun 2014
“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”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2010
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Tires · Sep 2010
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Sep 2007
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2007
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2006
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2005
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Nov 2004
“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”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2004
When filing, owners marked a crash in 16 of these complaints and injuries in 15 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Probe by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1994 Ford Probe reliable?
NHTSA has 166 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1994 Ford Probe. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1994 Ford Probe problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 97,500 miles or less.
Does the 1994 Ford Probe have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.