1993 FORD PROBE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD PROBE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FUEL CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS OCCASIONALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,550 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

I HAVE OWED 2 1993 FORD PROBES AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE FIRST ONE WAS ONLY 1 AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND THERE'S A LOT MORE OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM THE O/D LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH AND THE CAR STOPS SHIFTING PROPERLY THEN YOU TAKE IT TO FORD DEALER OR ANY OTHER SHOP THEY SAY NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. *JB

ICM OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES THIS SUMMER (ALWAYS WHILE ON INTERSTATE), CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE AT 65+MPH, ALL POWER LOST (BRAKERS, STEERING, ACCELERATION). CAR ONLY AT 37,000 MILES DURING FIRST FAILURE. REPLACED ICM/DISTRIBUTOR (ICM BUILT INSIDE DISTRIBUTOR) WITH A NON-OEM PART. *JB

RELEASE OF HAND BRAKE ON FORD PROBE GT FAILS TO DISENGAGE THE REAR BRAKES, REAR WHEEL(S) NOW PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY LOCKED, CURRENT METHOD OF CORRECTION INVOLVES MANUALLY RELEASING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR (ALWAYS PARK DOWNHILL NOW).*JB

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.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1993 FORD PROBE FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAG BE DISCONNECTED. *NM *NM

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

I CAN'T EVEN GET ANYONE TO WORK ON THIS TRANSMISSION. I CALL EVERY SINGLE TRANNY SHOP I COULD FIND IN 3 TOWNS, NOT 1 WILL HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A PROBLE TRANNY. THIS IS CRAZY, FORD OR MAZDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS, IF THEY HAVE A PRODUCT, WITH SUCH A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I WISH I WOULD OF KNOWN, NEVER WOULD OF BOUGHT IT!

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ON MY 1993 PROBE GT HAS AN UNEXPLAINED DEFECT. MOST REPAIR BUSINESSES WILL NOT EVEN TOUCH THESE CARS DUE TO REPUTATION. AFTER $500 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES, THE PROBLEM WAS RULED UNEXPLAINED BY AAMCO.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 93 FORD PROBE IS SHOT. THERE IS NO SERVICE STATION, ETC. THAT WILL EVEN TOUCH THE THING. THEY ARE KNOW FOR THIS AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET SOMEONE TO WORK ON IT. FORD OR MAZDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS. *NLM

FUEL PUMP INERTIA CUT-OFF SWITCH IS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP IN A ROLLOVER OR SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CUT OF SWITCH ON MY PROBE CUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP (AND THEREFORE THE ENGINE) AFTER HITTING MINOR BUMPS. DEALER IN SPEARFISH, SD., INSTALLED NEW CUT OFF SWITCH ON 10/9. IT FAILED THAT AFTERNOON. I INSTALLED A THIRD SWITCH I BROUGHT FROM RAPID CITY, SD. FORD DEALER AND IT FAILED TWICE. VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION PARTICULARLY ON ROADS WITH LIMITED OR NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. TO GET VEHICLE RUNNING AGAIN I MUST PULL OVER, OPEN HATCHBACK AND PRESS THE RESET BUTTON. A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IS CREATED WHEN VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 10 TIMES WITH 3 SWITCHES (ALL FROM FORD, PART NUMBER #XF3Z-9341-AA FIRST INERTIA SWITCH). *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769769

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO AN EMBANKMENT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

PIVOT PIN IN BOTH REAR CALIPERS CORRODES DUE TO FAULTY GASKET AND REAR BRAKES SEIZE AS A RESULT.*AK

1993 FORD PROBE GT. BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE EACH SEIZED TWICE (BOTH CALIPERS WERE REBUILT BY A DEALER AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURES). WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THERE IS A BURNING BRAKE SMELL, THE ROTOR GLOWS ORANGE, THE ENTIRE WHEEL GETS EXTREMEMLY HOT, AND THE VEHICLE IS DESTABILIZED TOWARDS OVERSTEER. THE BRAKE PADS ARE DESTROYED VERY QUICKLY RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE REAR BRAKES (INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE). THE BRAKE ROTOR MAY ALSO WARP DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE CORRECTLY SINCE IT INITIALLY JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A RUBBER SEAL (HANDBRAKE PIVOT-PIN SEAL) THAT DETERIORATES PREMATURELY ALLOWING MOISTURE AND CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE CALIPER WHERE IS CAUSES THE NEEDLE BEARINGS TO CORRODE. IT THEREFORE ONLY EFFECTS PROBE MODELS WITH REAR DISC BRAKES (PROBE GT). FORD REVISED THE REAR CALIPERS ON PROBE GT'S MANUFACTURED AFTER 5-JAN-1995 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT ALTHOUGH EARLIER MODELS WERE NEVER CORRECTED.*AK

THE DISTRIBUTOR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS BEEN NOTED TO FAIL ON THESE ENGINES AS THE RECALL FOR PRIOR YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HABIT OF FAILING. FOR MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS, PLEASE GO TO WWW.PROBETALK.COM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR DISTRIBUTORS AND TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITOR THIS CAR HAS HAD. THIS IS A DEFECT FROM FORD. IT IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE TO LET FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS INJUSTICE. PROBE OWNERS ALL HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD MOTORS.*AK

SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAG OPERATION HAS GONE OUT, AIRBAG HAS NEVER BEEN USED.

VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. NARROWLY MISSED ACCIDENT. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING RIM ON RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE SPLIT IN HALF. CONSUMER HEARD A SOUND, AND WAS TRYING TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THAT WAS WHEN RIM SPLIT, AND VEHICLE FELL TO GROUND. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK *TT

ALL OWNERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DISTRIBUTOR PROBLEMS FROM PAST CUSTOMERS. *AK

THIS PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION--SAME AS THE CURRENT 'RECALL'. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTOR. I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF OVER $600. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE TSB WAS TO REPLACE THE THICK FILM IGNITION..... THIS HAPPENED AT 53000 MILES, WELL WITH. *AK

IT WAS A HOT DAY. WE HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE FOR APPROX 10 MINUTES WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE RPM INDICATOR DROPPED TO ZERO BY THE TIME WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS ALONE WAS A MIRACLE AS WE LOST COMPLETE POWER WITHIN SECONDS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLE AS THE DISTRIBUTOR. WE'VE JUST LEARNED THAT THE TFI (THICK FILM MODULE) IS BEING QUESTIONED AS FAULTY IN SOME MAKES OF FORDS. THE COMPLAINTS HAVE SPARKED RECALL CRIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE HAD A NEW DISTRIBUTOR INSTALLED YESTERDAY, AUGUST 13, 2001. IT HAS THE SAME TFI MODULE MOUNTED ON THE DISTRIBUTOR THAT THE PREVIOUS FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR HAD. SO, ARE WE RIDING IN ANOTHER TIME BOMB FOR A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY SUSTAIN INJURY OR EVEN LOSS OF LIFE. I SURE HOPE NOT.

WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 60 MPH RPMS STARTED TO DROP. VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND DIE. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER REPLACED TFI MODULE ,AND REPLACED IT WITH SAME PART. THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN OF PART. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1993 FORD PROBE GT STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE STALLS SEEMS TO OCCUR RANDOMLY. I STALLED ON HOT DAYS AND COOL DAYS. THIS PROBLEM WAS PRIMED TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE MAIN PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE IN IGNITION COIL.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS UNDER HATCHBACK FIXING SOMEETHING IN VEHICLE AND HATCHBACK COLLAPSED ON CONSUMERS BACK. CONSUMER WASN'T INJURED. *AK

AT 37000 MILES THE IGNITOR WITHIN THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED, STALLING THE ENGINE AND STOPPING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC. AT 37000 MILES THE THROWOUT BEARING IN THE CLUTCH WAS ALSO VIBRATING BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEN THE AIRBAG MONITOR SHORTED OUT FOR SOME REASON.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY, COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1993 AND 1994 OWNERS OF THE PROBE GT. EACH FIX IS TEMPERAMENTAL. RECENT FORD RECALL IN CA ORDERED BY COURT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

IGNITOR INSIDE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER A THERMAL RESET I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHEREUPON IT WOULD RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND QUIT AGAIN. IT WOULD DO THIS UNTIL THE LENGTH OF TIME IT WOULD WORK BECAME ZERO. THANKFULLY I HAD A REPLACEMENT READY.

AT 37000 MILES THE IGNITOR WITHIN THE DISTRIBUTOR FAILED, STALLING THE ENGINE AND STOPPING THE CAR IN TRAFFIC. AT 37000 MILES THE THROWOUT BEARING IN THE CLUTCH WAS ALSO VIBRATING BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEN THE AIRBAG MONITOR SHORTED OUT FOR SOME REASON.

THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. CHECKED MYSELF FOR SPARK AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS NONE. A LOCAL SHOP REPAIRED THE DISTRIBUTOR FOR OVER $400. A MONTH LATER, IN AN UNRELATED INCIDENT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND AFTER 4 WEEKS, 2-3 REBUILDS AND $2300 LATER I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HEARD AND READ OF NUMEROUS FELLOW 1993-1997 FORD PROBE OWNERS REPORTING THESE FAILURES TIME AND AGAIN.

OK, SO A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN IT DID START THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED THE CODES AND GOT CODES 3 AND 4, WHICH PERTAIN TO A FAULTY IGNITER. TO EXPLAIN MY COMPLAINT, THE FORM ASKED HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED AND I WROTE 12... 12 BEING THE NUMBER OF TIMES ROUGHLY, THAT IT HAS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. I'VE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1993 PROBES AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT SOON. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

I AM JUST WONDERING WHEN THE NEW ONES GOING TO FAIL. ITS STILL IN THE SAME SPOT-RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOT ENGINE. *AK

OK, SO A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN IT DID START THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED THE CODES AND GOT CODES 3 AND 4, WHICH PERTAIN TO A FAULTY IGNITER. TO EXPLAIN MY COMPLAINT, THE FORM ASKED HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED AND I WROTE 12... 12 BEING THE NUMBER OF TIMES ROUGHLY, THAT IT HAS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. I'VE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1993 PROBES AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT SOON. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

THE IGNITOR MODULE FAILED WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT WORK AGAIN UNTIL IT HAS A COUPLE OF MINTUES TO SIT. BUT NOW IT HAS FAILED FOR THE LAST TIME BECAUSE MY ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON UNTIL I GOT A WHOLE NEW DISTRUBITOR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK DISTRIBUTOR FAILED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH VEHICLE DROPPED ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE, FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN.*AK

THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE READS LOW. *AK

AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED LOUD NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER STATE LOW OIL PERSSURE WAS CAUSING LIFTER TO GO BAD. *AK LIFTERS DAMAGED DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE DEALER RECOMMEND REPLACED OIL PUMP. REPLACE TIMING BELT DUE TO MILEAGE. *YH

THE STRUTS THAT SHOULD SUPPORT THE REAR HATCH IN THE OPEN POSITION HAVE NEVER WORKED, SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JANUARY 30, 1996. I LEARNED JUST LAST NIGHT, FROM YAHOO.COM, THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 1993 FORD PROBES. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH MY DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY BY PHONE. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH RECALL. FMC SAYS THE RECALL APPLIES TO SOME 1993 PROBES, BUT NOT TO MINE AS DETERMINED FROM MY VIN. I HAVE BEEN HURT A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE CONDITION, BUT MY INJURIES SO FAR HAVE BEEN MINOR AND HAVE NOT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

RIGHT SIGNAL SWITCH LIGHT WOULD CAUSE HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF.*AK

SEATBACK BENT/RETRACTED ON REAR INPACT. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED BUT I KEPT THE SEAT. I CAN PROVIDE A VIN IF NEEDED. I CAN ALSO PROVIDE THE SEAT FOR INSPECTION.*AK

Crash 1 injured

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DO NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN HANDBRAKE IS RELEASED. THIS CAUSES FRICTIONAL HEATING AND WARPED ROTORS. FORD UK HAS PAID FOR NEW CALIPERS, BUT FORD US HAS REFUSED. *AK

SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE DEFFECTIVE, AND FEMALE PART IS NOT HOLDING, UNRESTRAINING CONSUMER.*AK SEAT BELT FAILURE ON DRIVERS SIDE CAUSED DOOR PANEL TO COME LOOSE ON DOOR. *YH