1990 Ford Probe Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year center overwhelmingly on the automatic motorized front shoulder belts: owners describe the belt jamming in its roof-rail track, failing to retract, or locking so tightly that occupants cannot free themselves, and many say dealers had no repair parts or would not honor recall 96V172. The remaining complaints are spread thin across brakes, electrical faults, wipers and lighting, with most of those filed at higher mileage on an older vehicle.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Automatic shoulder belt jammed or inoperative in track

   • 166 complaints (51%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 14.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe the motorized front shoulder belt getting stuck partway along the roof-rail track, failing to travel forward when the door closes, or stopping entirely so the belt no longer secures the occupant. Several say the belt was repaired under the recall and then failed again, and others report that the dealer declined a second repair or said the vehicle identification number was not covered. Complaints filed during the recall period frequently mention that parts were on back order and that the dealer could not say when they would arrive. Reported from the mid-1990s through the 2000s, with the sample mileages ranging from roughly 70,000 to 174,000 miles.

   Recall 96V172001Recall 96V172002

   What to check: With the door open, cycle the belt through its full travel and confirm it moves smoothly and locks in the forward position; ask for paperwork showing whether recall 96V172 was completed and whether the track, not just the motor, was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power shoulder restraint has jammed on driver side and will not retract to secure the driver. I found a Ford safety recall # 96v-172 to inspect or repair this safety problem. I printed a copy and handed it to the local Ford dealer who said there were no safety recalls found on my son's Ford Probe's VIN number. My son purchased the car used in febuary 2003. The problem started in may 2003. I am concerned that if my son in a accident that he will not be properly protected. I want to file a formal complaint agienst the Ford moter co. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070484, filed 2004-01, 122,000 miles

   “Recall 96v172001, while parking/driving, passenger side passive restraint seat belt will not retract back into locking position creating a real safety hazard for the passenger. The dealership (doherty Ford, forest grove, or) was notified, but refused to address this safety issue because, allegedly, the VIN of the subject vehicle was not included in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10064429, filed 2004-04, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Recall parts unavailable or repair refused

   • 149 complaints (46%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 14.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2007

   Many owners say they received the recall notice but the dealer had no parts in stock, sometimes for months, and that the vehicle was kept waiting or returned unrepaired. Others report the dealer checked only one side, replaced the motor but not the track, or told them the vehicle's identification number was not part of the campaign and charged for the work. Some say the manufacturer referred them to a rental at their own cost in the meantime. Concentrated in 1996 through 1998, the period right after the recall was issued.

   Recall 96V172001Recall 96V172002

   What to check: Ask for the recall completion record for both front assemblies, and check with a dealer whether this specific vehicle still has an open campaign before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am wondering how I can keep udated on the recent recall motion on the ignition modules. I am very incomfortable in relying on Ford to give me this info. I saw many recalls and I have not been notified of any. My seat belt track was one of them. I cannot afford to fix it and now I find out I could have taken it to a dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #736492, filed 2000-11

   “While repairing the recalled passenger and drivier motorbelt, dealer only replaced the motor and not the l-side track per recall 96v-172, consumer inquired as to why they only replaced the motor and not the track and they stated it was their decision to make a choice of what needed to be done, now the l-slide track is inoperable. Nlm”

   NHTSA complaint #557883, filed 2000-12
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Belt retracts too tightly or will not release

   • 35 complaints (11%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 14.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2006

   Owners report the automatic belt continuing to tighten after the door closes, with no slack given, so the strap presses across the chest or neck and occupants describe being held in the seat. Some say the buckle or retractor would not release and they had to free themselves manually. Complaints also describe the lap belt not holding in a frontal impact, and dealers were reported as unable to identify the cause or unwilling to replace the assembly again. Filed mostly in the late 1990s; most complaints give no mileage, and the vehicle was already well used in those reports.

   Recall 96V172001Recall 96V172002

   What to check: Sit in both front seats, close the doors and check that the belt stops with some slack and releases cleanly at the buckle; pull the lap section to confirm it locks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was involved in an accidentat at approximately 50-60 MPH. Consumer had to apply brakes in an emrgency situation which caused consumer to lose control of vehicle. Vehicle hit the divider wall, causing lap belt to fail and consumer's head hit passenger's side window. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified. Seat belts recall after failure (96s48 and 96s99).”

   NHTSA complaint #827302, filed 1998-08

   “Vehicles automatic seat belts lock-up and constrict driver in seat.when locking up the belt gets tighter and tighter. Tt the problem seems to be tht the portion sof the belt near the center of the car willnot give, so when the door is cloed, the belt starts to retract but will not give any slack.”

   NHTSA complaint #973964, filed 1995-10
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls and electrical faults while driving

   • 15 complaints (5%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 16.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2006

   Owners describe the car cutting out or stuttering at any speed, one after replacing the distributor module, another linking it to a computer fault that also took out power steering assist. Complaints also mention batteries draining, shorting in the electrical system and dash warning lights blinking out so fuel level and speed cannot be read. One owner reported wipers and radio cycling on and off before a fire started under the hood on the right side. Scattered reports from the late 1990s and 2000s; the one complaint giving mileage was filed around 110,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that all dash warning lights illuminate at key-on and that the battery holds charge; ask whether the ignition module or distributor has been replaced and look for scorched or chafed wiring near the right side of the engine bay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have replace the distributor module, and the car still shuts down while I am driving reguardless of the speed of travel. I called Ford and they said there was no recall. I just can not drive it this way. I have put $3000 into this car this year alone.”

   NHTSA complaint #734894, filed 2000-10

   “Gas, speedometer, and oil pressure lights on dashboard are out. When vehicle is started up it shows and blinks out. Consumer can't tell if the vehicle is low on gas or how fast they're going. Consumer is taking it in 04-01-2001.”

   NHTSA complaint #887105, filed 2001-04

Buying note. The automatic shoulder belts are the main thing to evaluate on this model year: test both front assemblies through their full travel and get written confirmation of whether recall 96V172 was completed on each side, since many owners report repeat failures and parts that were hard to obtain. Beyond that, treat the car as an older vehicle and budget for checking electrical faults and wiper function before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.