1993 Ford Probe Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about rear-brake problems, especially parking brake hardware on the rear calipers that does not release, which they associate with drag, heat and smoke at the wheel. A second common theme is ignition and engine-control failures that make the car quit, stall or lose power while driving, sometimes at highway speed. Transmission trouble, airbag system complaints and hatch strut failures also come up repeatedly in the sample.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Rear calipers seize / parking brake won't release

   • 31 complaints (15%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 14.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2006

   Complaints describe the rear calipers staying engaged after the parking brake is applied, with the affected wheel and rotor getting very hot and sometimes smoking. Owners report the pivot pin and seals in the caliper corrode or seize, so the cable does not pull the brake fully off, and some describe needing to release the mechanism by hand from under the car. Repairs cited are rebuilt or replaced calipers, with some owners reporting repeated failures on the same corner. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 24,000 miles up past 100,000, often noticed on cold mornings or after the parking brake has been set for a while.

   What to check: Set and release the parking brake several times and then feel each rear wheel for heat or binding after a short drive; ask whether the rear calipers have been rebuilt or replaced, and check the pivot pin area for rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Left rear caliper locked up on a cold morning. Was not able to tell, drove for 1 mile, rotor heated up enough to turn cherry red, smoking very badly. This is very common problem, every '93 & '94 Ford Probe gt has this problem. I now have no parking brake which I should have. I am always hearing of problems from others on a Probe faq site. You will be hearing from others on this problem. Please make Ford recall this very serious problem!”

   NHTSA complaint #717392, filed 2000-01

   “I have read on the web that after so many miles that the rear ABS calipers would wear out because of a design flaw. Uk Ford has aknowledged this flaw and has helped to replace the calipers on the Probe. Although my calipers are not yet locking up, many other us Probe's have had the problem. The problem is caused by a quick deteriorating rubber seal on the rear caliper. Once the seal is gone, water can cause the bearings to corrode causing a major brake failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #702479, filed 1999-01
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Car shuts off or stalls while driving (distributor/ignition)

   • 42 complaints (20%)
   • median 74,550 mi at 13.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $557 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning, sometimes at highway speed, with the tachometer dropping and power assist going away. Several trace it to the ignition module inside the distributor, known to some as the TFI, and report replacing the distributor or module, often with a non-original part. Others describe hard starting, a check engine light with igniter-related codes, or the car quitting after a few minutes and restarting once it cools. Reports cluster from roughly 12,000 to 75,000 miles and often occur on hot days or during sustained highway driving, sometimes after the car has sat two to three minutes before it restarts.

   What to check: Ask whether the distributor or ignition module has been replaced and with what part, and take a test drive long enough to reach highway speed so any heat-related shutdown would show up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #744030, filed 2001-04

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #744040, filed 2001-04
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission fails to shift or move

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 10.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2007

   Owners report the automatic transmission stops shifting properly, sometimes with the overdrive light flashing, and a few describe the car not moving when put in drive. Several say shops were unwilling to work on the transaxle, and repairs mentioned include rebuilds or replacement units. Some owners state the same problem appeared on more than one of these cars. Appears in complaints filed from roughly 12,000 miles up to about 200,000 miles, suggesting both early failures and wear-related ones.

   What to check: During a test drive, confirm the shift points are smooth and the overdrive light does not flash; ask for transmission service records and whether the unit has been rebuilt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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!”

   NHTSA complaint #10068908, filed 2004-01

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10182838, filed 2007-02, 12,600 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and deployment concerns

   • 21 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 5.4 yrs old
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light blinking or staying on, with dealers telling owners the driver airbag would not deploy in a crash; one owner reports a broken clock spring behind the airbag. Others report the airbag deploying in lower-speed impacts with facial or other injuries, and some report no deployment in a reported collision. Repairs mentioned include replacing the diagnostic module or clock spring. Complaints are spread across the 1990s and early 2000s with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Turn the key on and confirm the airbag light cycles and then goes out; if it blinks or stays lit, have the system scanned and ask for the clock spring and diagnostic module history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Clock spring in airbag has broken, airbag will not deploy unless this is fixed. Ford is refusing to pay for repair since vehicle is out of warranty. We would not have known if the light had not started blinking. Your website has many complaints concerning airbags for this year model.”

   NHTSA complaint #713341, filed 1999-10

   “While driving the sensor light came on, and the light blinked on and off.the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer , and they said that if the consumer gets into an accident the air bags on the driver's side won't deploy. The diagnostic module was replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #831296, filed 1998-11
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Stalling on deceleration (idle air control valve)

   • 6 complaints (3%)
   • typically at 6.7 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2000

   Complaints describe the engine dying when the car slows to a stop or comes off the throttle, requiring a restart or holding the accelerator to keep it idling. Several owners point to the idle air bypass or idle speed control valve, reporting it was replaced and later failed again. Some also mention plugged valves or fuel system service alongside the stalling. Described in complaints filed from the late 1990s onward, mostly in stop-and-go driving and at low speeds rather than at highway cruise.

   What to check: Ask whether the idle air control valve has been serviced, and check that the engine holds a steady idle when warm and does not dip or die when rolling up to a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When coming to a stop light vehicle died. . Shifted into neutral with foot on gas pedal to keep vehicle idling, and it revved and then idled. Also, when vehicle slowed down it would stall. Took it to mechanic who repaired it first time. Second time, warranty expired, but it was repaired at consumer's expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #860200, filed 2000-04

   “This car with a failed air idle bypass valve is extremely dangerous and could result in a traffic injury or fatality. When this condition occurs you lose power steering, speed and engine control. This valve has had to be replaced two times before, and is again needing replacement at a cost of $700.00. I feel that this is an original factory defect, and should be replaced by the dealership with no cost. It is a hazard on the road.”

   NHTSA complaint #702846, filed 1999-02

Buying note. Check the rear brakes carefully, including how the parking brake behaves, and ask for records on the distributor and transmission, since those are the recurring themes in owner complaints. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a highway test drive and a scan for stored ignition or airbag codes is reasonable given the age of the car.

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.