1994 Ford Probe Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1994 Ford Probe most often describe rear brake calipers that seize or fail to release after the parking brake is set, leaving the rotor overheated and the pads worn. Transmission complaints are the second major theme, with owners reporting slipping, blinking overdrive lights and fluid loss from the automatic unit. Electrical complaints, mainly distributor failures that stall a hot engine at speed, and cooling-system or engine-bay fires also appear repeatedly in the sample.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Rear brake calipers seize or stay applied

   • 35 complaints (21%)
   • median 70,400 mi at 9.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe a rear caliper that locks or drags after the parking brake is applied and does not release, so the rotor overheats, sometimes glowing red and smoking, and pads and rotors wear quickly. Several say the parking brake then becomes ineffective. Complaints commonly mention a corroded parking-brake pivot pin or a failed seal; owners report that dealers replaced calipers, and some say the cost was borne by the owner. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 105,000 miles in the sample, often noticed after the parking brake was set.

   What to check: After a drive, feel each rear wheel for unusual heat and check whether the parking brake releases fully; ask whether the rear calipers have been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both rear calipers on my 1994 frod Probe gt have siezed and one almost started the car on fire, with the left rear rotor glowing orange. There was no prior signs of siezing, and no trouble with the brake handle. Ford changed the design in the years after 1995, but I believe that the updated calipers should be retrofitted to all of our cars that have failing calipers and brake problems, resulting from this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #705106, filed 1999-03

   “The left rear caliper seized while the car was moving approx 30 MPH. My 2 year-old son was in the car at the time of the brake failure. The car skidded out of control and nearly left the wet road surface. I contacted 2 local Ford dealers and they indicated. Incomplete summary.”

   NHTSA complaint #703036, filed 1999-02
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slips, hunts gears or fails

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2007

   Owners describe a blinking overdrive light, hard or delayed shifting, the engine revving high before slamming into gear, and loss of speed at highway speeds. Some report the transmission overheated and lost fluid, and several had the unit replaced or rebuilt. Complaints frequently name the CD4E automatic and say shops advised replacement rather than repair. Mostly reported between roughly 75,000 and 115,000 miles, sometimes after earlier dealer visits during warranty.

   What to check: Test drive from cold and at highway speed, watching for a flashing overdrive light or slipping; check transmission fluid level and colour, and ask whether the unit has been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10100128, filed 2004-11

   “I would like to report the failure of the cd4e 1994 transmission. There is only 113000 miles on this car and the transmission should not have gone out. I would like help in paying to get this well known problem repaired.”

   NHTSA complaint #754965, filed 2001-11
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls when hot (distributor/ignition)

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 6.6 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2005

   Owners report sudden engine cut-out at highway speeds, especially when the engine is hot, with restart possible after a cool-down. Several attribute it to the distributor or ignition module overheating, and one notes later models used a redesigned distributor. Complaints also describe the stall taking power steering and power brakes with it. Reported across a wide mileage range, typically occurring in hot weather or after sustained highway driving.

   What to check: Ask whether the distributor or ignition module has been replaced, and take a test drive long enough to reach full operating temperature, including highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is a typical problem with this car: ignition cut-out at highway speeds due to heat. The ignitor overheats, causing sudden stop of the engine in highway traffic. The stopped engine also causes loss of power steering. This is a safety hazard that should be addressed by a recall. 1995 and later probes are equipped with a redesigned distributor that does not have this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #742698, filed 2001-03

   “At 75000 miles the 2.5l v6 engine had stalled intermittently, dealer notified. Consumer found on the internet where 1993 and 1994 2.5l engines experienced the same problem due to transistor degrades because of heat, causing the distributor module to fail, consumer replaced the part and 8000 miles later failed again.”

   NHTSA complaint #896184, filed 2001-09
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Stalling or cutting out from fuel delivery

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine dying without warning and restarting after a short wait, which some attribute to the fuel pump cutting out. Others report stalling at slow-downs and at intersections, and one describes fuel backing up and spilling during refuelling. Complaints mention dealers being notified without a clear diagnosis. Reported across a broad mileage range, with stalling often described as intermittent and unrelated to a specific mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump or fuel filter has been replaced, and check for fuel smell or wet areas around the filler neck and tank.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer states when filling the gas tank, gas leaks out. Cause unknown, dealer notified. This vehicle takes approximately 15 minutes to fuel because of the necessary precautions needed. When fueling the gasoline backs up and will spill out of the vehicle. The person filling the tank winds up standing in a pool of gasoline and also becomes drenched in gasoline.”

   NHTSA complaint #8014731, filed 2002-07

   “Intermittently vehicle stalled out and died without warning. A recall has been issued on vehicle's make and model; however, this vehicle was not included in recall due to VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #887693, filed 2001-05

Buying note. On a car this age, the rear brakes and the automatic transmission are the items most worth inspecting before purchase, since both are described repeatedly and repairs can be costly. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a hot-engine highway drive and a check of the rear wheels after braking gives a reasonable picture of condition.

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.