1990 Ford Probe problems
NHTSA has received 378 complaints about the 1990 Ford Probe, and 77% of them involve seat belts. After that come electrical system (4%) and brakes (3%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 378 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Seat belts 77% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 22 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 110,000 miles 25 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 16 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 25 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 110,000 miles. For seat belts specifically, the median reported mileage is about 107,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 22 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1990 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Ford Probe with enough data (84 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Passenger's motor belt broke at track during accident, causing passenger to be thrown through windshield, resulting in death. *skd
Consumer was hit in the front and seat belt retractor didn't restrain, consumer hit her head in the windshield . Please describe .
Weather bad, went to apply brakes (ABS), vehicle slid into another vehicle, automatic seat belts did not restrain, head hit ceiling, seat belt came loose from tract. Under recall 96v172000. Dealer has no parts.
Ford dealer will not honor or repair safety recall on shoulder belt safety issue. This is my sons car and I am concerned for his safety , I found the ford recall # on the internet # tbs 96s48 and 96v172. I took a printed copy to the local dealer and they said there was on recall for the VIN # on my sons car. I also found a paper # nas-11paw that is addressed to l.w. Camp director of aout safety at for and it states that this recall is fords responsibility regardless of the age, the owner the, mileage of the car.
Retractable seat belts jam and get stuck in track, making unsafe condition. Have hit head on seat belt latch causing pain and have also been stuck in seat with seat belt not releasing. Also wearing out car battery & shorting electrical system, severe moisture in tail lamps, failure of tail lamps causing unsafe condition, failure of driving lights. Many problems with vehicle from date of ownership in 1993.