1990 Ford Probe problems
Owners have filed 378 complaints about the 1990 Ford Probe with NHTSA. Seat belts account for 77% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of electrical system at 3.7%.
Complaints378
Crashes11
Fires7
Injuries22
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Seat belts 77.0% · 291
Electrical system 3.7% · 14
Engine and engine cooling 3.2% · 12
Visibility 2.6% · 10
Service brakes, hydraulic 2.4% · 9
Exterior lighting 2.1% · 8
Power train 1.3% · 5
Structure 1.1% · 4
Severity
Of those complaints, 11 describe a crash, 7 describe a fire, 22 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 6 model years of the Ford Probe in this data, 1990 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings are rising — 21 in the last three years against 16 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 110,000 miles.
In owners' own words
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. Seat belts · reported at 110,000 miles
Received recall notice 96v172002 & contacted dealership for an appointment. Took vehicle in for shoulder belt repairs. Mechanic refused to repair shoulder belts unless belts were not working. Finally, driver's side shoulder belt had failed. Took vehicle back to dealer where mechanic repaired shoulder belt. However, passenger side shoulder belt was stuck & had jammed, but mechanic refused to repair it. Seat belts
Driver's side seat restraint (sholder harness) doesn't function. 1990 Ford Probe lx. Was issue of a recall in 1996. Subject restraint has failed three times since purchase of car. First repair was under vehicle warranty. Second repair took place prior to recal and was paid for by owner. Third failure has occured withing the last year and local dealer does not take responsibility. Seat belts · reported at 72,097 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…