Vehicles / Ford / Probe / 1989

1989 Ford Probe

77 federal complaints (103 component records) · 0 recall campaigns on file · 4 federal investigations · 23 service bulletins · 1 Canadian recall
See all 11 model years of the Ford Probe →
Engine
2.2L 4-cyl
Fuel
Premium, Regular
Drive
FWD
EPA economy
19 city / 26 hwy
Federal complaints
77
Recall campaigns
0
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Seat belts
27
Engine & cooling
18
Electrical system
11
Glass & wipers
10
Power train
8
Brakes
6
Fuel system
5
Tires
3
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 0 complaints01 years old: 1 complaints2 years old: 1 complaints3 years old: 1 complaints4 years old: 0 complaints5 years old: 7 complaints56 years old: 18 complaints7 years old: 10 complaints8 years old: 8 complaints9 years old: 2 complaints10 years old: 5 complaints1011 years old: 4 complaints12 years old: 2 complaints13 years old: 0 complaints14 years old: 2 complaints15 years old: 1 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 0 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 2 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 64 of 77 complaints with a usable failure date.

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Seat belts

27 complaint records
"OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SHOULDER BELTS BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET WORK DONE BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse seat belts parts in the directory →

Engine & cooling

18 complaint records3 fire reports
"PLASTIC TOP OF RADIATOR FAILED UPON OPENING THE HOOD..17 YEAR OLD WAS SPRAYED WITH HOT LIQUID AND STEAM HOSPITALIZED WITH 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS 50% OF BODY. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →

Electrical system

11 complaint records3 fire reports
"EVERY 12000 MILES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALTENATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THIS IS THE 4TH COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
DP07001
opened Jul 2007
closed Dec 2007SeatsSEATBACK RECLINE MECHANISM FAILURE
ON JUNE 29, 2007, NHTSA RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. RICHARD H. MCSWAIN OF MCSWAIN ENGINEERING INC., REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE SEATBACK RECLINER FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
PE96027
opened Apr 1996
closed Sep 1996Seat BeltsMAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE - led to recall 96V173000
MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM
PE91124
opened Sep 1991
closed Dec 1991Engine And Engine CoolingENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
There is no summary currently available
PE89166
opened Sep 1989
closed Dec 1989Power TrainTRANSMISSION OIL LINE FIRE
There is no summary currently available

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
1995099
1995-06-13
Electrical25,196THE FUEL PUMP WIRING ASSEMBLY MAY CORRODE DUE TO ROAD SALT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL BRIDGE DEVELOPING BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND THE FUEL GAUGE SENDER TERMINALS.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
01157
Aug 2001
Unknown Or OtherINFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
0015
Jan 2000
Power TrainINFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
99196
Sep 1999
EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
99816
May 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT
98246
Dec 1998
Electrical SystemFORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
Show 18 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
9888
Apr 1998
Power TrainINFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
9852
Apr 1998
TiresINFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC
9874
Apr 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingA NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC
985A13
Mar 1998
Service BrakesTHE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC
985A12
Mar 1998
EquipmentRECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR TOWING BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. *TT
9848
Mar 1998
EquipmentANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC
97511
Mar 1997
Power TrainFLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD
962612
Dec 1996
Power TrainTRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW
962516
Dec 1996
Power TrainAXKE LEAKS - FLUID LEAKS FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AT AXLE SHAFTS - NEW DESIGN REPLACEMENT CV JOINT BOOTS. *TW
96246
Nov 1996
Electrical SystemWIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW
96249
Nov 1996
Power TrainTORQUE CONVERTER - LEAK TEST PROCEDURE - SERVICE TIP. *TW
96221
Oct 1996
VisibilityWINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW
95212
Oct 1995
Service BrakesTHE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT MAY BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM.
9582
Apr 1995
VisibilityA REVISED SERVICE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS NOW AVAILABLE. *TW
BC8914950401
Apr 1995
Service BrakesUNKNOWN
9562
Mar 1995
Service BrakesROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW
9546
Feb 1995
VisibilityWIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT - UPGRADED SERVICE KITS. *TW
9523
Jan 1995
Fuel SystemERRATIC DISTANCE-TO-EMPTY AND FUEL GAUGE READINGS. *TW

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Pull and release every belt.A belt that retracts slowly or a buckle that will not latch matches this vehicle's seat-belt cluster.
  2. Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
  3. Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
  4. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Ford Probe →