1997 Ford PROBE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10090730 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CD4E) HAS BEEN ACTING UP, OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON DASH STARTS FLASHING WHIH THEN CAUSES HARSH SHIFTING AND POWER LOSS IN TRANNY AND ENGINE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 737115 · 2000-11-30 (November 30, 2000)
FORD (HQ AND DEALER) HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY CONTACTED ON THESE ISSUES. FORD'S INTERNAL REVIEW BOARD ISSUED ARULING STATING THAT NO COMPENSATORY ACTION IS APPROPRIATE. FORD ISSUED AN OFFER TO HAVE A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE OVERSEE A REPRESENTATIVE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS OF THEIR RULING, WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE UNTIL THE OFFER HAD EXPIRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FORD GARAGE WITH SIMILAR DENIAL OF ANYTHING WRONG BEING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEIR IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES - THEY SQUEAL ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563101 · 2001-09-14 (September 14, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, WHICH REQUIRED CONSUMER TO STEER WITHOUT POWER, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOT ONLY WAS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING BELT, BUT THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AS WELL, APPARENTLY AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE OFF AND GOT CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT, CONSUMER STATES IN FEBURARY 1999 HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION (98S30) IN WHICH HE COMPLIED FOR THE SAME MECHANICAL FAILURE, AND TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 869874 · 2000-09-07 (September 7, 2000)
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER A SLIGHT PUDDLE OF WATER LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATE, AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 869874 at NHTSA ↗