1989 Ford PROBE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
45 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
84,475 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 45 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Electrical System: 3; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 39 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 18; 1996: 6; 2000: 9; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10034496 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO RELEASE FOR MORE ROOM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE IMPROPERLY WORN OR NOT WORN AT ALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068566 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLED WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *PH THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070658 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I PURCHASED A DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ON 8/17/02. I PAID 131.00 FOR THE PART .ALL FORD PARTS ARE WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. INCLUDING SEAT BELTS, EVEN IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AFTER THAT WARRANTY EXPIRES THEY KEEP MY MONEY AND I HAVE A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT THAT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I DECIDED TO SAVE MONEY AND INSTALL IT MYSELF. THE SEAT BELT WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT SEIZED AND WOULD NOT PULL DOWN OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER. I GOT ANOTHER UNDER WARRANTY, INSTALLED IT MYSELF AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WENT BACK TO PENINSULA FORD O…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,032 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10611084 · 2014-07-16 (July 16, 2014)
THE ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CUTTING OUT THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING AND MAKING MY FRONT-HEAVY FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR VERY VERY HARD TO STEER AND VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY OFTEN, WITHOUT WARNING. I THOUGHT THIS WAS TIED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT CHANGING THE SWITCH AND WIRING DID NOT HELP. AT THE SAME TIME OF THIS PROBLEM, THE IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED TURNING ON THE STARTER, BUT WILL LET THE ENGINE RUN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10611090 · 2014-07-16 (July 16, 2014)
THE CAR VIBRATES TERRIBLY FROM THE FRONT END SINCE NEW. ALL NINE TIMES I TOOK IN DURING THE FIRST YEAR, WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND DID NOT MENTION MY WARRANTY, AND I WAS GIVEN A $10,000 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. FORD STILL REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT TURNS OUT THE FRONT AXLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND NOT MADE BALANCED. REPLACING THEM AFTER THEY DESTROYED THE FRONT CV JOINTS SOLVED THE PROBLEM, BUT FORD GOT AWAY WITH A RIP OFF AND I SUFFERED FOR SIX YEARS AND 60,000 MILES. *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611090 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10611096 · 2014-07-16 (July 16, 2014)
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THEREFORE, IT WILL NOT RETRACT IN AN ACCIDENT, IMPAIRING MY SAFETY. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THERE IS A 1990 RECALL THAT FORD USED TO SCAM THE OWNERS OF THE 1989 MODELS OUT OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE 1989 WAS THE FIRST YEAR MADE AND ONLY MADE FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE BUILDING THE 1990S AND THE 1990 WAS THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME COMPONENTS. FORD IS CHEATING US OUT OF OUR RECALL AND ENDANGERING OUT LIVES. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT FORD INCLUDES US 1989…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10611098 · 2014-07-16 (July 16, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1989 FORD PROBE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788385 · 2015-11-04 (November 4, 2015)
AFTER PULLING ALL FUSES IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH VEHICLE OFF, TO CHECK THEM AND PUTTING THEM ALL BACK, VERIFYING SEVERAL TIMES THE CORRECT LOCATION, THE CAR CRANKS BUT NO LONGER STARTS. THERE IS NO SPARK, NO FUEL PRESSURE. IGNITION COIL GETS 12V POWER TO BOTH PRONGS UNTIL CRANKING, THEN LOSSES ALL POWER. 4EAT COMPUTER UNDER THE DASH REPORTS FAULT WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND THIS WAS VERIFIED BY TESTING IT MANUALLY USING A VOLTMETER, A BAD TPS WILL NOT CAUSE A NO START SITUATION ANYWAY. REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788385 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.