1990 Ford PROBE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
139 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
107,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 139 complaints (56.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 | 79 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 25 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 13 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 2 |
Seat Belts: 79; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 25; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 13; Seat Belts:Front: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 129 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 | 62 |
| 1996 | 27 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
1995: 62; 1996: 27; 2000: 16; 2001: 12; 2002: 6; 2003: 6; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012040 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE MOTOR INSIDE OF THE SEATBELT WILL COME ON BUT THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACTOR AT ALL. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012266 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLES AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT TRACK FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019500 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE RECALL REMEDY WHICH WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE SHOULDER BELT 96 V 172 001 FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020228 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED IT NOT TO RETRACT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023952 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)
FORD DEALER WILL NOT HONOR OR REPAIR SAFETY RECALL ON SHOULDER BELT SAFETY ISSUE. LOCAL FORD DEALER: PHIL LONG FORD, COLORADO SPRINGS COLORADO 1565 AUTO MALL LOOP, COLORADO SPRINGS COLORADO 80920 [phone removed]. CONTACTS ASSISTANCE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE COPE [phone removed]. SERVICE DIRECTOR MERK MARSHALL [phone removed]. 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050156 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)
PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CAME OFF THE TRACK. THE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063178 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
RECALL 96V172001, WHILE PARKING OR DRIVING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE LOCKING POSITION. *AK THE PART HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER RESTRAINT WOULD BE COMPROMISED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 174,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064429 · 2004-04-02 (April 2, 2004)
RECALL 96V172001, WHILE PARKING/DRIVING, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO LOCKING POSITION CREATING A REAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE PASSENGER. THE DEALERSHIP (DOHERTY FORD, FOREST GROVE, OR) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, ALLEGEDLY, THE VIN OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE "WAS NOT INCLUDED" IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064429 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
89V159000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Reported: 1989-09-25 (September 25, 1989)
THROTTLE LEVERS MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THROTTLE MAY STICK AND NOT RETURN FULLY TO IDLEPOSITION.
Remedy: PLACE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON DELIVERY HOLD UNTIL REPAIRED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V172001 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1996-09-06 (September 6, 1996)
NOTE: DRIVER'S SIDE (LEFT) PASSIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V172002 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1996-09-06 (September 6, 1996)
NOTE: PASSENGER SIDE (RIGHT) SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗