FaultScore

1994 Ford Probe transmission problems

29 of the 207 complaints about the 1994 Ford Probe are about the transmission — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

C

29

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 22 75.9%
Manual Transmission 2 6.9%
Power Train 1 3.4%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 1 3.4%
Axle Assembly 1 3.4%
Driveshaft 1 3.4%
Column Shift Assembly 1 3.4%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Probe year

1993 20 22.2%
1994 29 32.2%
1995 23 25.6%
1996 18 20.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 82,000 miles Jamaica, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

3RD TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHIN A 4 YEAR PERIOD EVEN WITH A TRANSMISSION COOLER INSTALLED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 115000 MILES. LAST TRANSMISSION LASTED ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10182885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Kensington, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I JUST BOUGHT A 1994 FORD PROBE GT, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD IN IT. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE CAR I FOUND OUT THE 626 MAZDA TRANSMISSION THAT WAS PUT INTO THE CAR IS KNOWN FOR FAILING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH WHEN MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN AND DROPPED ALMOST 15 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BUT IF A CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND ME I LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL FORD PROBE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MAZDA WHO SAID THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FORD AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET A CALL BACK FROM FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10153113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FIRST, THE CAR MAKES A LITTLE JERK AND THEN THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK AND THEN ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE RPM'S STARTS TO JUMP AND THE WHOLE CAR BUCKS AS IF YOU HAD HYDRALICS. THE ENGINE STARTS TO JUMP BACK THEN FORTH. IF YOU STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR SPEEDS UP BUT IT BUCKS A LOT. I THOUGHT I COULD STOP IT BECAUSE I HAVE PLAYED WITH THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON AND IT HAS STOPPED , BUT THAT WAS WHEN IT FIRST STARTS. THE WEIRD THING IS THAT IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME. THE GUY THAT HAD IT BEFORE ME WHICH IS MY BOSS RAN EVERY TEST THEY COULD AND IT CAME OUT PERFECT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?

NHTSA complaint #10100128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 132,000 miles Mansfield, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE 1994 FORD PROBE WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION, THE CAR HAS 132,000 MILES 3RD TRANNY TO GO BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10082820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Kennebunk, ME Crash

POWER TRAIN

THE VALVE BOX IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LETTING GO I HAVE FIXED IT 2 TIMES AND IT JUST LET GO AGAIN I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD HAS TO BE LOOKIN INTO THE RECALLS ON THE FROD PROBE... I AM STILL TRING TO GET THE TRANMISSON FIXED AGAIN

NHTSA complaint #10069096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,000 miles Kimball, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: OVER DRIVE LIGHT BLINKS AND DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. HAS BEEN REBUILT.

NHTSA complaint #10065883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Astoria, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ATX TYPE FORD CD4E FAILURE. O/D LIGHT ON, SLIPPING CLUTCH. STABILIZER LINKS WORN OUT. CRUISE CONTROL WIRING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10056328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Pembroke, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CD4E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A SEVERE SLIP BETWEEN THE HIGH GEARS. THE ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH, THE TACHOMETER HEADS TO THE RED LINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLAM INTO THE HIGHER GEAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10049006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cascade, MD

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT AXLE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER TO THE RIGHT AND MAKE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE OFFICER OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER TURNED THE WHEEL, THE LEFT TIRE WOULD TURN BUT THE RIGHT TIRE WOULD NOT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

NHTSA complaint #567276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tuckerton, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

O/D LIGHT FLASHING ,CODE 628 RETRIEVED....CONVERTER CLUTCH SLIPPING.

NHTSA complaint #761848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sully, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #756147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cross Lanes, WV

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF THE CD4E 1994 TRANSMISSION. THERE IS ONLY 113000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN PAYING TO GET THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #754965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bald Knob, AR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. ONLY 2 WEEKS AFTER SPENDING NEARLY $600 ON REPLACING THE FRONT AXLES, THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH AND FELT A SLIGHT JERK. AFTER WHICH, THE CAR WOULDN'T KICK INTO GEAR. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CD4E TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE EX-FORD MECHANIC. HE ALSO USED THE TERM "THROW AWAY CAR?! I USUALLY GET RUDE LOOKS, OR LAUGHED AT WHEN I MENTION THAT I NEED A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR A FORD PROBE. HELP ME! MY CAR HAS BEEN UNDRIVABLE FOR NEARLY 7 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #751322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rusk, TX

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #784686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Niskayuna, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

O/D LIGHT BLINKING- COMPUTER ERROR REPORTS GEAR RATIO PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN REPORTS THAT FORD HAD MAJOR PROBLEMWITHTHE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING REDESIGN OF PUMP AND OTHER PARTS. FORD RAN OUT OF PARTS ANDOPTED TO REDESIGN. FORD NOW REPLACES TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE RATHER THAN ATTEMPT REPAIRS, PER FORD TECHNICIAN. THUS, FORD ACKNOWLEDGES A POOR DESIGN BUT REQUIRES OWNERS TO BEAR BURDEN OF $2,000+ COST. WHOM DO I CONTACT AT FORD?

NHTSA complaint #714279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bridgeport, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #547476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #707878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Okmulgee, OK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AUTO TRANSMISSION TWICE,FORD IS TELLING THE REPAIR PEOPLE THAT ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BAD IN PROBES.PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE SHELLED OUT 2,300.OO DOLLARS SO FAR AND I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #705483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mt.pleasant, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #702784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Potomac, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND IT WOULD JERK, AND NEVER SWITCH OUT OF FIRST GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #701134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allston, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FREEZES; VEHICLE WON'T MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN IN GEAR. OD LIGHT FLASHES CONTINUOUSLY ON DASHBOARD. COMPUTER INDICATES A FAILURE WITH THE VSS SPEED SENSOR. PART WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. CAR MOVES FOWARD IN REVERSE; MOVES BACKWARD IN DRIVE. DEALERS CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN UNDER WARRANTY WITH 10,952 MILES. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #701171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE AND TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING. DEALER LET CAR SIT FOR OVER 10 DAYS AND DID NOTHING. TOOK CAR TO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID SHORT TERM MEMORY WAS WIPPED OUT, NEEDED OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO GET CODE. TOOK CAR AND DROVE FOR A LONG DISTANCE. AT THAT TIME THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED CAUSING LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER AND MASSIVE FLUID LEAK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. ADVISED TO IMMEADEATLY STOP DRIVING CAR AS IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE SINCE FIXED TWICE BUY A DIFFERENT DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT NOTCH WAS MISSING OUT OF TRANSMISSION PISTON FROM THE FACTORY. TRANSMISSION ALSO HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS AND TOTAL REPAIR COST 1,328.58. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD (TO LATE) THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL BULLITENS OUT FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS.

NHTSA complaint #700882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irvine, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING AROUND WHEN DRIVING., MECHANIC CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RUN. STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. DEALER CONTACTED, NO WARRANTY. PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED.

NHTSA complaint #830747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD SOME FUNNY NOISES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE STORE. CAME BACK TO START THE VEHICLE AND PUT IN REVERSE AND THEN INTO DRIVE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE DUE TO THE DRUM GEAR UNIT BEING CRACKED. FORD AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY HELP. *AK

NHTSA complaint #830614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Akron, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHIFTS TO A LOWER GEAR AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES OFF.

NHTSA complaint #536760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hartford, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #532726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hewlett, NY

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS IF THE TIRES ARE UNBALANCED OR THE DRIVE SHAFT IS OUT OF BALANCE.

NHTSA complaint #522947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mckinny, TX

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR STALLS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #800353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH Fire 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY

GEAR SHIFTER HARD TO GET INTO REVERSE.

NHTSA complaint #961227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Ford Probe problems

← Full 1994 Ford Probe report