FaultScore

1997 Ford Probe engine problems

15 of the 38 complaints about the 1997 Ford Probe are about the engine — 39% of everything reported for this model year.

F

15

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 6 40.0%
Gasoline 6 40.0%
Emission Control 2 13.3%
Catalytic Convertor 1 6.7%

Engine & Cooling across every Ford Probe year

1989 18 13.4%
1990 12 9.0%
1993 25 18.7%
1994 29 21.6%
1995 18 13.4%
1996 17 12.7%
1997 15 11.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Madeira, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM ,WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10027217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Independence, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED TWICE.THE SECOND FAILURE WAS 50000 MILES AFTER THE FIRST.

NHTSA complaint #786026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Freehold, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 THAT THE WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES HE HAS INCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #563101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Freehold, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 THAT THE WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CHARGES HE HAS INCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #563101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kissme, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL FROM ENGINE IS LEAKING ONTO SPARK PLUGS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #888254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indiana, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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, THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION POWER LOSS, VIBRATIONS, AND INTERMITTENT HESITATIONS HAVE INCREASED SINCE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. I AM INTERESTED TO SEE IF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HOW THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED. THE ISSUE WITH THE BAR IN THE SEAT DEVELOPED WITHIN SIX MONTHS, I HAVE SIMPLY DEALT WITH IT, UNTIL NOW AS I HAVE READ ON YOUR SITE THAT OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I REQUEST THAT I BE CONTACTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AT THIS TIME, BY THE NHTSA, AS I DO NOT WISH TO DEAL WITH FORD OR THE INDICATED DEALER(S) ANY LONGER. ALSO, THE PA. ATTY GENERAL'S OFFICE - CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WAS CONTACTED WITH NO ACTION OTHER THAN "DOCUMENTATION OF THE INCIDENT".AT. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #737115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Savage, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #782492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Pettersburg, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER A SLIGHT PUDDLE OF WATER LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATE, AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #869874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Madeira Beach, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSES A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #848372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Savage, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #782492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Wales, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BACK IN BEGINNING OF JANUARY I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD ON MY 1997 PROBE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THEIR RECALL NUMBER IS 98S30. THE LETTER SAID TO CALL FORD AND TELL THEM WHAT DEALERSHIP I WANTED TO TAKE MY CAR TO AND THEY WOULD SEND THE PART TO THAT DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE DEALERSHIP CONTACT ME. SO I CALLED THE NUMBER IN THE LETTER AND FORD GOT MY HOME AND WORK NUMBERS AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WANTED TO GO TO, AND SAID THAT I SHOULD HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN 5 DAYS, BUT THAT IF I DIDN'T I SHOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND SCHEDULE A TIME TO TAKE MY CAR IN. I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE MY CAR IN. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT BECAUSE THEY HADN'T RECEIVED THE KIT FROM FORD. SO I CALLED FORD BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART ORDERS HAD BEEN LOST AND THAT THEY WOULD RESUBMIT IT. SO I WAITED A WHILE AND STILL NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY STILL DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE CALLED FORD SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT IT AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING. I CALLED THEM MOST RECENTLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND TOLD THEM I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN IN 3 WEEKS, AND WANTED IT CHECKED BEFORE THEN. I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WOULD BE. THAT TIME HAS PASSED AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. WHEN A MANUFACTURER PUTS OUT A RECALL ON A CAR AREN'T THEY REQUIRED TO FIX IT? I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MINE. SO I HAVE TAKEN THIS ACTION TO TRY AND GET MY CAR CHECKED OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER.

NHTSA complaint #706334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Louis, MO Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 MILES AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. RECALL NHTSA 98V-206/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S30. DEALER INSPECTED TIMING BELT TENSIONER, AND STATED THAT IT WAS OK.

NHTSA complaint #835752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Forest, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (OFF) THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE TOOK PLACE APPROX 15 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROX 3 MINUTES. THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT A FIRE WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. IE; SMOKE OR TEMP INDICATOR READING HOT.

NHTSA complaint #704321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VAN Nuys, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #524347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VAN Nuys, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE "DIED" AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING.

NHTSA complaint #523729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 1997 Ford Probe report