1996 Ford Probe Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Probe years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Probe. That ranks 2nd out of 4 Probe model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (17 complaints, 33%), typically at around 89,584 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 52owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Ford Probe problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 17 | 33% | 89,584 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 25% | 89,584 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 8% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% | 124,016 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 4% | 89,584 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Ford Probe recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: The supplementary air bag inflatable restraint caution label located on the driver side sun visor does not contain the statement, "do not install rearward facing child seats in any front passenger seat position." this does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: operators could fail to notice and heed the warning label.
Fix: A new caution label, with installation instructions, will be sent directly to owners. Owners can install the label or, if they wish, can have their dealer install the label for them.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Replaced right lower control arm assembly with a new part from o'reilly autoparts store on 8/31/10 and on 11/05/10 the ball joint came completely out of the new control arm making an extremely unsafe driving condition. Defective new part, replaced it again on 11/09/10 with another new replacement…
Lt front spring broke & punctured the inside sidewall of the tire making it go flat. *tr
Automatic transmission failure. Second time. This needs to be addressed very expensive to repair. *tr
1996 ford probe se auto transmission failure,same as mazda 626 all of these cars have the same problem that cost thousands to fix,check the internet,why hasn't there been a recall?
I was driving down the road and as soon as i got up to speed past 30 miles per hour it kicked into to gear really hard and i could feel the transmission barely slipping into gear..and had to have the water pump flushed it was over heating thought it was the thermostat but it was checked and fine so…
Other Ford Probe years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Probe | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 Probe | 27 | 1 |
| 1996 | 52 | 1 |
| 1995 Probe | 86 | 0 |
See all Ford Probe problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford Probe?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 17 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Probe?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Ford Probe a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Probe model years, the 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.