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1992 Ford Probe problems

The most common problem on the 1992 Ford Probe is seat belts, typically around 106,000 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical Probe model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
79
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
36
Worst area
Seat belts
Fuel economy
18-24mpg

The worst 1992 Ford Probe problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Seat belts
    55
  • Transmission
    6
  • Electrical
    5
  • Engine
    4
  • Brakes
    2
  • Steering
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Tires
    2
  • Visibility
    2
  • Acceleration
    1
  • Body
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Lights
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 1992 Ford Probe

Seat belt 15

Recalls 2

Seat belts: front: webbingReported September 6, 1996 · 224,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 96V172001 · Recall details

Seat belts: front: webbingReported September 6, 1996 · 224,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 96V172002 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 1992 Ford Probe

Defect investigations

Seatback recline mechanism failureOpened July 30, 2007, closed December 5, 2007

On june 29, 2007, the federal safety agency received a petition from mr. Richard h. Mcswain of mcswain engineering inc., requesting that the agency investigate seatback recliner failure in the subject vehicles. The petitioner identified a failure mode involving bypass of the seatback stop pin which could result in a false or partial engagement of the sector and pawl teeth, allowing the seatback to recline in a vehicular collision.odi believes that the alleged failure mode may be the result of progressive wear and tear of the seatback stop pin, the seatback stop, and other seat components in vehicles that are, on average, 17 years old.available data do not suggest that this has occurred with a notable frequency. Odi reviewed its consumer complaint data received over the last nineteen years and found no complaints of seatback collapse (with or without a vehicle collision) in the subject vehicles.considering the advanced age of the subject vehicles, it is unlikely that the federal safety agency would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect as defined by the petitioner at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.the statutory requirement that the manufacturer provide a free remedy does not apply if the vehicle was bought by the first purchaser more than 10 calendar years before an order is issued. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.

DP07001

Automatic shoulder beltOpened July 31, 1998, closed February 16, 1999

There is no summary currently available

RQ98011

Technical service bulletins for the 1992 Ford Probe 36

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 36 bulletins for the 1992 Ford Probe

1992 Ford Probe fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.2L 4‑cylFWD17-2123-2819-24
3.0L 6‑cylFWD16-1722-2418-19

What 1992 Ford Probe owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 13, 2010 · Seat belts · 108,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 1992 ford probe. While the vehicle was parked she attempted to use the driver's seat belt and the seat belt would not move out of the retractor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer advised her that they no longer have any books on how to repair the seat belt. She reference recall the federal safety agency campaign id number: 96v172001, seat belts:front:webbing and stated the recall work was performed. She called the manufacturer and they have sent her several letters. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000 and the current mileage was 110,000. Updated 11/08/10 * bf the consumer stated she has been without the shoulder belt for about 1 year. Updated 11/10/10

Filed May 4, 2010 · Seat belts · 106,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 1992 ford probe. The contact stated that when she attempted to buckle the seat belt, it would not retract to secure the driver. The contact disengaged the belt. The contact called the authorized dealer and was informed that the vehicle was too old for them to look up the remedy in the diagnostic manual. There was a recall related to the failure (96v172001 seat belts:front:webbing). The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. The current mileage was approximately 110,000. Updated 07/06/10. *lj the consumer stated the seat belt stopped working. Updated 09/21/10

Filed Mar 29, 2010 · Seat belts · 106,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 1992 ford probe. The contact stated that the repair for recall 96v172001 (seat belts:front:webbing) was performed in 2007 but the failure recurred the complaint does not explain what was repaired. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the repair could not be performed again free of charge due to the age of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. The current mileage was approximately 108,000. Updated 7/06/10. *lj updated 07/09/10.

Filed May 1, 2008 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · PA

Six months after purchasing a 92 probe v6 with 59,000 miles on it I had transmission trouble. The transmission began slipping one week when I was traveling to school and when I came home that weekend it wouldn't shift into any gear. After letting it sit I was able to bring it home, although it shifted rough from neutral to 1st and to second, then wouldn't shift into third at all. I had to use manual shift mode to keep it from shifting into third. While changing transmission fluid it we noticed a burnt oil smell to it. Changing the fluid had little effect. The worst thing is that I was also looking at a 91 grand am 4 cyl for $200 less.

Filed Sep 8, 2006 · Seat belts · 111,528 miles · OH

Drivers side (left) passive seat belt assembly. The rail of the automatic shoulder belt has worn sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly has become jammed in the rail rendering the shoulder belt inoperative. According the letter written by mr. Jonathan d. White recall analysis division office of defect investigation safety assurance. "ford is responsible for the remedy of these vehicles from the date of aug 22, 1996 forward,regardless of vehicle age mileage or ownership." not giving an ending date. There recall involves 224,000 ford motor company vehicles 1990 through 1992 ford probe model equipped with front seat motorized (passive) shoulder belts as standard equipment and manufactured from aug 14, 1989 through feb 7, 1992. My vehicle was made nov 1, 1991 within the limits of the recall. Recall no.96s48. I purchased the vehicle used. I called ford motor company at 800‑392‑3673. I was told that there were no recalls on my vehicle and the recalls are different in different states.

Filed Apr 1, 2004 · Seat belts · 75,000 miles · NJ

Automatic driver's seat belt is inoperative. The shoulder strap is jammed in the rail behind the shoulder of the driver. Recall 96v172001 was issued on make,/model and year, but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.*ak

Filed Apr 24, 2003 · Tires · TN

The consumer heard a noise from the vehicle, and he soon discovered the right rear tire had experienced tread separation.

Filed Mar 3, 2003 · Seat belts · OH

Seat belt broke. In 1996 there was a recall on the drivers side seat belt track, at that time the consumer seat belt was already broke, but was not included in the recall. The consumer wrote a letter to ford about the seat belt and eventually it was fixed under the recall. The passenger side seat belt was checked and the mechanic stated it was fine. In 2000 the drivers side seat belt broke again, but this time the consumer had to pay for the repairs. Now the passenger seat belt is broke, the consumer called ford to inquire about a recall for the passenger seat belt but was told there was no recall.

Filed Feb 10, 2003 · Seat belts · MS

The seat belt was extremely tight.

Filed Jun 4, 2002 · Seat belts · MO

Both drivers side and passenger side shoulder belts lock up continuously. There was a recall on february 2, 1997 on both of them. The previous owner has had them replaced. Both sides still lock up all the time preventing movement of any kind.

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Questions about the 1992 Ford Probe

Is the 1992 Ford Probe reliable?

Owners have filed 79 complaints about the 1992 Ford Probe, close to a typical Probe model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1992 Ford Probe?

Seat belts, with 55 complaints, typically around 106,000 miles. Next is transmission (6).

How many recalls does the 1992 Ford Probe have?

2 recalls, covering seat belts.

What gas mileage does the 1992 Ford Probe get?

Official estimates for the 1992 Ford Probe range from 18 to 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 17-21 city and 23-28 highway.

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