Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1990. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Probe | 27 | 1 |
| 1996 Probe | 52 | 1 |
| 1995 Probe | 86 | 0 |
| 1994 Probe | 166 | 1 |
| 1993 Probe | 205 | 1 |
| 1992 Probe | 79 | 2 |
| 1991 Probe | 177 | 3 |
| 1990 ProbeMost complaints | 323 | 3 |
| 1989 Probe | 77 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Seat belts534
- Engine and engine cooling122
- Electrical system109
- Power train107
- Service brakes, hydraulic106
- Air bags50
- Visibility48
- Steering46
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 3 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.2–9.3 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 7.8 | 9.2 |
| 1996 | Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.8 | 9.2 |
| 1995 | Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.8 | 9.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
69 Probe cars are on the New Zealand register; 33% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 13 | 4 | 9 |
| 1995 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| 1994 | 42 | 29 | 8 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
212 Probe cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 | 11 |
| 1997 | 51 | 178 |
| 1996 | 56 | 180 |
| 1995 | 77 | 290 |
| 1994 | 27 | 222 |
| 1993 | 0 | 3 |
| 1991 | 0 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
104 Probe cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 63% passed first time, against 67% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 104 | 63% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Probe | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 18.3% | 11.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 15.4% | 7.0% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.5% | 16.0% |
| Suspension | 8.7% | 10.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 6.7% | 9.7% |
| Visibility | 3.8% | 6.6% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.8% | 2.6% |
| Tyres | 2.9% | 3.1% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
Recalls
8 campaigns cover the Probe.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.
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.
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.
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."
IF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THAT SEATING POSITION, THE AIR BAG CAN DETACH FROM, AND DEFORM, THE MOUNTING BRACKET.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER PIVOT PIN THAT JOINS THE LIFTGATE GAS STRUT TO THE BODY CAN SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER STRUT MOUNTING BRACKET DUE TO AN UNDERSIZED RIVET HEAD.
BRACKETS MOUNTING AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AN UNDERSTRENGTH SPOT WELD.
THROTTLE LEVERS MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA recalls