Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Probe, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train17
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Steering4
- Electrical system4
- Seat belts4
- Suspension3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Air bags2
- Visibility2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the United Kingdom
56 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 180 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
13 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 69% arrived as used imports, 31% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.2–11.7 L/100 km (about 20–26 mpg US), CO₂ 212–269 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.8 | 9.2 |
| Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.3 | 10.2 |
| Probe · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 9.6 | 11.3 |
| Probe · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1996 Ford Probe.
| 1999134 26 Jul 1999 | Emissions Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 1105 - Evaporative Emissions. Fuel vapour may leak from between the fuel cap and the fuel filler… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1996 Ford Probe: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 630631 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT HARSH AND DELAYED 1-2/2-3 UPSHIFTS AFTER TRANSAXLE OR TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT, POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 628, 642, 645, 646, 647, 648, P0731, P0732, P0734, P0741 AND P01744. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 620232 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CD4E AUTO TRANSAXLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR GEAR RATIO OR HARSH AND DELAYED 1-2 / 2-3 UPSHIFTS AFTER TRANSAXLE OR TURBINE SPEED SENSOR (TSS) REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 618586 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT NO FORWARD GEAR RANGES DUE TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE FORWARD / COAST CLUTCH CYLINDER SNAP RING WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGS OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. *JB |
| 613038 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1407 IS STORED IN CONTINUOUS MEMORY. *TT |
| 613029 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE FALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) MAY ILLUMINATE IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1407 IS STORED IN CONTINUOUS MEMORY. |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 610700 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE LEFT STEERING RACK BUSHING. *TT |
| 6090198 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES AN ISSUE WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID SEEPING FROM THE VENT, RESULTING IN FLUID COLLECTING ON THE MAIN CONTROL ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6090082 | INFORMATION FOR SERVICING AND DIAGNOSING BRAKE VIBRATION, BRAKE INSPECTION, AND BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 6090051 | SERVICE TIP INFORMATION ON REVISED OIL PAN GASKET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 607416 | SOME VEHICLES WITH A P0421 CODE STORED IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CALIBRATION WHEN REPROGRAMMING. *AK |
| 606508 | CONDITIONS WITH THE BRAKE LAMPS INADVERTENTLY DISABLING THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *TT |
| 606461 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A PRIVATE LABELED MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR IRON PARTICLE / ACID RAIN SERVICE REPAIRS. *TT |
| 606460 | EXPERIENCING A WHINE / BUZZ TYPE NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO ON VEHICLES WITH AN IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606451 | INFORMATION ON "WHINING" / "BUZZING" NOISE COMING THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT OR TWO-WAY RADIO SPEAKER CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606433 | INFORMATION DESIGNED TO AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS, TESTING AND REPAIR OF NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH) CONCERNS. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 606419 | SUBJECT REGARDING DOOR TRIM PANEL REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)