Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Probe, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Air bags4
- Electrical system4
- Power train3
- Seats2
- Tires2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Seat belts1
- Visibility1
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Ford Probe failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 104,105 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
51 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 178 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
4 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.2–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–26 mpg US), CO₂ 212–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 7.8 | 9.2 |
| Probe · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.3 | 10.2 |
| Probe # · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 9.5 | 11.3 |
| Probe # · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.7 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 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… |
| 1998225 16 Nov 1998 | Engine On certain vehicles, an external spring in the timing belt auto tensioner may break. The broken spring may get caught in the timing belt, resulting in possible … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN EXTERNAL SPRING IN THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER CAN BREAK AND GET CAUGHT IN THE TIMING BELT.
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 1997 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 |
| 615292 | SOME VEHICLES WITH CD4E TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF NO CRANK / NO START IN PARK. VEHICLE WILL CRANK AND START IN NEUTRAL. *TT |
| 615213 | SOME VEHICLES WITH CD4E TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF NO CRANK / NO START IN PARK. VEHICLE WILL CRANK AND START IN NEUTRAL. *TT |
| 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 |
| 609549 | REVISED OIL PUMP INSTALLATION PROCEDURE. YD |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)