1990 Ford Probe Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1990 Ford Probe, and owners have filed 323 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1990 Ford Probe
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Webbing (seat belts)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace driver side and inoperative passenger side shoulder belt track assemblies.
-
Webbing (seat belts)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace driver side and inoperative passenger side shoulder belt track assemblies.
-
Linkages (vehicle speed control)
Throttle levers may have been bent during assembly.
Remedy: Place affected vehicles on delivery hold until repaired.
323 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Ford Probe have filed 323 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 18 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 98,712 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 104 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl*the contact owns a 1990 ford probe. The driver and passenger side seat belts retractors would not work. The dealer has not repaired the seat belts. The current mileage was 182,000 and the failure m”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 14, 2007 · Seat belts
“Tl*the contact owns a 1990 ford probe. Approximately six years ago the front driver and passenger side seat belt failed to operate normally. The contact stated that he needed to use the seat belts bec”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 3, 2007 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Ford Probe. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–21 / 23–28 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.2/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Probe model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Probe model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 Ford Probe | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 Ford Probe | 0 | 77 |
| 1990 Ford Probe | 3 | 323 |
| 1991 Ford Probe | 3 | 177 |
| 1992 Ford Probe | 2 | 79 |
| 1993 Ford Probe | 1 | 205 |
| 1994 Ford Probe | 1 | 166 |
| 1995 Ford Probe | 0 | 86 |
| 1996 Ford Probe | 1 | 52 |
| 1997 Ford Probe | 1 | 27 |
| 1999 Ford Probe | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1990 Ford Probe
How do I know if my 1990 Ford Probe has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1990 Ford Probe; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 89V159000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.