1996 Ford Probe Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Ford Probe, and owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 Ford Probe
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags
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."
Remedy: A new caution label, with installation instructions, will be sent directly to owners. Owners can install the label or, if they wish, can have their dealer install the label for them.
52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Ford Probe have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 107,039 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 8 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Replaced right lower control arm assembly with a new part from o'reilly autoparts store on 8/31/10 and on 11/05/10 the ball joint came completely out of the new control arm making an extremely unsafe”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 19, 2011 · Suspension
“Lt front spring broke & punctured the inside sidewall of the tire making it go flat. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 16, 2008 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Ford Probe. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–23 / 24–30 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/2.5 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 1996 Ford Probe
How do I know if my 1996 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Ford Probe; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 96V090000).
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.