Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Ford Probe, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 286 | 81% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 2% |
| Visibility | 7 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 1% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 1% |
| Steering | 4 | 1% |
| Power train | 3 | 1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 MILEAGE WAS UNAVAI
NHTSA complaint: 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 BECAUSE THERE WERE N
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRACK. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
RETRACTABLE SEAT BELTS JAM AND GET STUCK IN TRACK, MAKING UNSAFE CONDITION. HAVE HIT HEAD ON SEAT BELT LATCH CAUSING PAIN AND HAVE ALSO BEEN STUCK IN SEAT WITH SEAT BELT NOT RELEASING. ALSO WEARING OUT CAR BATTERY & SHOR
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RESTRAINT (SHOLDER HARNESS) DOESN'T FUNCTION. 1990 FORD PROBE LX. WAS ISSUE OF A RECALL IN 1996. SUBJECT RESTRAINT HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR. FIRST REPAIR WAS UNDER VEHICLE WARRANTY
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #96V172001) IS NOT BEING HONORED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF THE CAR IS THE SAME, THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE MANUFACTURER DATABASE ASSOCIATI
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT SECURE THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 1996. SHOULDER BELT WAS REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR SHOULDER BELT U
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
RECALL 96V172001, WHILE PARKING OR DRIVING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE LOCKING POSITION. *AK THE PART HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER RESTRAINT WOULD BE COMPROMI
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 Ford Probe. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.
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.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.
THE GROOVE FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RETAINER RING WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED.
Risk: IF THE RETAINING RING DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THEGROOVE, THE AXLE LUG NUTS WILL BREAK, CAUSING THE BRAKE DRUM, WHEEL, AND TIREASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: MIDAS SHOPS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS WITH OTHER BRAKE DRUMS FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER.
THROTTLE LEVERS MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING ASSEMBLY.
Risk: THROTTLE MAY STICK AND NOT RETURN FULLY TO IDLEPOSITION.
Fix: PLACE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON DELIVERY HOLD UNTIL REPAIRED.
| Reliability raw | 77 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 286 of them (81%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.