1989 Ford Probe reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1989 Ford Probe — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 103
- on record
- Top problem area
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
- 14 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 8 reported crashes · 2 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#4,084
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
-234
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 1987-1991
-47
median 150 complaints in 126 records
Top component share
19%
Seat Belts: 20 complaints
What owners report fails — 1989 Ford Probe
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR 14
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 6
- SEAT BELTS 6
- VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS 5
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 5
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1989 Ford Probe
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1989 Ford Probe units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1989 Ford Probe reliable?
NHTSA has 103 consumer complaints on record for the 1989 Ford Probe. The most-reported problem area is seat belts:front:retractor (14 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1989 Ford Probe units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Ford Probe?
Owners most often report problems with: seat belts:front:retractor (14), power train:automatic transmission (6), seat belts (6), visibility:power window devices and controls (5). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1989 Ford Probe?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.