Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1990 Ford Probe. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FORD/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.
FORD/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.
FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES:ACCELERATOR:RIGID
- Summary
- THROTTLE LEVERS MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING ASSEMBLY.
- Consequence
- THROTTLE MAY STICK AND NOT RETURN FULLY TO IDLEPOSITION.
- Remedy
- PLACE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON DELIVERY HOLD UNTIL REPAIRED.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (323)
323 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seat belts is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 323 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 282 | 87.3% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 3.4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 3.1% |
| Visibility | 10 | 3.1% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 2.8% |
| Power train | 5 | 1.5% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 1.2% |
| Structure | 4 | 1.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 1.2% |
How 1990 compares with other Probe years
Best and worst Probe years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 77 | 0 |
| 1990 | 323 | 3 |
| 1991 | 177 | 3 |
| 1992 | 79 | 2 |
| 1993 | 205 | 1 |
| 1994 | 166 | 1 |
| 1995 | 86 | 0 |
| 1996 | 52 | 1 |
| 1997 | 27 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 Probe for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1990 Ford Probe FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 Ford Probe have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 96V172001 (seat belt), 96V172002 (seat belt), 89V159000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 Ford Probe problems?
Owners filed 323 complaints with NHTSA. Seat belts (282), Electrical system (11), Engine and engine cooling (10) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 Ford Probe get?
EPA rates the 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 28 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1990 Probe compare with other years?
Among the 1984–1997 Ford Probe model years at least five years old, the 1984 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1990 the most (323). The 1990 drew 323. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.