BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-1989-FORPRO-7084

1989 Ford ProbeProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 103 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
103
Crashes
8
Fires
6
Recalls
1
TSBs
23
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 103 complaints, 8 crashes, 6 fires, and 1 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.8x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

wipers dont return to lowered position when off

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

oil gauge is erratic

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

rough idle

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
4

runs roughly at idle

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

wont start

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Seat Belts:front:retractorHIGH

14 owners reported seat belts:front:retractor issues — failures commonly reported around 99K miles.

!Inspect the Power Train:automatic TransmissionMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Seat Belts:front:retractor (14 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Seat Belts:front:retractor14 (14%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission6 (6%)
Seat Belts6 (6%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline5 (5%)
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls5 (5%)
Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator4 (4%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:radiator Assembly4 (4%)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer4 (4%)

1989 Ford Probe: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Seat Belts:front:retractor Issues

Seat Belts:front:retractor complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford Probe, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 98,950 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 99K-mile mark.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford Probe, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Seat Belts Issues

Seat Belts complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford Probe, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1989 Ford Probe, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

13
00
2
01
4
02
1
03
2
04
7
14
2
15
1
19

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1989 Ford Probe. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (1 recall)

93E035000Sep 1993

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM

THE GROOVE FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RETAINER RING WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP07001ClosedOpened Jul 2007 · closed Dec 2007

SEATBACK RECLINE MECHANISM FAILURE

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

PE89166ClosedOpened Sep 1989 · closed Dec 1989

TRANSMISSION OIL LINE FIRE

POWER TRAIN

PE91124ClosedOpened Sep 1991 · closed Dec 1991

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PE96027ClosedOpened Apr 1996 · closed Sep 1996

MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE

SEAT BELTS

The worst model year for the Ford Probe is the 1994 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

1989 Ford Probe vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

103

Class avg

37

2.8x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical compact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 103 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Ford Probe Model Years

199719961995199419931992199119901989
View all Ford Probe years →

1989 Ford Probe: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1989 Ford Probe?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1989 Ford Probe is related to the seat belts:front:retractor, with 14 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1989 Ford Probe reliable?
The 1989 Ford Probe has 103 complaints, 8 crash reports, and 6 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.8x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 1989 Ford Probe problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1989 Ford Probe have any recalls?
Yes, the 1989 Ford Probe has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Probe problems start?
Based on 10 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 98,950 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1989 Ford Probe data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 1989 Ford Probe Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 103 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees