1995 Ford Probe from UK and Ireland - Comments

Car garaged at night and ALL winter.

Useless in the snow....

Distributer packed in at 23,000mls.

602 uk pounds for replacement.

Another 2 Ford Probe owners (locally) had same problem.

Rear muffler and centre pipe 23,000mls. Ford price 250+ uk pounds.

159 at local exhaust centre....

Drivers seat, bolster support plate cut through material.....300+ uk pounds for replacement......50% discount from Ford UK due to car being older than 3 years.....

Writing to Ford UK and car mags to see if I can retrieve distributer costs.

Rear calipers stick fast when the handbrake is used. Freed out for MOT last June (2000), but stuck again one week after MOT. Have not used the handbrake since (now apr 2001). Ford advise each caliper costs approx 250 pounds stg (total 500) plus labour. Non Ford parts can be fitted for approx 300 pounds per pair.

Distributer failed at 37000 miles, cost around 600 pounds stg to repair.

I would be interested if the other Probe owner has any luck retrieving this expense from Ford.

Back box replaced at a cost of approx 150 pounds stg.

I don't have a problem replacing the back box, it is an expected running cost. however the calipers and distributer problems are very expensive Ford design issues and I feel totally aggrieved that I as a owner have to pay for them.

Apart from that, I really enjoy driving the Probe, it performs well, is relatively good on juice, looks good and is fun to drive.

Bought Apr 1999 with 19000 miles, now Apr 2001 with 40000 miles. It can be seen the maintenance costs are very high compared to the miles driven.

Bought my Probe 16V in 97, 42000 miles now.

Replaced the distributor, got a new genuine one for £250 from an Internet contact (Ford dealer wanted £500).

Hand brake kept sticking - had one new caliper on the rear for £88 from an independent (Ford dealer wanted £130).

Have current faults to sort - noisy tappets - reduced the noise greatly by using 10/40 SJ quality oil and a hydraulics additive for the tappets. Also battery is being drained by an electrical fault - it seems via the door locks circuit via no.2 fuse.

So, a good looking car that still turns heads and hasn't dated as much as the Calibra, but is marred by typical Ford quality and extortionate parts etc.

I wouldn't mind getting money back from Ford because the main faults are design faults which come under the law regarding products sold 'that are not fit for the purpose for which they were designed' - how appropriate.

Nigel email: mail@nhillyard.freeserve.co.uk

I to have had problems with the Distributer and it high cost of replacement £600-00. I now have an eletrical fault as yet undiagnosed, it just cuts out every now and then! The back box is steel whereas the pipes are stainless so they are wasted as you have to replace the lot when the box goes after 66,000 miles. Enjoy driving it tho' and it still looks good apart from the poor paint work.

If any one has any kind of problem with their probe you should visit the ford probe owners club www.fpoc.co.uk they will tell you how to fix ANY of your niggling problems and where to find cheap replacement parts.