Rear calipers seized (common fault, due to the handbrake pivot sticking. A well documented problem at FPOCUK*).
Distributor and immobilisor failure. (One burns the other out - common fault, but well documented at FPOCUK*).
Bearings in the top of the front shock absorbers are starting to knock when turning the steering at low speeds. Again, well documented at FPOCUK*).
* FPOCUK is the Ford Probe Owners Club UK and can be found at www.fordprobe.co.uk
This car is good value, looks great, and handles well. Overall, I am very pleased with it.
There are common faults with most cars. However, the Probe is quite rare and this means that very few people know what to do when it goes wrong.
One important point to make though:
This car is almost totally a Mazda MX6 / 626. The bodywork is Ford, but all the oily bits are Mazda. This means that a Mazda dealer will have much more experience with the mechanics than the Ford dealer. Ford havn't a clue when it comes to anything about this car.
I have found the Ford Probe Owners Club UK to save me hundreds, if not thousands of pounds in repair bills just by being aware of what goes wrong, why and also the best places to get spares for this rare car. They have a very busy on-line forum and it is the friendliest forum I've ever come across. Those guys will give an answer to every question you can throw at them!
Hello all. I'm a 21-year old graduate, and am thinking about a Probe for my first little dream machine. I've heard good things about FPOC-UK and am going to join, just to get the lowdown before committing to an (admittedly problematic) car. See ya all at life's great finishing line.
Good review if only all reviews were this well written useful cheers.