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1992 Ford Probe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Probe.

Body PASSENGER CAR

As a passenger car requiring 4.0 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil, the 1992 Ford Probe presents straightforward mechanical maintenance needs alongside a transitional reliability record. This specific model year accumulated 98 total owner complaints—focusing predominantly on the seat belts—and was subject to three separate recalls. When contextualized within the model's 1990-1999 production run, where complaints plummeted from a peak of 355 in 1990 to a low of just one in 1999, the 1992 Probe represents a stepping stone in the vehicle's maturation, indicating that while the most severe early-generation flaws were subsiding, notable safety concerns still required attention.

Model year1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat

RT1054

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	177.2 in
Overall width	67.7 in
Overall height	52 in
Wheelbase	99.2 in
Curb weight	2738 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Probe of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 1992 GT Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1992	GT Coupe 2.2L Turbo I-4	7.20 sec	15.60 sec	145 hp	FWD
1993	GT Coupe 2.5L V6	7.00 sec	15.50 sec	164 hp	FWD
1993	GT Coupe 2.5L V6	7.10 sec	15.60 sec	164 hp	FWD
1994	GT Coupe 2.5L V6	7.50 sec	15.80 sec	164 hp	FWD
1989	GT Coupe 2.2L Turbo I-4	6.70 sec	15.20 sec	145 hp	FWD
1989	GT Coupe 2.2L Turbo I-4	7.00 sec	15.30 sec	145 hp	FWD
1989	GT Coupe 2.2L Turbo I-4	7.30 sec	15.60 sec	145 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 mi	Body Fasteners (torque) · Frame Fasteners (torque)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Ford Probe recorded only 98 complaints, a sharp drop from 190 in 1991 and well below the 1993 spike of 228, making it the lowest-complaint year of the early generation. Recalls also fell to three (from four in both 1990 and 1991), and investigations dropped to two from six the prior year, suggesting fewer systemic issues were being probed by regulators. However, the 48 TSBs are notably higher than the 34–36 range of 1990–1991, indicating that dealers were still seeing enough problems to issue service bulletins, even if owners weren't filing complaints. The dominant complaint area was seat belts (57 of 98 total), which, combined with only five crash and one fire report, points to a specific, non-safety-critical annoyance rather than a widespread mechanical failure. Given the low overall complaint count and reduced recall activity, the 1992 Probe is a relatively good year to buy, but you should verify the seat belt system works properly before purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91’92’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’99

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 98 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts57

Power Train7

Electrical System7

Equipment4

Engine & Engine Cooling4

Tires3

Exterior Lighting3

Suspension2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

96V172002Seat Belts:Front:WebbingReported 06/09/1996

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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.

96V172001Seat Belts:Front:WebbingReported 06/09/1996

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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DRIVER SIDE AND INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT TRACK ASSEMBLIES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 48 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
16714	2003-03-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	FOR ALL OBDI VEHICLES THAT USE THE .5V DPFE SENSOR, A 1.0V SENSOR IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY…
011801	2001-09-01	Power Train	SUBJECT REGARDING INADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *JG
01157	2001-08-06	Unknown Or Other	INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
0015	2000-01-10	Power Train	INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
13714	2000-01-01	Seat Belts	INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL 96S48 & 96S99 (MOTORIZED SEAT BELT RAIL AND MOTOR…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Probe. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Thermostat RT1054

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Probe take?

4.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Probe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.