The 1994 Ford Probe, a Mazda MX-6 twin built on the GD platform, suffers primarily from transmission cooling failures, V6 head gasket issues, and front suspension wear. The 2.5L V6 models are notably more problematic than the four-cylinder variants.
Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (CD4E transmission)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink or milky transmission fluid indicating coolant contamination, Transmission slipping or harsh shifting, Overheating transmission, burnt smell, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks
Fix: The internal radiator transmission cooler fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires radiator replacement, transmission flush (sometimes multiple flushes), and often full transmission rebuild if contamination went undetected. 8-12 hours labor for flush and radiator; 15-20 hours if transmission rebuild needed.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler/flush) or $2,500-3,500 (with rebuild)
V6 Head Gasket Failure (2.5L Mazda KL engine)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Coolant consumption without visible leaks, Rough idle, misfires on cylinders 1-3 most common, Oil in coolant or coolant in oil, Overheating under load
Fix: The 2.5L V6 has a known weakness where head gaskets blow between cylinders and coolant passages. Requires both heads removed, resurfaced, new gaskets, timing belt kit replacement while you're in there. 12-16 hours labor. Often find warped heads requiring machine work.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings and Ball Joints
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Wandering steering, poor highway tracking, Inner tire wear on front tires, Steering wheel vibration during braking
Fix: The front lower control arm bushings deteriorate and ball joints wear. Control arms are available as complete assemblies (easier) or you can press bushings and replace ball joints separately. Plan on alignment afterward. 4-6 hours labor for both sides with assemblies.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Harmonic Balancer Separation
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe vibration at idle that worsens with RPM, Visible wobble of crankshaft pulley, Serpentine belt walking off pulleys or shredding, Check engine light with crank position sensor codes
Fix: The rubber ring between the balancer hub and outer ring deteriorates, causing the outer ring to separate or slip. Can damage crank nose if pulley wobbles severely. Replacement requires special puller and installer. 2-3 hours labor, more if crank damage occurred.
Estimated cost: $350-600 (balancer only), $2,000+ if crank needs repair
Manual Transmission Clutch Hydraulics (2.0L models)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clutch pedal going to floor with no resistance, Difficulty shifting, grinding into gears, Clutch engagement point changes or disappears, Fluid leak visible at master or slave cylinder
Fix: The clutch master or slave cylinder fails, losing hydraulic pressure. Slave cylinder is internal on some variants, requiring transmission removal. External slaves are 2-3 hours; internal slaves require 6-8 hours due to transmission drop. Often replace both cylinders preventatively.
Estimated cost: $400-700 (external) or $800-1,200 (internal slave)
Fuel Pump and Sending Unit Failure
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: No start or extended cranking when hot, Intermittent stalling at operating temperature, Fuel gauge reading erratically or stuck, Loss of power under acceleration, especially uphill
Fix: In-tank fuel pump fails, often from running on low fuel repeatedly. Sending unit floats crack or resistors fail causing gauge issues. Requires fuel tank drop, pump module replacement. 3-4 hours labor. Consider replacing fuel filter simultaneously as preventative measure.
Estimated cost: $500-800
Buy a low-mileage four-cylinder with service records, skip high-mileage V6 models unless the head gaskets and transmission have already been addressed with receipts.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.