1989 Ford Exp problems

Common 1989 Ford Exp problems

The Ford EXP, produced from 1982 to 1988, was a two-seater car marketed as a personal luxury coupe. These factors contributed to the EXP being doomed from the start, and even a 1985 redesign could not save it.

The Ford Probe, which succeeded the EXP, also had its share of problems. Introduced in 1989, the Probe was a global sports coupe that was intended to replace the EXP in the United States and succeed the Capri in Europe.

The Probe was a well-priced car that delivered what it promised - an affordable entry into the world of sports cars.

In summary, the Ford EXP and Probe had several issues that led to their downfall. The EXP was overweight, underpowered, and had a strange appearance that did not appeal to customers. The Probe, on the other hand, had a marketing strategy that did not meet the expectations of American and European consumers. Despite being well-priced and delivering what it promised, the Probe was launched in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong ambitions for the wrong customers.

What engine was in the Ford EXP?

1.6 L CVH I4

First generation (1982–1985)

First generation
Model years	1982–1985 (EXP) 1982–1983 (LN7)
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L CVH I4
Transmission	4-speed MTX-I manual 5-speed MTX-III manual 3-speed FLC automatic

How much horsepower does the Ford EXP have?

Ford couldn't save it from failure

However, Ford did not give up on the EXP after its initial failure. A turbo model was introduced in 1984 with a fuel-injected 1.6-liter engine producing 120 horsepower. This gave it a 0-60mph time of around nine seconds.

How much horsepower does a 1988 Ford EXP have?

The powertrain was the 1.9 liter inline 4 with a two-barrel carburetor making 90 horsepower for 1987. And 88 the 1.9 liter engine was equipped with a throttle body fuel injection while still making 90

What does Ford EXP stand for?

However, according to an article published in Popular Mechanics (March 1981), the letters EXP were supposed to stand for Erika Project Personal car, where project cars are designated X. The "Erika" came from the code-name from the European Escort.

What engine was in the Ford EXP?

1.6 L CVH I4

First generation (1982–1985)

First generation
Model years	1982–1985 (EXP) 1982–1983 (LN7)
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L CVH I4
Transmission	4-speed MTX-I manual 5-speed MTX-III manual 3-speed FLC automatic

What happened to the Ford EXP?

However, it wasn't enough, as Ford discontinued the EXP in 1988. The vehicle did have a second lease on life on the drag strip. Bob Glidden famously souped-up an EXP for drag racing. The vehicle was popular on the strip due to its aerodynamic design and compact size.

How much horsepower does a 1988 Ford EXP have?

The powertrain was the 1.9 liter inline 4 with a two-barrel carburetor making 90 horsepower for 1987. And 88 the 1.9 liter engine was equipped with a throttle body fuel injection while still making 90

What does Ford EXP stand for?

However, according to an article published in Popular Mechanics (March 1981), the letters EXP were supposed to stand for Erika Project Personal car, where project cars are designated X. The "Erika" came from the code-name from the European Escort.

1989 Ford Exp car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Exp problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

• Engine and engine cooling problems
• Vehicle speed control problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1989 Ford Exp vehicle components and the number of complaints received.