2013 Ford C-MAX ENERGI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford C-MAX ENERGI has 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max premium. the contact stated that after repairs for nhtsa campaign number 14v237000 (air bags) were performed. the contact stated that the electrical system was damaged causing the phone system to only allow incoming calls. the vehicle was not repaired. the app. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 3 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

19 complaints

29%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX PREMIUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V237000 (AIR BAGS) WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE PHONE SYSTEM TO ONLY ALLOW INCOMING CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APP
• MY CAR FAILED TO START FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AFTER NON-OPERATION OVERNIGHT AND WHEN I TOOK THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY NEED TO PERFORM A TSB 15-0089, SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, FORD SAID I NEED TO PAY $1500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE. BASED ON RESEARCH THIS ISSUES SEEMS TO AFFECT
• TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, SOMEWHAT NORMALLY ON LONG CAR RIDES(NORMALLY ON THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR HAS A ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE CAR TO USE UP ALL THE EV MILES IT HAS STORED. MEAN WHILE THE CAR STARTS TO SMELL LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL, NO SMOKE IS SEEN BUT SMELL IS THERE. WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AFTE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX PREMIUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V237000 (AIR BAGS) WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE PHONE SYSTEM TO ONLY ALLOW INCOMING CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT
• BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND POWER STEERING FAILED. WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I STOPPED DRIVING IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICE. THEY SUGGESTED RESTARTING THE CAR TO SEE IF STEERING RESUMED AND IT DID. THEY OFFERED A FREE TOW WHICH I DECLINED WHEN I SAW I HAD NON POWER STEERING IF
• FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS THE STEERING SOUNDED LIKE IT NEEDED LUBRICATION, BUT I COULDN'T FIND ANY LUBRICATION POINTS EVERYTHING IS SEALED, THEN THE OTHER DAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE STEERING WENT OUT AND A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED SERVICE POWER STEERING ASSIST NOW AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

8 complaints

12%

• DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND LOST POWER ON A BUSY ROAD WITH SEMI COMING UP BEHIND ME. DISPLAY STATED "STOP SAFELY NOW".
• WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AT 70MPH THE CAR TURNED OFF ITS PROPULSION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. A RED WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON STAYING STOP SAFELY NOW. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY SHE DROVE IT TO THE SU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STOP VEHICLE NOW INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND SLOWED TO A STOP WITHIN 200 YARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND LOST POWER ON A BUSY ROAD WITH SEMI COMING UP BEHIND ME. DISPLAY STATED "STOP SAFELY NOW".”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

6 complaints

• UPON BRAKING, THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALMOST REAR ENDING OTHER CARS, HAPPENS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, ROAD SURFACES, INTERMITTENT BUT HAPPENS PROBABLY AT LEAST 3 TIMES PER WEEK. ALSO, WHEN STOPPED AND ACCELERATING, THE CAR HAS A HESITATION ISSUE LIKE NO FUEL GETS TO IT FOR
• CAR WAS PLUGGED IN TO CHARGE OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION POINTS TOWARDS THE CHARGING CAR AS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVENIENCE CHARGE CORD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“UPON BRAKING, THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALMOST REAR ENDING OTHER CARS, HAPPENS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, ROAD SURFACES, INTERMITTENT BUT HAPPENS PROBABLY AT LEAST 3 TIMES PER WEEK. ALSO, WHEN STOPPED AND ACCELERATING, THE CAR HAS A HESITATION ISSUE LIKE NO FUEL GETS TO IT FOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

• PURCHASED CAR BROUGHT HOME OPEN REAR HATCH VIA ELC OPENER WHILE OPEN TO FULL HEIGHT AND I WAS IN OPENING IT CAME BACK DOWN OVER 12INCHES CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON IT. AS I HAD THE EXACT SAME CAR AND THIS WAS A REPLACEMENT THIS WAS NOT EXPECTED AS MY LAST DID NOT DO THIS (SAME YEAR CMAX COLOR
• HI ON THE 11/19/2014 AROUND 2:30 MY WIFE AND HER MANAGER AT WORK WE WAS GOING TO MEET UP WITH CLIENT . THE OFFENDED VEHICLE BREAK THE STOP SIGN AND HIT MY VEHICLE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND MY CAR SPIN AND FACE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR THE TRAFFIC .COMPLETELY DISABLED MY VEHICLE I CALLED THE POLIC
• FORD HAS YET TO PROVIDE DEALERS WITH PARTS TO REPAIR RECALLED DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCHES IN THIS VEHICLE. THE RECALL NOTICE SAYS FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE AT LEAST FEBRUARY 2015 - NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO - AND ISSUED THE FORMAL RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2016. ARE THEY MAKING ANY EFFORT TO RESO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“PURCHASED CAR BROUGHT HOME OPEN REAR HATCH VIA ELC OPENER WHILE OPEN TO FULL HEIGHT AND I WAS IN OPENING IT CAME BACK DOWN OVER 12INCHES CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON IT. AS I HAD THE EXACT SAME CAR AND THIS WAS A REPLACEMENT THIS WAS NOT EXPECTED AS MY LAST DID NOT DO THIS (SAME YEAR CMAX COLOR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 65 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX PREMIUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V237000 (AIR BAGS) WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE PHONE SYSTEM TO ONLY ALLOW INCOMING CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND LOST POWER ON A BUSY ROAD WITH SEMI COMING UP BEHIND ME. DISPLAY STATED "STOP SAFELY NOW".
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: UPON BRAKING, THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALMOST REAR ENDING OTHER CARS, HAPPENS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, ROAD SURFACES, INTERMITTENT BUT HAPPENS PROBABLY AT LEAST 3 TIMES PER WEEK. ALSO, WHEN STOPPED AND ACCELERATING, THE CAR HAS A HESITATION ISSUE LIKE NO FUEL GETS TO IT FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)