Is the 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID reliable?

The 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID has 179 complaints filed with NHTSA (9.4x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (50 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (18 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (15 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID?

The 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID gets 40 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1200. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID is approximately $1,478/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID has 179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.4x the segment average of 19. The most common issue is electrical problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: went to start car first thing in the morning for work and it was completely dead. had to jump start. took to dealer. they kept overnight and ran tests but could not find anything wrong. second occurrence on 1/25 - same thing - completely dead - this time it was mid afternoon after sitting all day. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year.

3 crash reports 4 injuries

179

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

9.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

50 complaints

28%

• WENT TO START CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING FOR WORK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. HAD TO JUMP START. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY KEPT OVERNIGHT AND RAN TESTS BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 1/25 - SAME THING - COMPLETELY DEAD - THIS TIME IT WAS MID AFTERNOON AFTER SITTING ALL DAY
• CPM TAKES OVER VEHICLE OPERATION AND ELIMINATES USE OF ACCELERATOR. VEHICLE SELF ACCELERATES TO MAXIMUM OF 35 MPH. ELECTRIC BRAKES BECOME VERY SENSITIVE, BECOMING JERKY AND STOP ITS MOVEMENT VERY FAST. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY WENT INTO THIS MODE AT 800 MILES, 1800 MILES, 2200 MILES, 2300 MILES AN
• I HAVE A NEW CMAX ENERGI WITH NAVIGATION. THE BACK UP CAMERA GOES ON WHEN I GO INTO REVERSE, BUT IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT SHUT OFF, SO I HAVE THIS DISTRACTING SCREEN SHOWING ME WHAT IS BEHIND ME WHILE I AM DRIVING FORWARD. *TR SOMETIMES IT CHANGES TO THE CORRECT SCREEN IMMEDIATELY, BUT OTHER TIMES

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

“WENT TO START CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING FOR WORK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. HAD TO JUMP START. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY KEPT OVERNIGHT AND RAN TESTS BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 1/25 - SAME THING - COMPLETELY DEAD - THIS TIME IT WAS MID AFTERNOON AFTER SITTING ALL DAY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID

Based on 156 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 28K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 16K mi · 46 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 6K mi · 17 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 46K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 62K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 30K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

STRUCTURE10/07/2013

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2013 C-Max hybrid vehicles, without panoramic roofs, that were manufactured January 19, 2012, through June 25, 2013. During vehicle testing, the vehicle exceeded a head injury criteria requirement set by the standard. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

Risk: In the event of a crash, an occupant could be at an increased risk of an injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install energy absorbers between the headliner and the roof. The recall began on August 5, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C02.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,200

Per month

$100

Per mile

10.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,143/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,298/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,478

Full coverage / month

$123

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-12%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1478

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford C-MAX HYBRID Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2013 C-MAX HYBRID, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~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 179 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: WENT TO START CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING FOR WORK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. HAD TO JUMP START. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY KEPT OVERNIGHT AND RAN TESTS BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 1/25 - SAME THING - COMPLETELY DEAD - THIS TIME IT WAS MID AFTERNOON AFTER SITTING ALL DAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES. UPON RETURN TO THE KEY WAS INSERTED AND THEN TURNED TO START. THE GASOLINE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED AND WENT TO MAX ENGINE RPM THEN APPEARED TO SHUT DOWN VIA THE ENGINE OVERSPEED SENSOR. AS SOON AS THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED TO ZERO, IT AGAIN REPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND WHEN I STOPPED, I COULDN'T GO BACKWARDS. I PULLED FORWARD AND PARKED. PULLED BACK AGAIN AND THE CAR DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN. THE ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS. FORD SAID IT IS A "REVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: AFTER STARTING (PUSH BUTTON START) AND DRIVING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND A "SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON" WARNING WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER I STOPPED AND STARTED AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN ENABLED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AS THEY COULD NO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Ford C-MAX HYBRID — Year Comparison

How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2016

10Excellent Reliability

Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints: 179
Recalls: 3
Fire reports: 0
Crash reports: 3
Injury reports: 4
Segment avg: 19

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2013 Ford C-MAX HYBRID

Compare With

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