2013 Ford C-MAX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford C-MAX has 231 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: car will not start, nothing left on, car jumped with jumper, took place again yesterday 5/27/2014. unable to jump start this time, ford road side assistance applied a jumper able to get electrical system up, but car will not run. ford dealer received car, stated that their road side assistance did n. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 6 crash reports 2 injuries

231

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

52 complaints

23%

• CAR WILL NOT START, NOTHING LEFT ON, CAR JUMPED WITH JUMPER, TOOK PLACE AGAIN YESTERDAY 5/27/2014. UNABLE TO JUMP START THIS TIME, FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE APPLIED A JUMPER ABLE TO GET ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UP, BUT CAR WILL NOT RUN. FORD DEALER RECEIVED CAR, STATED THAT THEIR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID N
• VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE OVER NIGHT. DEAD BATTERY. TOWED TO DEALER. COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. JUNE 1 VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE OVER NIGHT, DEAD BATTERY IN THE MORNING. *TR
• UPON RETURNING TO CAR AND ATTEMPTING TO 'START' THE ENGINE, COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE. EVERY DASHBOARD COMPONENT DEAD. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE SERVICE (A DIFFERENT NIGHTMARE), CAR EVENTUALLY TOWED TO DEALER AND BCM REPLACED, BCM AND PCM BOTH RESET. THEN ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN 9/2/2014 A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“CAR WILL NOT START, NOTHING LEFT ON, CAR JUMPED WITH JUMPER, TOOK PLACE AGAIN YESTERDAY 5/27/2014. UNABLE TO JUMP START THIS TIME, FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE APPLIED A JUMPER ABLE TO GET ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UP, BUT CAR WILL NOT RUN. FORD DEALER RECEIVED CAR, STATED THAT THEIR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

39 complaints

17%

• DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. A LIGHT WARNING OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM CAME ON. EXITED AND WENT TO A TRUCK STOP. RESTARTED CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE. *TR
• POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A 70MPH HIGHWAY. NO WARNING OR INDICATION. THE STEERING JUST CUT OUT. I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK WHEN I BASICALLY LOST ALL CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IT WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TH
• DRIVING ON I-40, ABOUT 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION ON JULY 31, 2016, THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON" LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I FINISHED THE DRIVE HOME WITH NO PROBLEM AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO UNLOAD IT. WHEN I RE-STARTED IT, THE CAR REPORTED A COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE, AND THE POWER STEERI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. A LIGHT WARNING OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM CAME ON. EXITED AND WENT TO A TRUCK STOP. RESTARTED CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

37 complaints

16%

• CAR WILL NOT START, NOTHING LEFT ON, CAR JUMPED WITH JUMPER, TOOK PLACE AGAIN YESTERDAY 5/27/2014. UNABLE TO JUMP START THIS TIME, FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE APPLIED A JUMPER ABLE TO GET ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UP, BUT CAR WILL NOT RUN. FORD DEALER RECEIVED CAR, STATED THAT THEIR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID N
• I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AFTER SEEING ADS FOR IT ON TV. I WENT TO THE DEALER IN DEC 2013 AND SAW THE WINDOW STICKER REPORTING THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A 47/47 MPG RATING. AFTER RESEARCHING OTHER VEHICLES THAT MET MY TASTES AND REQUIREMENTS I DECIDED TO TRY THE C-MAX AND ESCAPE, MAZDA CX-5, AND A VW D
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INSTRUCTING ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. WHEN I DID PULLED OVER, I SET THE GEARSHIFT IN "PARK" MODE, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS THAT DAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, I NOTICED THAT WHILE

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

29 complaints

13%

• OEM ELECTRIC CHARGER (A SEPARATE MECHANISM NOT A PART OF THE VEHICLE) CAUGHT FIRE UPON PLUGGING IT INTO A SOCKET (SAME CHARGER, SAME SOCKET HAS BEEN USED FOR OVER 3 YEARS)
• ANYTIME I BREAK OR LET OFF THE GAS AND THERE IS A BUMP OR A STEEL PLATE IN THE ROAD MY CAR SLIDES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OR 3 YEARS NOW. WHEN IT RAINS AND ITA WET OUTSIDE ITS EVEN WORSE. I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES ON AND IT STILL HAPPENS.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. SERRAMONTE FORD (999 SERRAMONTE BLVD, COLMA, CA 94014, 855-638-2136) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“OEM ELECTRIC CHARGER (A SEPARATE MECHANISM NOT A PART OF THE VEHICLE) CAUGHT FIRE UPON PLUGGING IT INTO A SOCKET (SAME CHARGER, SAME SOCKET HAS BEEN USED FOR OVER 3 YEARS)”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

17 complaints

• UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, MY HUSBAND BUMPED THE IGNITION KEY WITH HIS KNEE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. HE QUICKLY FIGURED OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED IT AND WE CONTINUED ON. *TR
• THE LOSS OF POWER INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 27, 2014, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF THE 405 FREEWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE 405 AND 5 FREEWAYS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE FORD C MAX 2013 SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 70 MPH TO LESS THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ: "STOP SAFELY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,400.

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

“UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, MY HUSBAND BUMPED THE IGNITION KEY WITH HIS KNEE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. HE QUICKLY FIGURED OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED IT AND WE CONTINUED ON. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 231 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: CAR WILL NOT START, NOTHING LEFT ON, CAR JUMPED WITH JUMPER, TOOK PLACE AGAIN YESTERDAY 5/27/2014. UNABLE TO JUMP START THIS TIME, FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE APPLIED A JUMPER ABLE TO GET ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UP, BUT CAR WILL NOT RUN. FORD DEALER RECEIVED CAR, STATED THAT THEIR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. A LIGHT WARNING OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM CAME ON. EXITED AND WENT TO A TRUCK STOP. RESTARTED CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: CAR WILL NOT START, NOTHING LEFT ON, CAR JUMPED WITH JUMPER, TOOK PLACE AGAIN YESTERDAY 5/27/2014. UNABLE TO JUMP START THIS TIME, FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE APPLIED A JUMPER ABLE TO GET ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UP, BUT CAR WILL NOT RUN. FORD DEALER RECEIVED CAR, STATED THAT THEIR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: OEM ELECTRIC CHARGER (A SEPARATE MECHANISM NOT A PART OF THE VEHICLE) CAUGHT FIRE UPON PLUGGING IT INTO A SOCKET (SAME CHARGER, SAME SOCKET HAS BEEN USED FOR OVER 3 YEARS)
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)