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2013 Ford Cmax Energi
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
228 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 24, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (30% of complaints, typically reported near 33k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#203 of 487Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi ranks #203, scoring higher than 57% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Ford CMAX Energi 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 15%
3 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Ford Cmax Energi, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (17) · Body & structure (16) · Speed control (9)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Electrical system
30%68 complaints · typically near 33k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“Several times over the past 3 years, the 12 volt battery has been deeply drained while the car has been off/unused for ~3 days. (The problem has been described on your…”
Steering
21%47 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“Got a “Power steering assist fault” message on the screen. It was very hard to steer the wheel. The case on the wheel was turning around it. Managed to drive 3 more mi…”
Transmission & drivetrain
19%44 complaints · typically near 56k mi
“The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was a grinding sound coming from underneath the vehicle; followed by the vehi…”
Engine
7%17 complaints
“CAR WILL STALL AND BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. IT ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN ON A HILL. VERY DANGEROUS BUT FORD DENIES ANY PRO…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 228 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 15 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Ford before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 33k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report steering problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any steering symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Ford CMAX ENERGI beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Cmax Energi model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.