What 228 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi

The car was parked and turned off, I came out to the car and found the electrical charging cord had caught on fire at the base of the handle that inserts into the car. The area melted/disintegrated. It was covered in soot. The charger had been plugged into the car for about 1 hour. Fortunately my car or home did not catch on fire. This charger was a replacement from the recall in 2018.

NHTSA ODI 11424253

THE RADIO WOULD NOT SHUT OFF OR CHANGE STATIONS AND THE VOLUME CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. THE DASH SCREEN SAID THE RADIO WAS OFF. COULD NOT CHANGE AUDIO INPUTS FROM FM STATION IT WAS TUNED TO. THE RADIO STAYED ON WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT CAN DRAIN THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. THE SUGGESTED FIX WAS TO PULL THE RADIO CIRCUIT FUSE FROM THE MAIN FUSE PANEL UNDER THE DASH, (#79), WHICH I DID. THAT RESET THE AUDIO SYSTEM AND HAS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW AT LEAST. THE LAST TIME I HAD WEIRD AUDIO PROBLEMS WAS WHEN THE 12V BATTERY STARTED TO NEED REPLACING. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO IT BEING 4.5 YRS OLD BUT NOW AM WONDERING IF IT WAS HASTENED BY BATTERY DRAIN FROM AUDIO SYSTEM WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THIS PROBLEM COULD STRAND DRIVERS AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE DUE TO DEAD 12V BATTERY (WHICH IS IN A VERY HARD TO REACH COMPARTMENT IN THE BACK HATCH). I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BACK HATCH UNLATCHING SWITCH DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK AT THIS TIME, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED (SAME ISSUES HAPPENED LAST TIME THE 12V BATTERY DIED 4 YRS AGO). COULD THIS BE RELATED TO SOME OTHER ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE LOCKING SYSTEM WIRING PERHAPS? FORD NEEDS TO SOLVE THIS AND ISSUE A RECALL TO REMEDY SINCE THE PROBLEM SOUNDS PRETTY COMMON.

NHTSA ODI 11416345

GAS LINE LEAK UNDER CAR LEADING FROM TANK TO ENGINE. REQUIRES REMOVAL OF EXHAUST SYSTEM AND TANK TO REPLACE NEW LINE. COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE W/ FUEL LEAKING ON TO EXHAUST SYSTEM (HAVE HAD TWO PREVIOUS FIRES IN DIFFERENT VEHICLES CAUSED BY FUEL LEAKING ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM). NO APPARENT PHYSICAL CAUSE FOR LEAK - DOES NOT SEEM TO BE COMPONENT ONE WOULD EXPECT TO LEAK OR NEED REPAIR REGARDLESS OF AGE OR MILEAGE. POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE IF I HAD NOT SMELLED AND NOTICED LEAK. SEEMS TO ME THAT MANUFACTURER OR SUPPLIER OF APPARENT DEFECTIVE LINE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT REPAIR. LEAK COULD RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED CATASTROPHIC EVENT. VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECENTLY DRIVEN AND PARKED WHEN GAS SMELL WAS NOTCED AND MOVED ENOUGH TO SEE FUEL PUDDLE ON DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11413334

TURNED THE CAR ON IN A PARKING LOT AND SAW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HAD TOTALLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION, AND BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. ROLLED DOWN THE PARKING LOT AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURN IT OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE BACK. DROVE THE CAR HOME AND TRIED TURNING IT ON AND OFF A FEW MORE TIMES. POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY GONE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11406320

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED HIS OWN INSPECTION AND NOTICED THE BEARING HAD CREATED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ODI 11405595

POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT WARNING MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER THAN MANUAL STEERING. TURNING CAR OFF RESETS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BUT THAT IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE POWER STEERING WON'T FAIL AGAIN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11397307

FAILED TRANSMISSION BEARING AS DESCRIBED BY TSB 14B07. DIAGNOSED BY FORD, DOCUMENT ATTACHED CONFIRMING THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11389184

I BOUGHT THIS 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI USED IN 2017, RIGHT OFF THE BAT AFTER CHECKING OUT VEHICLE, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD TO JUMPSTART THE CAR. NOW, THE CURRENT ISSUE IS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS TO BE JUMP-STARTED EVERY TIME I TRY TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE NOVEMBER 2020. THESE ISSUES HAD OCCURED SPORADICALLY, EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY IN 2018 WITH OTHER BRAND BATTERY, THOUGH NOT AS FREQUENTLY, AND EVERY DAY AS IT DOES NOW. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER SIRIUS SOFTWARE UPDATE GOT STUCK AT 0%, THIS OCCURED A FEW TIMES IN 2018. IN LATE 2018 I BOUGHT A PORTABLE JUMP STARTER BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE BECAME UNTRUSTWORTHY TO START. THOUGH, IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT SERVICE BULLETINS AND NOT JUST RECALLS I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED EARLIER WHEN ISSUES PRESENTED THEMSELVES. SO I FINALLY TOOK IN MY C-MAX IN TO A LOCAL HYBRID REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THE SPECIFIC PART, THEY REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE IT. THEY PRINTED OUT MATERIALS THAT STATED THERE HAD BEEN A FEW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR DISCHARGED BATTERIES. I UNFORTUNATELY MISSED THE REPAIR WINDOW BY 6 MONTHS AND WILL INCUR THE COSTS. MY CAR AS OF 1/13/2021 HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW AT DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT WILL COST ME AROUND $1,100. IT SEEMS THERE HAS BEEN MANY BATTERY DISCHARGE BULLETINS FOR THIS MODEL THROUGHOUT THE YEARS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP AT MANAHAWKIN, NJ EVEN STATED THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AS COMMON, SO PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TROUBLE THIS CAR HAS CAUSED. THESE ISSUES SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY FIRST OWNER OF VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTED ISSUES ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IF RECALL CAN BE MADE ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 11387894

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 PROBLEMS. IT HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2014. LAST TIME WAS AS BELOW

NHTSA ODI 11387933

THE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY TURNED ON WHEN LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AUTOMATICALLY AT ALL TIMES. WHAT THIS MEANS IS IF I PARK THE CAR DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND COME BACK WHEN DARK I OFTEN DRIVE WITHOUT TAILLIGHTS. PEOPLE HAVE YELLED AT ME AND HONKED AT ME TO TURN ON MY TAILLIGHTS WHEN DARK BECUASE THERE ARE NONE! THIS OCCURS BECAUSE I GET IN THE CAR AND START THE ENGINE AND THE LOW BEAM FRONT LIGHTS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY. THE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE TO BE TURNED ON. BUT, AS THE CMAX DOES NOT ACT TO THE STANDARD METHOD OF HEADLIGHTS MUST BE TURNED ON TO SEE IN DARK, THE TAILLIGHTS ARE FORGOTTEN. I AM NOT THE ONLY DRIVER OR MAKE OF CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE TRAINED OURSELVES TO TURN ON TAILLIGHTS IN MY FAMILY BUT STILL OCCURS OCCASIONALLY.

NHTSA ODI 11387934

TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILURE, AS SPECIFIED BY RECALL TSB 14B07. LEFT STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI 11386803

I HAVE RECEIVED 3 SAFETY RECALL NOTICES REGARDING THE DOOR LATCHES, ONE IN JANUARY 2017 (RECALL NOTICE 16S30), ONE IN AUGUST 2020 (NOTICE 20S30), AND NOW AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2020 (NOTICE 20S30). I HAVE RESPONDED TWICE AND SUPPOSEDLY THE LATCHES WERE FIXED OR REPLACED BY THE DEALER. NOW THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THE THIRD NOTICE OF REQUIRED DEALER INSPECTION, I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THE PREVIOUS REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN DONE , OR HAD BEEN DONE INCORRECTLY. FORD WILL NOT RESPOND, OTHER THAN STATING I MUST BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING FROM A SAFETY POINT OF VIEW AND IS TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE WHEN MISSING TIME FROM WORK. THEY PROVIDE A WEBSITE TO CHECK THE LATCH NUMBERS ON EACH DOOR, HOWEVER, AFTER ENTERING THE NUMBERS, THE WEBSITE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE SAID TO REFER TO THE WEBSITE.

NHTSA ODI 11383829

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLED. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAYS, STOP SAFELY NOW. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE THAT PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. FINALLY GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MODULE-ENGINE CONTROL. PCM GET TOO HOT AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 10.14.20 AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THERE STILL IS NOT ETA. PART IS ON BACKORDER. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAG A LEMON AND IT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SOLD. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11374650

TOTAL POWER STEERING LOSS. ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE SINCE OWNING THE CAR . ONCE AT 30,000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 80,000 MILES.FORD DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK & PINION.

NHTSA ODI 11365259

ELECTRIC STEERING RACK FAILED CAUSING NO POWER STEERING. SYMPTOMS STARTED WITH INTERMITTENT LOCKING. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE FAULTY HIGH ENERGY BATTERY PACK STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPROGRAMMING DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS FORD HAD A RECALL FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION MODELS USING THE SAME RACK BUT NOT FOR C-MAX WHICH HAD LOW PRODUCTION. MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO LOSE STEERING CAPABILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11355556

AS WITH MANY COMPLAINTS LISTED IN FORUMS OUTSIDE OF THE NHTSA MY 2013 C MAX IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME STEERING ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED IN OTHER FORD MODELS UNDER RECALL 15S18. THE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2,000. ISSUES ARE SCRAPING AND MINOR SEIZING STEERING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING AND PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING. CURRENTLY NOTING NOISE WHEN LEAVING TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. NO ISSUES DRIVING STRAIGHT, AT THIS TIME. MANY STATE THEIR STEERING SEIZES COMPLETELY AND CLEARLY I DO NOT WISH THIS TO HAPPEN, PARTICULARLY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. I HAVE NO ON BOARD SCREEN ERRORS ILLUMINATING AT THIS POINT AND HAVE VALID FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR AND OTHERS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 15S18 RECALL AND WHY OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING OUTSIDE OF NHTSA I DON'T KNOW BUT THIS AFFECTS MANY MORE CARS THAN LISTED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I AM REQUESTING THIS VEHICLE BE INCLUDED IN RECALL 15S18 BEFORE DEATH OCCURS. THIS ISSUE BEGAN IN WINTER AND HAS PROGRESSED. 40,000 MILES ON CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11353318

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE A WINING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11351085

WHEN I TURNED OFF MY CAR. MY RADIO WOULD NOT SHUT OFF NO MATTER WHAT I DID. THIS IN TURN DRAINED MY BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11349592

CAR WAS MAKING "WHOO-WHOO" LOW PITCHED NOISE FROM REAR THAT INCREASED IN FREQUENCY AS SPEED OF CAR INCREASED. WHEEL BEARING RIGHT REAR WHEEL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 101K MILES AND LEAKING SHOCK FOR SAME WHEEL -

NHTSA ODI 11349125

MY DOOR LATCHES BROKE FOR SECOND TIME, IN TWO YEAR. FORD SAY IT IS MY PROBLEM, BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11344223

BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY TO DRIVE TO A SPOT ON THE CUL DE SAC. STARTED TO PULL UP TO THE CURB AND COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. SAW A LIGHT THAT SAID SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON. NO WARNING UNTIL POWER STEERING STOPPED COMPLETELY. GOT STOPPED JUST A COUPLE OF FEET FROM THE LIGHT POST. FORD CHARGED $2200.00 TO FIX. CAR HAS JUST OVER 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11343238

THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RHYTHMIC NOISE THAT ACCELERATED WITH AND INCREASE IN SPEED. THERE WAS ALSO A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING ABOVE 45 MPH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED A BEARING THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. I WAS THEN INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE ARE DOZENS OF CASES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON 2013 C-MAX VEHICLES. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THESE TRANSMISSIONS WITH KNOWN ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11337618

THE OUTSIDE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS GETTING SO HOT THE PLASTIC IS MELTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330917

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HER HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROWN FORD (247 SUNRISE HWY, LYNBROOK, NY 11563, (516) 825-8300) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED RECALL WAS EXPIRED.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11330589

THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LOCK DOES NOT CLOSE THE DOOR. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE SERVICE ON A PREVIOUS CALL RELATED TO LOCKS. THE WORK WAS REPORTEDLY DONE. AFTER OBSERVING THE WEAR OF THE LOCK ELEMENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ORIGINAL LOCKS. MAYBE THE DEALER CHARGED THE CAR MANUFACTURER FOR THE REPAIR AND NEVER REPLACED THE LOCKS WITH THE CORRECT ONES. I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CAR WHEN THE BACK DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328663