What 228 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi

THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND FOR WEEKS AND THEN ONE NIGHT AFTER I STOPPED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AND I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON WAYNE, RD. AND THE CAR WAS JERKING REALLY BAD AND WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT ON.

NHTSA ODI 11278035

REAR FOLDING SEAT LATCH DISENGAGED. NO LONGER ABLE TO FOLD 60% OF REAR SEAT. NOW FACED WITH CHARGES UPWARDS OF 600$ BECAUSE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN OPENED AND ON LEVEL SURFACE. WAS LIGHTLY USED, MAYBE 15 TIMES IN ENTIRE LIFE. ALSO, APIM MODULE DRAINING BATTERY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FIELD SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE, BUT CAR IS NOW OUT OF APPLICABLE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11277930

RADIO NO LONGER WORKS...CANNOT TURN ON OR OFF...WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION SPEAKERS SUDDENLY GENERATES LOUD STATIC. THIS UNEXPECTED NOISE COMING SUDDENLY FROM THE SPEAKERS IS EXTREMELY UNSETTLING/DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY HIGHWAY. THE INTERNET IS REPLETE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS YEAR/MODEL VEHICLE. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11269917

2013 FORD C-MAX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE BATTERY IN VEHICLE. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE 12 VOLT BATTERY WOULD DRAIN LEAVING THE OCCUPANTS STRANDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11267470

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LES STUMPF FORD (3030 W COLLEGE AVE, APPLETON, WI 54914, 920-731-5211) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11268707

CAR, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, FAILED TO START BECAUSE OF A DEAD BATTERY. HOOD LATCH IN VEHICLE FAILED TO WORK (AFTER BEING REPLACED ONCE <1 YEAR BEFORE). COULD NOT OPEN HOOD TO ACCESS DEAD BATTERY. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT HOOD CANNOT BE OPENED WITHOUT BREAKING FRONT GRILL AND PAYING FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIR. IF HOOD HANDLE MALFUNCTIONS, THERE IS NO SECONDARY ACCESS TO OPEN THE HOOD. REPAIRS COST IN EXCESS OF $1300 TO REPLACE HOOD LATCH CABLE ASSEMBLY ($200) AND THE HOOD LATCH HANDLE ($60), AS WELL A THE REPAIR OF BODY DAMAGE INCURRED BY BODY SHOP BREAKING THE GRILL TO ACCESS THE HOOD LATCH. VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR USE FOR 22 DAYS. PRODUCT DEFECT: HOOD LATCH IS PRONE TO FAILURE AND NOT ACCESSIBLE DURING EMERGENCY. IF PULL HANDLE BREAKS IN CAR, HOOD CANNOT BE OPENED WITHOUT MAJOR BODY DAMAGE. NO ACCESS FROM UNDER OR FRONT OF CAR IS AVAILABLE. EXPENSIVE DAMAGE MUST BE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, THEN REPAIRED DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ODI 11253152

PURCHASED 2013 CMAX USED FROM A CAR DEALER WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT IN 2018. BEEN DRIVING IT FOR 1.5 YEARS- NOW HAS 58,000 MILES.. SUDDENLY WARNING RED TRIANGLE APPEARED WITH AUDIO ALERT TO STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 60 MPH. COULD FEEL THE CAR HAD LOST POWER, ABLE TO GET TO BREAKDOWN LANE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED-TO DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND "NOTHING WRONG." CAR RETURNED TO ME- SECOND INCIDENT 3 DAYS LATER, WHILE TURNING INTO SHOPPING CENTER, AGAIN, FELT THE CAR LOSE POWER, RED TRIANGLE/WARNING. STALLED IN LOT- IT WAS A SUNDAY. TURNED THE CAR OFF- WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON .I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND SPOKE TO A SALES PERSON WHO TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR- ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME ( SLOWLY)- THEN TO DEALERS THE NEXT DAY- WARNING LIGHT STILL ON. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND FORD GIVING LIMITED SUPPORT TO THE DEALERSHIP. CAR STILL IN THE SHOP X 1 WEEK- SERVICE ADVISOR STATES IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE FOR ME TO TAKE THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIND THE CAUSE BECAUSE IT COULD DO IT AGAIN AT ANY TIME. *TT CONSUMER STATED SHE WOULD LIKE COMPLAINT TO BE DELETED. THE FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM, IT WAS A WIRING SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING HARNESS.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11243162

WE BEGAN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING OUR WELL-MAINTAINED FORD C-MAX JUST AFTER STARTING WHEN BACKING UP IN OUR DRIVEWAY AT AROUND 63,000 MILES. WE REPORTED IT TO FORD AND THEY SAID IT JUST WAS THAT THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL TAKES AWHILE TO GET TO THE STEERING. BEFORE 70,000 MILES THE 'CHECK STEERING' LIGHT WENT ON. BEFORE WE COULD GET IT TO THE DEALER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. WE HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND THERE WAS A RECALL OF OTHER 2013 FORD MODELS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS THE REPAIR WILL COST US APPROXIMATELY $3,500. WE BELIEVE THE FORD C-MAX SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11234332

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE IN MOTION IN A PARKING LOT. CAR WAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. POOR DESIGN OF COLUMN THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICLES CAUSED SHORTS THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS RESULTED IN THREE PAGES WORTH OF SYSTEM ERRORS WHEN CHECKED. $2,000 TO REPAIR. NO SHORTS SINCE REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY PART.

NHTSA ODI 11234265

CONSISTENT ROLLING NOISE HEARD WHILE DRIVING. WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS NEEDED REPLACED AT 57,500 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11234270

I CHARGER WAS RECALLED IN AUGUST 2018. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOY AVAILABLE. I CANNOT CHARGE MY CAR WITHOUT RISKING A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11232820

2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAILED CHARGING CABLE. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR CABLE PURCHASED PRIOR TO RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI 11222174

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO THE GROCERY STORE, A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT STATED POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. THE STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED UP BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11221162

RE: POWER CORD FOR HYBRID CHARGING SYSTEM. IT IS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS! SAFETYRECALL #: 18S24. NHTSA RECALL: 18V-592 I PURCHASED A VEHICLE (USED) LOCALLY FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP-MULLINAX FORD IN NORTH PALM BEACH FL. UNFORTUNATELY THE POWER CORD WAS NOT WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY HAD TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP IT CAME FROM, AND GEORGIA, TO SEND A POWER CORD. AS IT TURNS OUT THAT POWER CORD IS FAULTY FROM DAY ONE. IT OVERHEATS IN JUST MINUTES. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES, BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY CONFIRMED THE POWER CORD WAS INDEED FAULTY. THEY HAD FIRST SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT FORD AND WOULD COVER IT. WELL THEY LIED AND DID NOT COVER IT. AND I'M STUCK WITH PAYING FOR AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE THAT I CANNOT CHARGE, PAID EXTRA TO HAVE A FORD CERTIFIED, SO I THEN COULD PAY EVEN MORE TO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. NONE OF WHICH COVERS THIS FAULTY POWER CORD THE ONE THAT PROBABLY DID NOT EVEN COME WITH THE VEHICLE. THEN, I HAVE RECEIVED NOT ONE BUT TWO NOTICES FROM THE FORD CORPORATION STATING THERE'S A RECALL ON THE CORDS, GREAT I THOUGHT. WELL, THEY STILL ARE NOT PROVIDING ME WITH A NEW SAFE AND FUNCTIONING CORD! NOTHING FROM FORD, AND NOTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHO, ACCORDING TO A PERSON I SPOKE WITH AT FORD, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD ALREADY REPAIRED MY VEHICLE. THAT IS A BLATANT LIE! I TOOK IT IN A SECOND TIME PER THEIR REQUEST, AND HE STILL WOULD NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE MY CORD. I SPENT EXTRA MONEY HAVING AN ELECTRICIAN TO MY HOUSE AND RAN ANOTHER POWER LEAD OUT TO WHERE MY CAR IS AND FOUND THAT INDEED IT WAS THE CORD. THROUGH MY ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY HOMES AND GARAGES HAVE BEEN BURNT DOWN BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY CORDS! CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW FLORIDA CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS, AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS CAN SCREW THE PUBLIC LIKE THIS? PUTTING US IN DANGER? SELLING EXTENDED WARRANTEES ARE NOT HONORING THEM?

NHTSA ODI 11209170

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSIST FAULT ALERT LIGHT SHOWED UP AND THE CAR START GETTING VERY HARD TO CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE AUTO SHOP AND THEY FOUND CODE C102D. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL RACK. $2325.

NHTSA ODI 11209015

TRANSMISSION MAKING SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE, MORE NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEED (20MPH).

NHTSA ODI 11206775

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE. I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ANOTHER WHEEL BEARING NOISE WHICH HAPPENED A MONTH AGO AND WAS REPAIRED. THIS TIME IT TURNED OUT TO BE TRANSMISSION IS BAD. STILL OWE 4100.00 TO FORD ON 6 YEAR LOAN. CAR PURCHASES 3/2014 NEW. THEY CAN'T FIX IT DUE TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE AS NOTED ON THIS REPAIR BILL. (QUOTED 8100.00 IF THEY COULD GET THE PARTS)

NHTSA ODI 11203182

THE POWER STEERING WAS OCCASIONALLY FAILING BUT AFTER READING THE MANUAL I SAW THAT FORD SUGGEST DE POWERING THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT. AFTER WRENCHING MY BACK FROM DRIVING WITH THE POWER STEERING NOT WORKING I STARTED DOING THAT. THEN THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. WHEN I WENT IN THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $2000 TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT FORD HAD RECALLED SIMILAR MODELS OF THAT YEAR RANGE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE BUT HADN'T RECALLED THE CMAX. THE STEERING WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING AND MY CAR WASN'T EVEN AT 100,000 MILES. I ALSO HAD BEEN TAKING THE CAR IN REGULARLY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CHECKS AND REPAIRS AND NO ONE INDICATED THIS MIGHT BE A CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI 11192649

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE NIGHT DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ABOUT THE POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON A BUSY STREET SO I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THE SERVICE LIGHT AND MESSAGE WERE NO LONGER THERE. I STILL HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TRY AND GET TO A SHOP WHILE THE SERVICE LIGHT IS ON SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT CODE POPS UP. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON TRAVELING ON THAT ROAD AND MY RATE OF SPEED WASN'T THAT HIGH. IF THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OR A BUSIER INTERSECTION IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.

NHTSA ODI 11192475

FORD CHARGER FOR C-MAX PHEV OVERHEATED AND CAUSED WALL OUTLET TO BURN

NHTSA ODI 11191331

HAVE A WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT'S A STOP SAFETY MESSAGE. CAME ON AND ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH IT. SEEMS FORD HAS A WIRE PROBLEM AT THE BATTERY, I UNDERSTAND IT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY A WIRE BECOMING BARE FROM RUBBING. IS THIS A RECALL??????????

NHTSA ODI 11183781

THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS AND WILL NOT START. THIS IS THE FORTH TIME AND THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11182170

FORD ISSUED A RECALL IN AUGUST 2018 WITH STILL NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THIS IS A LONG TIME AND I'D LIKE A FIX SOON.

NHTSA ODI 11174863

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 RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11174867

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 99K. FORD SENT A LETTER A FEW MONTHS BEFORE I PURCHASED CAR FROM OWNER. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM FIX IS $8100.00 CAR ISN'T WORTH THAT. CAR WAS MAINTAINED PERFECTLY BY BOTH OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11165109