What 228 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi

STEREO SYSTEM FAILS INTO AN UNRESPONSIVE STATE. THE RADIO WILL REMAIN ON AND EMIT SOUND EVEN WHEN CAR IS SHUT OFF. THIS PUTS A DRAINS THE BATTERY AND WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START AFTER SITTING FOR A DAY OR TWO.

NHTSA ODI 11165307

POWER STEERING COMPUTER MODULE WENT OUT WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE PARKED NEXT TO ME AND NOBODY WAS WALKING IN THE LOT AS I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THIS CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. THIS ALSO HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 100 MILES AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION AND FRONT AXLE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11161703

ELECTRIC CHARGER MELTED AND STARTED A SMALL FIRE AT THE HOUSE OUTLET. IT MUST HAVE TRIPPED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER LUCKILY SAVING OUR HOME. FORD REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT HAPPENED TELLING ME IT WAS MY WIRING. NOW THERE IS A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11161706

WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE RADIO STAYS ON. WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, YOU CANNOT TURN DOWN VOLUME, USE NAVIGATION, ADJUST TEMPERATURE, USE CRUISE CONTROL. IT BEGAN WHEN I WAS TURNING THE CAR OFF AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME

NHTSA ODI 11161014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C- MAX. WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL, HIGH PITCHED GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, "PLEASE PULL OVER SAFELY" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,211.

NHTSA ODI 11160591

HELLO MY 12V BATTERY IS DISCHARGING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT REASON. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FAULT RETURNS. ACCORDING TO TSB 15-0089, WHEN REPLACING THE BATTERY IN THE 2013 CAR, THE ELECTRONIC MODULE SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER NEVER PERFORMED THIS STEP, THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEALER. I'M AFRAID THAT EVENTUALLY MY CAR WILL BURN. THIS FAULTY ELECTRONIC MODULE (MODEM OR TELEMETRICS) IS LOCATED NEAR THE HIGH VOLTAGE LION BATTERY. PLEASE HELP . I MENTION THAT FORD RECOMMENDS NOT TO CONNECT THE CHARGING CABLE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. GREETINGS (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11155970

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND A "STOP SAFETLY NOW" WARNING POPPED UP ON MY SPEEDOMETER. I MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED THE CAR. I LOOKING ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION AND I READ THAT I CAN TURN ON AND OFF THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES AND THAT WILL FIX IT. I READ THERE WAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART. THE FORD C-MAX HAS THE SAME ISSUE BUT WAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND I HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. FORD SHOULD ISSUE THE RECALL TO THE C-MAX AS FOR THE "STOP SAFETLY NOW" ISSUE ON THEIR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11155711

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVENIENCE CHARGE CORD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HANSEL FORD (3075 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95407, (707) 623-1426) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11155174

POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TURN. IT CAME BACK ON AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. IT ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11153436

OUT OF NOWHERE, THE CAR POPS UP A MESSAGE TO SERVICE POWER STEERING. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARS. I DROVE 1 DAY WITH THE STEERING AS NORMAL, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY THE ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING STOPS AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CAR DECIDES EACH TIME YOU START IT IF THERE IS A STEERING PROBLEM AND THEN GIVES OR DOESNT GIVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AT YOUR START OF TRIP. ITS FRUSTRATING THAT OTHER MODELS OF FORD WITH THIS SAME STEERING SYSTEM HAVE RECALLS, BUT THIS LOWER SALES QUANTITY C-MAX GETS IGNORED.

NHTSA ODI 11153053

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION LOUD GRINDING OR THUDDING NOISE FROM ENGINE. WHRN PLACING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL SLIGHTLY IMPROVES. WHEN TAKEN IN TO FORD DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED IT HOLDS 5 QTS TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ONLY CONTAINED 1 QT. VEHICLE AT 110,000 MILES. TOLD A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION COSTS $4800 AND LABOR AND TAX BRINGS THE REPLACEMENT TO $6800.

NHTSA ODI 11152469

I AM EXPERIENCING CHRONIC ISSUES WITH THE 12V LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY DRAINING AND LEAVING THE CAR DEAD. THE CAR PULLS LOAD FROM THE BATTERY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND ALL ELECTRONICS ARE SUPPOSEDLY OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AMONG OWNERS OF 2013-2014 FORD C-MAX OWNERS. FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ASSIST AS THEY SAY MY VEHICLE (BASED ON VIN) WAS NOT AN EFFECTED MODEL ON THEIR CSP-15B04 PROGRAM.

NHTSA ODI 11152213

THE BATTERY UNLOADS. UNLESS BATTERY REPLACEMENT. I FEAR ABOUT SHORTAGE WHICH MAY LEAD TO FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11151173

THE BATTERY 12V IS UNEXPECTEDLY DISCHARGED VIA THE TCU MODULE (MODEM) GM5Z-14G229-BD. THE DRIVER CAN NOT START THE CAR. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO THE MENTIONED PROBLEM REMAINED. THE DEALER DID NOT COMPLY WITH TSB 16-0157 AND DID NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. FORD DOES NOT SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. MODULE NUMBER GM5Z-14G229-BD.I ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS TWICE. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND ONCE AT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11128325

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.

NHTSA ODI 11124345

I KEEP HAVING MY BACK TIRES WEAR OUT & CAUSES ME TO HAVE A BLOW OUT, THANKFULLY SO FAR IT HASN'T CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR LINED UP AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T OUT OF LINE BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE. CAN YOU HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE? IT IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE BUYING NEW TIRES. WHEN THE TIRES GO OUT IS DURING THE TIME I AM DRIVING IT. I'M INCLUDING THE LAST DATE THIS HAS HAPPENED BELOW, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS & A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11122485

BEFORE 50,000 MILES STEERING WENT FROM INTERMITTENTLY HAVING NO POWER TO CONTINUOUSLY HAVING NO POWER. USUALLY POWER STEERING IS ABSENT AT START-UP. VEHICLE DISPLAYS "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MESSAGE. OBD2/CAN THROWS A PSCM - POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE U3000 CM CONTROL MODULE CODE. STEERING WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT WORK UNDER WARRANTY - ASKED AT FORD IF THERE WERE STEERING RECALLS AND TOLD THERE WERE NONE. I DID NOT ESCALATE BECAUSE TURNING OFF THE CAR ONE OR MORE TIMES WOULD RESET. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, NO ACTION I CAN TAKE, (SUCH AS RESTARTING THE CAR OR CLEARING THE ERROR CODE) WILL RESET THE STEERING. STEERING EFFORT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ANY NON-POWER STEERING CAR OR OLD TRUCK I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. THE FAILED PSCM (POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE) DOES NOT APPEAR TO EXIST AS A STAND-ALONE PART. FORD TELLS ME ~$700-$800 IF STEERING COLUMN, OR $2300 IF RACK AND PINION NEED REPLACED. HOURS SPENT SEARCHING FOR THE PART TO DO MY OWN REPAIRS HAS NOT GIVEN ME A SINGLE PART NUMBER THAT RELATES TO THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THIS ALL SEEMS TO BE PART OF FORDS TROUBLE PRONE AND HUGELY EXPENSIVE EPAS (ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING) SYSTEM. EPAS HAS HAD RECALLS IN MORE POPULAR FORD MODELS, SUCH AS RECALL 15S18 BEGINNING JULY 20, 2015. I SUSPECT LOW PRODUCTION QUANTITY CARS SUCH AS THE HYBRID C-MAX LIKELY HAVE A SIMILAR FAILURE RATE, BUT IT ISN'T NOTICEABLE DUE TO THE MUCH LOWER QUANTITY PRODUCED. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAME FLAWED SYSTEM ON MULTIPLE MODELS DESERVES THE SAME FIX. WHILE I NEVER LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC FOR SMALL/WEAK DRIVERS OR THOSE WHA HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I'VE DRIVEN BOTH CARS WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND WITH FAILED POWER STEERING, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO USE THE LEVEL OF EFFORT IT TAKES TO STEER THE EPAS SYSTEM WHENE IT SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11122861

WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME FROM A SHORT DRIVE, THE DRIVER SIDE, REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN 4 OR 5 INCHES. AFTER PASSENGER EXITED (ANOTHER DOOR) WE TRIED AGAIN. SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT, THIS TIME IT OPENED ONLY AN INCH. IT APPEARS THE INSIDE PANEL IS LOOSE AND IS PREVENTING HINGE FROM OPERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11115127

I STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I COULD BARELY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED AND STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT IN MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT RESET ITSELF. I TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN IT RESET. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A FEW MONTHS. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THE STEERING GEAR FAILED THEIR TEST. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GUIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2200 FOR A CAR WITH 70,000 MILES. SEARCHED ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND OTHER CMAX OWNERS HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM.CONTACTED THE FORD EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND THEY HELPED COVER SOME OF THE COST. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IMPACTS THE SAFETY OF DRIVER WHILE OPERATING THE CAR. I AM LUCKY IT DID NOT OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11105019

THE RADIO WILL NOT LET ME CHANGE STATION, VOLUME, SYNC MY PHONE FOR HANDSFREE. WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR THE RADIO NORMAL SHUTS OFF. HOWEVER IT IS JUST STAYING ON

NHTSA ODI 11103015

CAR WAS PLUGGED IN TO CHARGE OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION POINTS TOWARDS THE CHARGING CAR AS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11100325

WE HAVE USED THE SUPPLIED UTILITY 120V CHARGING CABLE SINCE WE ACQUIRED THE CAR TO CHARGE IT AT HOME. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE UTILITY CABLE PLUG WAS MELTED AND THE WEATHERPROOF SOCKET FIXTURE PLASTIC HOUSING WAS BURNT I CHANGED THE UNIT TO A DIFFERENT OUTDOOR OUTLET. IT BURNED THAT OUTLET SO BADLY THAT IT'S GFCI WAS TRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE RESET. FEARING A POSSIBLE HOUSE FIRE, I STOPPED USING THE CORD. I REPORTED IT TO OUR FORD DEALER AS A HAZARDOUS PRODUCT DEFECT. OUT OF WARRANTY WAS THE REPLY. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE ELECTRICAL RATE LIMITING CIRCUITRY IS IN THE SYSTEM, BUT I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT DURING CHARGING, THE CAR NOW DRAWS MORE WATTAGE (1600-1700W, LESS THAN A POWERFUL HAIRDRYER) THAN THE CABLE UNIT IS RATED AT (1440W, PER IT'S LABELING), AND THIS DISCREPANCY OVER MANY MANY HOURS OF CONTINUOUS LOAD HAS LED TO THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS THE THIRD SUCH FAILURE HE HAS PERSONALLY SEEN. THAT IS ONE DEALERSHIP OUT OF THE NATIONWIDE FORD NETWORK, IMPLYING 1000'S OF THESE FAILURES MAY HAVE OCCURRED. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A HOUSE FIRE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED, IN MY VIEW.

NHTSA ODI 11098863

2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE CHARGING UNIT FOR VEHICLE OVERHEATING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHARGING UNIT BEGAN BURNING SOCKETS TO THE POINT OF DISCOLORATION. *JS *JS

NHTSA ODI 11096331

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MITCHELL SELIG FORD, 801 BLOOMFIELD AVE, WINDSOR, CT 06095) AND THE NOISE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ODI 11084739

PUSH TO START / STOP BUTTON FAILS TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK. UNABLE TO SECURE VEHICLE, UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS UNABLE TO TURN OFF LIGHTS, UNABLE TO SHUT VEHICLE DOWN. EACH TIME PUSH TO STOP PRESSED VEHICLE STARTS AGAIN, DASH FLASHES FORD LOGO. IF YOU WALK AWAY THE CAR HONKS HORN. VEHICLE LOCATED AT PARKING GARAGE LLOYD CENTER. PROBLEM SIMILAR TO RECALL 15V436000 AND FORD RECALL 15C06. CAR SHUT OFF HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST.

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