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

THIS VEHICLE'S EV CHARGE CORD HAD AN INCIDENT THAT SEEMED TO HEAT UP / BEND THE CORD NEAR THE PLUG BACK IN 2016. I REPORTED TO FORD AT THE TIME, THEY SAID DO NOT USE THE CORD AND SAID THEY HAD A RESOLUTION UPCOMING. TO KEEP ANYONE FROM USING THE CORD, I CUT IT UP AND SENT OFF THE PARTS FOR RECYCLING (COPPER). NO RECALL NOTICES SENT BY FORD, NO ARTICLES ONLINE, OR EVEN COMMON SENSE SUGGESTED I SHOULD KEEP THIS DANGEROUS CORD IN MY HOUSEHOLD TO POSSIBLY BE USED AGAIN (AND THE LIABILITY WOULD BE ON ME FOR BEING SO STUPID). WHAT THE RECALL AND ARTICLES DID SUGGEST WAS THE CORD REPLACEMENT WOULD BE DONE BY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER (THAT VEHICLE WOULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF IT HAS RECEIVED A NEW CORD). WHEN I WENT IN FOR SERVICE THIS YEAR TO FINALLY GET THIS RECALL PROCESSED, IT WAS DENIED BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAD THE CORD EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED WITH THIS CORD IN THE CAR (BEFORE IT HAD AN ISSUE, FORD SAID DO NOT USE, AND I DISPOSED OF ONCE I READ THE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS). I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE NHTSA GET INVOLVED AND MAKE FORD REPLACE MY EV CORD. THEIR RECORDS CLEARLY SHOW MY VEHICLE NEVER GOT A NEW CORD, BUT THEY ARE MAKING SOME CLAIM THAT WITHOUT THE OLD CORD, THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF IT WAS AN EV CORD THAT HAD THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MY CORD WAS PRODUCED PRE-2013, THEY ALL WERE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. JUST SEEMS LIKE FORD IS TRYING TO SAVE THEMSELVES MONEY AND DENY ME THIS RECALL. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THEY ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY PREVIOUSLY INDICATED BY PHONE CALL THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE REP APPARENTLY CALLED FORD MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO GET THIS PROCESSED, BUT FORD SIMPLY DECLINED SAYING I SHOULD NOT HAVE DESTROYED THE CORD EVEN THOUGH NOT LANGUAGE WAS PROVIDED I NEEDED TO KEEP AND EVEN INSINUATED I SHOULD DESTROY TO KEEP FROM BEING USED. SOUNDS LIKE FORD COVERED THEIR LEGAL LIABILITY AND SAVED MONEY.

NHTSA ODI 11280792

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

NHTSA ODI 11191331

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

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

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

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN OUR GARAGE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED A 7 INCH STEP AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARD WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED HARD. IT TOOK ABOUT 20 FEET TO STOP THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11073288

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 ODI 10992964

REAR (HATCHBACK) LATCH FAILS TO RELEASE RESULTING IN A DOOR WILL NOT OPEN CONDITION. BECAUSE THE LATCH RELEASE WAS ACTIVATED, DRIVING OR ROAD VIBRATION MAY CAUSE THE DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND EJECT CARGO WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HATCHBACK FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ELECTRONIC RELEASE IS ACTIVATED AND MUST BE "JIGGLED" TO OPEN. HATCHBACK LATER OPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. REAR DOOR IS NOT COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000.

NHTSA ODI 10990550

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD C-MAX. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT KNEE AND LOWER BACK, AND BURNS TO THE FOREARM. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT ANKLE AND WRIST, AND BURNS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10980119

THE 120 VOLT, 12 AMP CHARGE CORD THAT CAME WITH MY CAR (FORD PART NO. FM58-10B706AC) IS OVERHEATING CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. THE END OF THE CORD THAT PLUGS INTO THE WALL HAS MELTED AND THE PLUG HAS LEFT BURN MARKS ON THREE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL OUTLETS ON MY HOUSE WHERE I PLUG THE CAR IN TO CHARGE. PHOTOS OF THE MELTED CORD AND OUTLET BURN MARKS ARE ATTACHED. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT THE CONTROL UNIT BUILT INTO THE CORD IS TOO HEAVY AND PULLS THE PRONGS FROM THE OUTLET AND IF A PRONG IS ONLY PARTIALLY PLUGGED INTO THE OUTLET IT DRAWS MORE CURRENT THAN THE CORD CAN HANDLE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED (FORD EV HELP LINE 1-800-392-3673) THAT THE CORD SHOULD NOT BE LEFT HANGING IN MID-AIR AND NEEDS TO BE PROPPED UP WHEN PLUGGED IN. THOSE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR ON THE CORD, NOR WERE THEY COMMUNICATED TO CMAX ENERGI OWNERS. FORD ASSERTS THAT THE CORD IS NOT COVERED BY ITS EXTENDED 8-YEAR, 80,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR THE CMAX ENERGI, SO THIS PART IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE (I WAS QUOTED $975 BY FORD TO REPLACE THE CORD). THUS IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT OWNERS WILL DEFER REPLACING THE CORD AND KEEP USING IT, BECAUSE IT STILL WORKS EVEN THOUGH THE PLUG IS PARTIALLY MELTED. THIS CORD IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO RESULT IN FIRES AND MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TWO CMAX ENERGI GARAGE FIRES IN FLORIDA I READ ABOUT IN THE PRESS LAST MONTH. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME.

NHTSA ODI 10904811

THE FORD EV CHARGE CORD (FORD PART NO. FM58-10B706AC) THAT CAME WITH MY 2013 CMAX ENERGI DRAWS TOO MUCH CURRENT AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. I JUST FILED A VEHICLE COMPLAINT (NO. 10904811) WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MELTED CORD AND BURN MARKS ON MY OUTLETS, DESCRIBING THE HAZARD IN DETAIL. IT IS LIKELY THAT THIS CORD OR A SIMILARLY DESIGNED CORD IS USED WITH THE FORD FOCUS ENERGI AND FORD FUSION ENERGI SO THIS HAZARD SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS AN EQUIPMENT DEFECT AND NOT JUST A VEHICLE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 10904820

ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO BE STRUCK. ENDED UP IN A NEIGHBORS FRONT YARD 2 FEET AWAY FROM BRICK WALL BEFORE IT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CMAX HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AND INTENDED TO TAKE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 1/21/2015. ON 1/20/2015 UNABLE TO UNLOCK WITH REMOTE. THEN UNABLE TO GET CAR STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678327

HI ON THE 11/19/2014 AROUND 2:30 MY WIFE AND HER MANAGER AT WORK WE WAS GOING TO MEET UP WITH CLIENT . THE OFFENDED VEHICLE BREAK THE STOP SIGN AND HIT MY VEHICLE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND MY CAR SPIN AND FACE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR THE TRAFFIC .COMPLETELY DISABLED MY VEHICLE I CALLED THE POLICE .I WAIT TILL THE POLICE COME AND WE MAKE THE REPORT . I START FEEL PAIN ON MY NECK AND MY HEAD AND MY BACK SO THEY DO AN EX RAY FOR ME AND ALL THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN THE SECOND DAY I RECEIVE LATTER RECALL ABOUT THE AIRBAG AND AFTER THAT I FIND MY SELF PREGNANT SO NOW THE BABY MAY BE INFECTED . SO ON MY THINKING THIS CAR IS NOT SAFETY BECAUSE THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE DO RECALL FOR THIS MODAL

NHTSA ODI 10662696

PURCHASED CAR BROUGHT HOME OPEN REAR HATCH VIA ELC OPENER WHILE OPEN TO FULL HEIGHT AND I WAS IN OPENING IT CAME BACK DOWN OVER 12INCHES CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON IT. AS I HAD THE EXACT SAME CAR AND THIS WAS A REPLACEMENT THIS WAS NOT EXPECTED AS MY LAST DID NOT DO THIS (SAME YEAR CMAX COLOR OPT EVERYTHING) TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE THEY ORDERED NEW STRUTS TOOK A FEW WEEKS THEN WERE REPLACE DOSE THE SAME THING ON MY SLIGHT INCLINED DRIVEWAY (LIVE IN S FL WE DON'T REALLY HAVE BIG HILLS) TOOK BACK AGAIN THIS TIME THEY CHANGED STRUTS FROM ANOTHER CAR AND THEY TESTED ON THERE DRIVEWAY DID THE SAME COMES BACK DOWN WELL BELOW 6 FOOT THEY CALL FORD ENG WHO CLAIM THIS IS NORMAL IF THIS IS SO IT IS VERY UNSAFE AS I HAVE EVEN HIT MY HEAD AT ALMOST EYE LEVEL (BTW I'M 6'1) WHEN I OPEN AND IT FALLS BACK DOWN THIS DOSE NOT ALWAYS HAPPENS SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN WARMER WEATHER FORD HAS CLAIMED THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THIS ISSUE BUT CAN SEE WHERE SOME COULD EASILY BE INJURED OR DROP A CHILD WHEN HITTING THERE HEAD THE HATCH OPENS ABOUT 6'8" ON ITS ELEC OPENER AND SHOULD STAY THERE AS IT DOSE ON A FLAT SURFACE FORD SEEMS TO BE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO FIX THIS HAZARD AND CLAIM ITS NORMAL! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10616242