Home · 2013 Ford Cmax Energi · Complaints

What 228 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (228)Crash / fire / injury (15)Electrical system (68)Steering (47)Transmission & drivetrain (44)Engine (17)Body & structure (16)Fuel system (9)Speed control (9)Brakes (7)Wheels (6)Airbags (5)

16 of 228 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Feb 2, 2022Body & structure

2013 Ford C-Max Energi Rear Door Interior Trim Panel detaches due to a faulty retainer clip and interferes with rear door closure. My door appeared closed, but during a right hand turn, the rear passenger door opened unexpectedly and ejected passenger contents onto the carriageway. Ford TSB-14-0030 "Rear Door Trim Panels Loose" describes a retainer clip that causes the rear door trim panel to detach (and interfere with safe operation of the passenger doors).

NHTSA ODI 11450062

Jan 7, 2022Electrical systemBody & structure

Lift gate opens randomly when vehicle is off.

NHTSA ODI 11446674

Aug 9, 2020Body & structure

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

NHTSA ODI 11344223

Jun 13, 2020Body & structureLatches & locks

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

Dec 4, 2019Body & structure

THE INNER DOOR PANEL ON BOTH REAR DOORS WARPS AND STICKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR FRAME MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS. THE ONLY OPTION FROM FORD WAS TO REPLACE BOTH DOOR PANELS WHICH COST $400 EACH + LABOR. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SPECIFICALLY ON THE 2013 MODEL BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11286846

Nov 8, 2019Body & structure

MY REAR PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT IS KEEPING THE DOOR CLOSED BUT NOT EVEN TO LOCK THE DOOR. WHEN I LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB IT BEEPS TWICE WHICH WOULD INDICATE A DOOR IS NOT CLOSED PROPERLY AND IS NOT SECURELY LOCKED. ALTHOUGH ON THE DASH IT IS NOT INDICATING A DOOR IS NOT CLOSED.

NHTSA ODI 11278898

Sep 4, 2019Body & structure

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

Aug 1, 2018Body & structure

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

May 19, 2017Body & structureCrash

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

Feb 13, 2017Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN CORRECTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR PANEL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10954262

Jan 2, 2017Body & structure

FORD HAS YET TO PROVIDE DEALERS WITH PARTS TO REPAIR RECALLED DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCHES IN THIS VEHICLE. THE RECALL NOTICE SAYS FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE AT LEAST FEBRUARY 2015 - NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO - AND ISSUED THE FORMAL RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2016. ARE THEY MAKING ANY EFFORT TO RESOLVE THIS? IT WOULD SEEM A MECHANICAL FIX LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT TAKE MONTHS OR YEARS TO RESOLVE - ESPECIALLY ON A CAR WHICH HAS HAD RELATIVELY LIMITED SALES. I HOPE YOU WILL CHECK ON THIS AND URGE FORD TO PROMPTLY MAKE THE PROMISED FIX.

NHTSA ODI 10939125

Nov 7, 2016Body & structure

THE REAR HATCH BECOMES UNLATCHED WHEN A BUMP IN THE ROAD, EVEN A SMALL RAISED ONE, IS DRIVEN OVER. I HAVE INFORMED THE LOCAL DEALER OF THIS. THE HATCH DOOR DOES NOT FULLY UNHINGE TO OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 10924631

Dec 8, 2014SuspensionBody & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

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

Nov 22, 2014Body & structure

TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE, DEFECTIVE TRUNK LID RELEASE MECHANISM AND RECALL 14S04. SERVICE DONE. TRUNK DONE BUT AGAIN NOT WORKING - THIS THE 3RD ATTEMPT THAT HAS FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT THAT RECALL DID NOT REQUIRE ATTENTION. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH RIVERTOWNFORD IN COLUMBUS, GA, AND WISH TO REGISTER THEIR INEPTITUDE IN HANDLING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY MATTERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10660183

Jul 25, 2014Body & structure1 injury

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

Jul 19, 2014AirbagsBody & structure

THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS MISALIGNED, BENT UPWARD AND OUT, NOT MEETING THE DOOR PANEL/TOP OF DASH PROPERLY AS DOES THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS MISALIGNMENT CREATES A GAP BETWEEN THE DASH AND DOOR PANEL, NORMALLY LESS THAN A PENCIL WIDTH, OF NEARLY A HANDS WIDTH. ALSO, THE GAP BETWEEN TOP OF THE DASH, NORMALLY FLUSH WITH THE OTHER DASH MOLDINGS, IS POPPED UP 1/2 INCH OR MORE. THIS INCONSISTENT ALIGNMENT IS VERIFIED BY VIEWING OTHER C-MAX VEHICLES. MY CONCERN BESIDES THE QUALITY OF FITMENT IS THE AIRBAG ALIGNMENT DURING A CRASH. IS THIS MISALIGNMENT AN ISSUE FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT TO THE CORRECT ANGLE AND IF SO WOULD THIS CAUSE INJURY BEYOND THE INCIDENTAL INJURY CAUSED BY NORMAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10614693

Working with the data? Download all 228 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Cmax Energi verdict →