What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Cmax Energi

The contact owns a 2014 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20 MPH with all four windows closed, there was a strong abnormal odor coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact then opened all the windows allowing the odor to release, and the abnormal odor was not as potent. The contact later inspected the vehicle and discovered that the original Volvo battery could be emitting a toxic substance that was entering the vehicle; the battery was original equipment. The contact sustained dizziness and difficulty breathing. Medical attention was not sought. This occurred on several different occasions. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was drivable and was taken to the place of residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,500.

NHTSA ODI 11617872

Recall Number18S24 My car had 3 recalls so I contacted the Legacy Ford dealer in McDonough on [XXX] and made an appointment on [XXX]. When we brought the car, dealer didn't fix the recall above saying they didn't have parts even though we made an appointment over 2 months before. They told us they will let us know when they gets the parts, but it's been over 2 weeks and they don't contact us or respond any of our email. And since we brought our car to dealer, the car stop charging from charging cord. They said they didn't do anything about that and if we want diagnostic, they will charge for $150. I just wanted to fix all of the recall so I bought the car but feel like I just brought it to break my car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11602481

The contact owns a 2014 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that the rear liftgate was opening independently. The contact stated that upon investigating the failure, he noticed that the failure was related to the original key fob of the vehicle. The contact stated that the key fob button that engaged the liftgate was two times press button; however, the key fob would engage the liftgate unintendedly when the key fob button was in contact with any object or surface. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned that the failure could occur while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497730

Ever since we brought the car to a Ford dealership for a recall on the back door latch we have had issues with the battery. We have to jump start it every day.

NHTSA ODI 11480312

The contact owns a 2014 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated that while her vehicle was charging in her garage, the outlet and wires were burnt. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and was given a new charge cord .The contact stated that new cord had the same issue but a unknown warning light illuminated and melted the outlet again. The manufacture was notified. The failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11455896

I noticed the car hasn’t honked upon locking it with the key fob for about the last 1,000 miles. Today is the first time I needed to use my horn to warn someone about pulling in front of me while I was also braking. I tried the next 3 miles to get the horn to honk and nothing happened. Once I got home & turned the car off, I could hear there was a clicking noise, but no horn honking sound was produced.

NHTSA ODI 11451456

The vehicle was entered while parked and locked with the security system active. A panel was removed from the lower left side of the housing beneath the steering wheel. All four windows had been lowered to the maximum extent possible, apparently without breaking them. Debris was strewn across front and rear seats. Spare floor mats stored in the trunk/hatch area (normally out of view due to a cover over the hatch and the rear seat backs) were deposited on the rear seat. Consumer would like to withdrawal the complaint, stated consumer's fault.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11440413

WARNING LIGHT WITH AN ENGINE AND WRENCH APPEARED FOR 24 HOURS. WRENCH DISAPPEARED AND THEN THE ENGINE. DEALER INSISTED THE CAR FIXED IT SELF AND LATER CLAIMED THEIR TESTER SHOW NO PROBLEM. DEALER WAS USING A GENERIC TESTER WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY SYSTEM. 'HYBRID/EV BATTERY BALANCING CIRCUIT STUCK' REFLECTED ON A PERSONAL NEWER MODEL ENGINE TESTER. THIS BATTERY IS WARRANTED FOR 100,000 MILES. DEALER NOT USING THE CORRECT TYPE OF ENGINE TESTER BASED ON THE TYPE OF BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11351379

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUNBURY MOTORS FORD (945 N 4TH ST, SUNBURY, PA 17801) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 11343463

THE BATTERY DOES NOT CHARGE UP MORE THAN 15 MILES, IF I AM LUCKY. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324622

2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE CHARGING CORD FOR VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS *JS

NHTSA ODI 11290553

ON NOVEMBER 26, 2019, PRESSED THE "START ENGINE" BUTTON. DASHBOARD FLASHED WITH CHECK-ENGINE, SERVICE WRENCH, AND "STOP SAFELY NOW" INDICATORS; CAR ENERGIZED BUT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE MODE. ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT. FAN MOTOR BEGAN BLOWING ALTHOUGH NEVER SELECTED. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, WAS ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF. AFTER SEVERAL MORE MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND GET HOME (APPROX. 2 MILES). COULD NOT GET CAR TO START FOR SEVERAL DAYS. MANAGED TO GET CAR STARTED AND BRING TO REPAIR FACILITY (CARMAX); THEY COULD NOT GET STARTED AND HAD CAR TOWED TO FELIX SABATES FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY INDICATED THEY REPROGRAMMED BATTERY MODULES AND FIXED PROBLEM; THEY RETURNED CAR TO REPAIR FACILITY. WENT TO PICK UP AND EXACT SAME SEQUENCE OCCURRED; CAR WOULD ENERGIZE BUT COULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE MODE AND I COULD NOT TURN OFF (12/10). CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO FORD DEALER; 2 WEEKS LATER CAR WAS "FIXED" AND RETURNED TO CARMAX 12/23/19. CARMAX COULD NOT START CAR. SEE NHTSA ISSUE 11016422,10846313, 10783553,10633639 WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I'M ON THE INTERSTATE A 70MPH AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF? *TR

NHTSA ODI 11291236

POWER ELECTRICAL HORN CONTINUES TO NOT WORK, WITHIN 3 YEAR OF DRIVING STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND I REATTACHED WIRES TO THE HORN ONCE AND WITHIN 1 MONTH THEY STOPPED WORKING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11207317

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000 (EQUIPMENT). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT ED BUTTS FORD (1515 N HACIENDA BLVD, LA PUENTE, CA 91744, (800) 960-3673), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET AN "AS" CORD; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC INSTALLED AN "AH" CORD INSTEAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 11197209

I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD THAT THE RECALL 18V-592 PARTS ARE IN STOCK TO REPLACE THE RECHARGER CORD. I WAS NOTIFIED ORIGINALLY ON SEPT 2018 BUT NOW 6 MONTHS LATER NO NOTIFICATION OF PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CAR CANNOT BE CHARGED USING 110V POWER AS FORD RECALL NOTICE SAID TO QUIT USING THE DEFECTIVE CHARGE CORD.

NHTSA ODI 11191534

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (TUTTLE CLICK FORD, 9501 RESEARCH DR, IRVIN, CA), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11184610

FORD RECALLED THE CMAX CHARGING CORD (ELECTRIC) ON AUGUST 2ND, 2018. THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED BECAUSE OF FIRE DANGER. MY CORD SPECIFICALLY MELTED UNDER EXTREME HEAT AND COULD HAVE EASILY CREATED A FIRE IF THE LINE HAD NOT BEEN ON GFI. IT IS NOW 5 MONTHS LATER AND FORD STILL HAS NOT ISSUED REPLACEMENT CORDS FOR THIS RECALL. THE TIMELINE TO REPLACE THESE CORDS MUST BE ACCELERATED, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ALLOW CHARGING CORDS TO BE USED FOR CHARGING THEIR CMAX VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER18S24 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER18V592

NHTSA ODI 11182405

THE FORD C MAX COMES WITH THE SYNC SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS ALL OF THE CONSOLE SYSTEMS (RADIO, BACKUP CAMERA, HEAT/COLD, PHONE, NAVIGATION, AND USB PORTS). IN THE VEHICLE, THE SYNC SYSTEM HAS QUIT WORKING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTION, AND EFFORT BY THE DRIVER TO REMEDY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SYNC CAUSES THE BACKUP CAMERA TO GO IN AND OUT, THUS CAUSING A BACKUP HAZARD. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO FORD'S SERVICE CENTER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE FORD REPAIR SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES, AT LEAST FOUR (4) AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE LAST TWO TIMES THAT HAVE REPLACED MAJOR COMPONENTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, BUT IT HAS NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11172398

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN MARCH OF 2018. THE 12 VOLT BATTERY HAS COMPLETELY DRAINED NUMEROUS TIMES THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED IT. ABOUT 10 - 12 TIMES. FINALLY IN APRIL OF 2018 I REPLACED THE 12 VOLT BATTER TO THE TUNE OF $155.00. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT DID FOR A FEW WEEKS. THEN I WOULD GET UP TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN AVERAGING 3-4 JUMPS A WEEK TO GET CAR RUNNING. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED YET AGAIN IN JULY 2018. THIS WEEK I HAVE HAD TO JUMP MY CAR A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN 5 DAYS. I HAVE BEEN LATE TO WORK TWICE. AND TWO OF THE MORNINGS THE CAR DID START IT HAD BEEN ON THE BATTERY CHARGER OVERNIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO WORK THESE TWO MORNINGS, BUT 4 HOURS LATER WHEN I WENT OUT TO GO TO LUNCH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN.I AM TYPING THIS ON MY LUNCH HOUR AS I SIT AT MY DESK. CAR IS DEAD AGAIN AND I CAN'T LEAVE. I READ ALL THE ISSUES OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THAT ARE JUST LIKE MINE AND DO NOT KNOW WHY FORD HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL. I HAVE TO CARRY AROUND JUMPER CABLES AND A BATTERY CHARGER IN MY CAR AND HOPE SOMEONE COMES ALONG TO ASSIST ME. THIS CAR IS UNRELIABLE. THEN NOVEMBER 17 WHEN WE WERE IN BRANSON, MO FOR THANKSGIVING THE REAR TAILGATE LATCH FAILED. IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. I UNDERSTAND ANOTHER OF FORD'S ISSUES. WE HAVE ADJUSTED THE REAR BUMPER PADS PER FORD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT ISSUE.IT DID NOT HELP. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT IN THE FORD DEALER ON 12/15 AND HAVE THAT REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $358.00. HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH ISSUES WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY?

NHTSA ODI 11161151

I NOW FIND THAT THE CHARGER FOR THE CAR BATTERY WAS RECALLED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO AND THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE AS YET. THE CHARGER IS SUPPOSED TO ADD 18 MILES TO THE BATTERY BUT LAST TIME I PLUGGED IT IN WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, OVERNIGHT (ABOUT 10 HOURS) IT TOOK 10 MGW, AND CHARGED FOR ONE MILE. AND THE CHARGER WAS HOT. IT WAS PLUGGED DIRECTLY INTO A WALL SOCKET OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.

NHTSA ODI 11132699

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLUG TO CHARGE THE VEHICLE WAS MELTING AND CAUSED THE POWER OUTLET IN THE HOUSE TO MELT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CHARGE AND WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE AT TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED SARAHSOTA FORD AT 888-349-4989 AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS DUE TO USER ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11055439

WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON MEANING CONTACT DEALER ASAP ABOUT POWERTRAIN ISSUE. I HAD NOTICED A FEW DAYS EARLIER IT SEEMED TO NOT BE SWITCHING BETWEEN ELECTRIC AND ENGINE AS WELL OR SMOOTHLY WHEN DRIVING. WHEN STATIONARY, THE DISPLAY SCREEN FOR RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. INSTEAD IT GIVES MESSAGE "TURNING OFF TO CONSERVE BATTERY." CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS AT 78000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER. CANNOT FIND ISSUE. CODES IT IS THROWING ARE FOR BATTERY BUT THEY BOTH TEST GOOD. THEY RESET CODES AND WE WENT TO PICK IT UP. NOW KEY FOBS WON'T WORK UNLESS THE CAR IS TURNED ON. ALARM BUTTON ON THE FOB MAKES THE CAR SOUND LIKE A FLUTTERING NOISE, BUT NO REAL ALARM. THE DEALER IS GOING TO KEEP IT MORE AND CHECK IT OUT MORE. STILL HAS THE MESSAGE ABOUT CONSERVING BATTERY ON THE SCREEN. THEY HADN'T FOUND WHAT CAUSED THE BATTERY CODES AND NOW MORE THINGS AREN'T WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11032161

RECEIVED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" DASH INDICATOR LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER AND I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP PRIOR TO INTERSECTION. PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF, BUT CAR DID NOT RESPOND OR POWER DOWN. ACCESSORY ITEMS WERE STILL FUNCTIONING IN CAR, BUT UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO SWITCH INTO GEAR AND DRIVE. EVENTUALLY, PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT. AFTER 10 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON, BUT STILL UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO MOTION. HAVING VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11016422

120 VOLT CONVENIENCE CHARGING CORD HEATS UP >150 DEGREES F WHILE CHARGING, AS CHECKED BY A DIGITAL THERMOMETER, RESULTING IN BROWNING OF THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET (PICTURE ENCLOSED). OUTLET IS A STANDARD 120VOLT 15AMP GFCI OUTLET WITH NOTHING ELSE CONNECTED. TESTED ON A DIFFERENT OUTLET WITH SIMILAR RESULTS PICTURE ENCLOSED).*DT *JS

NHTSA ODI 11015188

WE HAVE NOTICED A TEMPERATURE PROBLEM WHEN CHARGING WITH OUR FORD SUPPLIED 120 VOLT EVSE FM58-10B706AE, MANUFACTURE DATE: 14122, FOR OUR 2014 FORD C-MAX-ENERGI, WITH 29,100 MILES. ON AUGUST 24, 2016, I DID SOME INITIAL TEMPERATURE TESTING ON WITH AN INFRARED THERMOMETER. THE HIGHEST RECORDED TEMPERATURE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PLUG INDICATED 192.2 DEGREES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECORD AMPERAGE AT THE OUTLET THE 15 AMP RATED TESTER BEGAN TO MELT. WE HAD THE CAR AND EVSE IN WITH OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER ON AUGUST 25, 2016 AND SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 TO BE CHECKED. AFTER BEING CHECKED AND HAVING A REPAIR MADE TO THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE EVSE WAS WARM BUT NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE IT CHARGED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT IF WE WERE CONCERNED THEN WE SHOULDN'T LEAVE IT CHARGING UNATTENDED. WE STOPPED USING THE FORD SUPPLIED EVSE. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2017, I TOOK THE TIME TO RECORD THE INFORMATION BELOW. THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE AREAS ARE ON THE PLUG AND WIRE CABLE JUST BELOW THE PLUG. TIMEDURATIONPLUG TEMPERATURELINE (HOT) BLADE TEMPERATUREVOLTAGE AT OUTLETAMPERAGE AT OUTLETAMPERAGE AT CARHERTZ 6:45 PM00:005250120.80060 6:46 PM00:01547412112.11260 7:05 PM00:2093157120.71211.960 7:15 PM00:30119192120.611.911.860 8:00 PM01:15118178120.81211.860 8:30 PM01:45110175121.61211.960 9:00 PM02:15115206120.41211.960 9:40 PM02:55114176121.61211.960 TESTING CONDUCTED ON A DEDICATED 20 AMP CIRCUIT WITH A SINGLE 20 AMP DUPLEX OUTLET CONNECT AT CIRCUIT PANEL VIA 24" 12 GAUGE COPPER WIRE. AMPERAGE MEASURED USING A DIGITAL CLAMP AMMETER. VOLTAGE MEASURED USING A DIGITAL VOLTAGE METER WITH DIRECT CONTACT PROBES. HERTZ MEASURED USING A DIGITAL HERTZ METER WITH DIRECT CONTACT PROBES. TEMPERATURE MEASURED USING A DIGITAL THERMOMETER WITH DIRECT CONTACT PROBE. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES.

NHTSA ODI 10950391