Home · 2014 Ford Cmax Energi · Complaints

What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 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 (106)Crash / fire / injury (12)Electrical system (34)Transmission & drivetrain (22)Steering (16)Latches & locks (11)Body & structure (7)Engine (7)Fuel system (6)Airbags (4)Wheels (4)Backup camera & sensors (2)

7 of 106 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Jul 15, 2024Electrical systemEngineFuel system

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

Apr 11, 2023EngineTransmission & drivetrainLatches & locks

2014 FORD C-MAX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SEVERAL DEFECTS ON VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL DEFECTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1.-)UPDATING THE PCM SOFTWARE AND THE REPLACE THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. 2.-)TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHEN CHANGING GEARS. 3.-) INFORMATION FAILURES FROM THE COMPUTER ABOUT THE ENGINE OIL CHANGE INDICATING THE OIL CHANGE WASN'T MADE. 4.- )REAR DOOR LOCK FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI 11516459

Aug 5, 2020Electrical systemEngine

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

Jan 23, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALHAMBRA FORD IN ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11064444

Sep 13, 2016Engine & coolingLatches & locksEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RODS AND PISTONS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. .....UPDATED 10/13/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPLACED OR REPURCHASED. UPDATED 09/20/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10906166

Jan 8, 2016SteeringEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH HER STEERING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V514000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,910.

NHTSA ODI 10819061

Sep 16, 2014SteeringElectrical systemEngine

1ST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED WHILE I WAS DOING 50MPH DOWN A 5 LANE ROAD. ALL ELECTRICAL WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LOST MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AS IT WOULD NOT RE-START. 2ND TIME ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER GETTING THE CAR "FIXED" THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I75 WITH SAME SCENARIO. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON SHOULDER AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. 3RD TIME AFTER GETTING THE "FIXED" VEHICLE BACK THE RADIO WENT OUT, THEN THE CLOCK WENT WACKY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN OFF. THEN WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS THE CAR SIMPLY DID NOT RESTART. NO POWER TO THE DASH, LOCKS, ETC. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN AND THE 4TH TIME AFTER DRIVING AN 1 1/2 HOURS TO WORK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART WITHOUT BEING JUMP STARTED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I AM BEING FORCED TO TAKE BACK A BRAND NEW 2014 FORD CMAX ENERGI WITH 4400 MILES ON IT THAT KEEPS DYING EVERY WEEK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE NOR DO I WANT THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER. FORD HAS NOT YET SENT ANY SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE DEALER TO HELP RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633639

Working with the data? Download all 106 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 2014 Ford Cmax Energi verdict →