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)

6 of 106 complaints match · Fuel system · 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

Sep 10, 2018Fuel system

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WAS COASTING TO A STOP FOR A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. JAMMING ON THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR. ONE OF TIME I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR NOTHING WOULD HAPPENED, SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IT PARK AND THEN BACK INTO REVERSE AND STILL NOTHING. NEXT I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR STILL WOULDNT MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AGAIN AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AND AFTER A SECOND OR TWO THE CAR WHEN FLYING BACKWARDS AND I QUICKLY JAMMED ON THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11128496

Aug 20, 2017Electrical systemFuel system

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

Aug 1, 2017Fuel system

THE PORTABLE CHARGER WALL PLUG MELTED WHILE CHARGING. THE PLASTIC MELTED AND WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. THIS WAS AFTER TWO HOURS OF CHARGING AN EMPTY BATTERY. FORD IS NOT REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY, IS IT IS JUST OUTSIDE 3 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11012155

Oct 20, 2015Electrical systemFuel system

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (ABOUT 1/2 WAY THROUGH A 6-HOUR HIGHWAY TRIP), THE "STOP SAFELY" WARNING LIGHT AND ACCOMPANYING BEEPS STARTED AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAD TO LATER LOOK UP IN THE MANUAL WHAT THE ORANGE TRIANGLE WARNING SYMBOL MEANT. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN PARK, AND IT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS FINE FOR THE REST OF THE JOURNEY. I RAN THE CARS "VEHICLE HEALTH REPORT", WHICH DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY INDICATED THEY CONSULTED WITH FORD, WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS. WHILE THIS IS A DIFFERENT MODEL, I DID NOTICE ONLINE THAT THE FOCUS ELECTRIC HAD A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I SUGGESTED TO THE DEALER THEY CHECK IF THIS COULD BE THE SAME PROBLEM SHOWING UP IN A DIFFERENT MODEL (I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY SHARE THE PARTS THAT CAUSED THE FOCUS ELECTRIC PROBLEM), BUT THEY REACTED LIKE THAT SUGGESTION MADE NO SENSE, SO I LET IT DROP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 7 MONTHS (BOUGHT NEW) AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED 20 MINUTES EARLIER WHEN WE WERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE LANE IT COULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. AFTER HAVING THE CAR 4 DAYS, THE DEALER DID OFFER TO KEEP THE CAR LONGER AND DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT I OPTED TO PICK UP THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10783553

Oct 31, 2014Fuel system

THE AVERAGE MILES PER GALLON OF FUEL IS INCORRECT BECAUSE THE FUEL USAGE IS INCORRECT. THIS VEHICLE HAS A DISPLAY THAT INDICATES THE AMOUNT OF FUEL USED. I RESET WITH EVERY FILL-UP. IT IS CONSISTENTLY WRONG. USUALLY LOW BY .5 TO .7 GALLONS. THIS PRODUCES A FALSE AVERAGE MILES PER GALLON READING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10651569

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 →