Home · 2015 Ford Cmax Energi · Complaints

What 60 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 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 (60)Crash / fire / injury (12)Electrical system (11)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Steering (9)Backup camera & sensors (7)Airbags (6)Brakes (4)Fuel system (4)Body & structure (3)Engine (3)Equipment (2)

12 of 60 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Sep 12, 2024AirbagsCrash1 injury

Other vehicle impacted our car driver side at front fender/front door joint, continued rearward to rear fender. Airbags deployed, EXCEPT for driver side curtain airbag. Driver injured (fractured left ribs, left shin laceration, right hand laceration/burn, multiple bruised on arms, legs, thighs, left back upper shoulder area).

NHTSA ODI 11614265

Apr 26, 2024AirbagsCrash3 injuries

Had a front end collision airbags did not deploy car was total

NHTSA ODI 11585535

Apr 25, 2024AirbagsCrash

Had a front end collision air bags did not deploy

NHTSA ODI 11585303

Jul 27, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlCrash

The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that upon shifting to park, the vehicle accelerated forward unintendedly. The vehicle ran over the curb and crashed into the handicap sign. The fuel tank detached during the crash. There were no warning lights illuminated. The fire department was on the scene. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire, air bag deployment, or injury. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11534766

Jul 25, 20231 injury

The rear drivers side door opened unexpectedly going around a turn and did not re-latch after it was closed. The door opened and slammed closed going around a turn and injured my son sitting in the back seat. The child locks on the door were still engaged during the incident and after. This is the second time it has happened. Both days were close to 100 degrees in temperature. The door intermittently does not latch.

NHTSA ODI 11534478

Sep 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN NON-ECO MODE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER ORIGIN LOCATED AT 6400 N 51ST AVE, GLENDALE, AZ 85301, AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11361725

Feb 6, 2020SeatsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD C-MAX HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT HER VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, PUSHING HER VEHICLE INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS THE DRIVER' S SIDE SEAT HEADREST DETACHED EXPOSING THE TWO METAL RODS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF SHE WAS HIT AGAIN THE POSTS WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, RIGHT HAND, KNEE AND HIP THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE WAS 94,000

NHTSA ODI 11307509

Apr 17, 2019Speed controlCrash

2015 FORD C-MAX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED UPON ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO THE GARAGE, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD RAMMING INTO THE INNER WALL. WHILE REVERSING DIRECTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE LURCHED BACKWARDS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11196290

Aug 15, 2016Transmission & drivetrainCrash

REVERSE GEAR SETTING ACTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AFTER STARTING THE PARKED CAR ND ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OFPARKING SPACE. I TRIED TURNING OFF ENGINE, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED, THE CAR CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD UNTIL THE CAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE PARKING SPACE SIGN. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE AS 1) IT PROBABLY OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WITH THE SAME MODEL IN THE SAME FLEET AND LEASER CHARGED ME UPWARD OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX VOSMETIC DAMAGE CAUSED WHILE PARALLEL PARKING AND 2) THUS COULD CAUSE BODILY INJURY HAD THE PARKING SPACE NOT BEEN BLOCKED IN FRONT. THESE CARS ARE PART OF A MEMBERSHIP BASED RENTAL FLEET, AND SHOULD BE HIGHLY MAINTAINED. AFTER CONTACTING THE EMERGENCY NUMBER OF THE FLEET LEASER, I WAS A FEW MINUTES LATER ABLE TO REENTER AND START THE CAR, AND THE REVERSE GEAR OPERATED PROPERLY. THE LEASER HAS PREVIOUSLY RAISED MY INSURANCE RATE BASED ON SMALL AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE TO A FLEET VEHICLE INCURRED WHILE PARKING. MY GUESS IS THAT THEY KNOW OF TE PROBLEM AND HAVE CHOSEN TO BLAME THE DRIVERS RATHER THAN THE MANUFACTURERS OR MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS.

NHTSA ODI 10895980

May 19, 2016AirbagsBody & structureEngineCrash

ABOUT A MONTH AGO IN APRIL 2016, I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SURGED AHEAD AND STRUCK MY GARAGE DOOR, DAMAGING IT. IN THIS INSTANCE I MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE TO STOP THE CAR. ON MAY17, 2016 AFTER PICKING UP MY GRANDSON FROM HIS SCHOOL, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION WITH NO DEPRESSION OF THE GAS PEDAL, AND DESPITE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD, WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I HIT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED MY CAR AND 2 OTHER CARS, THEN WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS CAN HAPPEN YET AGAIN AND CAUSE EVEN MORE SEVERE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY INJURY.

NHTSA ODI 10865727

Feb 18, 2016SteeringElectrical systemCrash

1. REAR WINDOWS OPEN 6 TO 8 INCHES UPON RETURNING TO CAR FROM STORE- HAPPENED 4 TIMES. (SITTING IN PARKING LOTS) 2. CAR ON OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE. GARAGE HAS THE GAS FURNACE AND HEATER 3. DOES NOT STEER WHEN YOU WANT IT TO./ JUST TAKES OFF ON ITS OWN/ CAUSED WRECK. SLOW LEFT TURN. WENT ALL BY ITSELF INTO THE SIDEWALK. 4. DOES NOT TURN OFF OR ON WHEN TOLD TO DO SO/ MOVES AFTER PARKED, EVEN IF FULLY BELTED IN 5. THE SYNC DOES NOT WORK AND NAVIGATION GOT ME LOST TWICE IN LA 6. HUMMING NOISES AND VIBRATION BELOW MY FEET AT SPEED (65 TO 70)

NHTSA ODI 10836817

Dec 17, 2015AirbagsCrash2 injuries

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. I WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE IMPACT WAS TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. MY VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND 45 DEGREES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I WAS TOSSED AROUND IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. THE CARS COMPUTER DETECTED AN IMPACT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO INITIATE A 911 CALL. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 10811026

Working with the data? Download all 60 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 2015 Ford Cmax Energi verdict →