What 60 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Cmax Energi

The issues that I am having is with the power staring at this. On my way back from dropping off my child I entered the apartment complex and drove over a speed bump and that’s when the fault light came on about the power steering. I noticed that when the light came on my steering wheel started to stiffen however, it’s when I got home and took my car off that the steering wheel became stuck and needed more power to turn the wheel. This is the first time I’m ever seeing this issue, but my ABS tire light is the only light that has remained on since purchasing the vehicle a few months ago. I have already contacted Ford to see about what they could do, and I was instructed that this particular vehicle did not have a recall while others do which highly concerns me. Upon further research, I found out that this is a common occurrence since 2014 with these models.

NHTSA ODI 11654741

As I was driving I lost power steering and almost crashed the car. A red alert and sound on the dashboard told me “steering assist failure service vehicle”. Also the light on the dashboard for steering was illuminated. I was able to barely drive the car home (approx 3 miles). Took to my local mechanic and had the error code: u3000 49-08 Driving the car by my husband in our neighborhood resulted in the same problem including the warning sounds and message. He was able to restart the car and the steering was fine and was able to drive it back to its parking spot. Took the car to the Sheehy Ford dealer today and am being told it is a 3k repair to replace the rack and pinion.

NHTSA ODI 11472338

I was driving on the freeway when my power steering failed. Ford has switched to an Electronic Steering Control system and it has had multiple class action suits against them, however no recalls have been done. I nearly ran off the road because when I turned off the freeway it took all of my strength to correct the wheel. There was no warning, just full failure and alerts on my dash board. This is a known problem and needs to be corrected. Not only that, it is a $3000 repair job on a known problem.

NHTSA ODI 11450886

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEERING SYSTEM ERROR - STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALEY FORD RICHMOND LOCATED AT 10724 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, RICHMOND, VA 23237, (804) 748-2253, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,370.

NHTSA ODI 11340419

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING STALL AT THE GROCERY STORE AS WE PULLED OUT A MESSAGE CAME UP POWER STEERING FAILURE SERVICE NOW

NHTSA ODI 11257220

WHEN STARTING THE CAR ONE DAY, I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT THERE WAS A POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILURE - STEERING WAS MANUAL AND VERY HEAVY. NO CODES PRESENT AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. IT CAME BACK AGAIN ANOTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING AND WENT AWAY AGAIN. THE POWER ASSIST SEEMS TO BE WORKING BUT IS "STICKY" AND THE WHEEL STAYS LOCKED AT FIRST WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING GEAR FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT $2300+. THE CAR HAS ONLY 45000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS CLEARLY A FAULTY PART.

NHTSA ODI 11206788

THIS CAR HAS 57,500 MILES AND IS INSIDE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD. THE POWER ASSIST STEERING FELT STICKY, NOT SMOOTH LIKE NORMAL, SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN ALMOST THERE AN ERROR LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING ISSUE. IT CLEARED AND NOTHING HAPPENED, THEN SOON AFTER A POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE CAME ON, BUT THE PERFORMANCE WAS STILL STICKY BUT FUNCTIONAL. I PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT AND POWERED DOWN, THEN BACK UP TO DRIVE INTO THE SERVICE BAY. THE POWER STEERING WAS NON-OPERATIONAL AT THAT POINT. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY ALSO STATE IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER FORD MODELS, BUT NOT THE C-MAX SO FAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND HAS OCCURRED FAR TOO EARLY IN THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE FOR WEAR AND TEAR. THE FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL FOR THE STEERING IS 60,000 MILES AND THIS CAR IS NOT EVEN THERE YET.

NHTSA ODI 11151212

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

FOUND CORROSION ON BOTH SIDE STEERING AXLES AND STEERING KNUCKLE AT 17K, TOOK IT TO SUNNYVALE FORD IN CA, THEY GAVE ME THE ANSWER WAS IT'S NORMAL CONDITIONS IT'S BARE METALS , FORD WAS LAYING TO THE CONSUMER, ALSO COOLANT SPILL OUT FROM HIGH VOLTAGE RESERVOIR, DEALERSHIP SAID THOSE ARE NORMAL CONDITIONS NO NEED TO TAKE CARE ABOUT IT ,STEERING WHEEL WAS COCK TO EITHER SIDE FORD DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ABLE TO FIXED STEERING WHEEL ON CENTER, CORROSION FOUND ON EVERY FORD VEHICLE AND IT'S NORMAL, I THINK GOVERNMENT SHOULD STEP IN AND GET A RECALL FOR THOSE ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 10836867