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2017 Ford Cmax Energi
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
22 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 24, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#34 of 552Among the 2017 models with a matured record, the 2017 Ford Cmax Energi ranks #34, scoring higher than 93% of them. See the 2017 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2017 Ford CMAX Energi 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 15%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 Ford Cmax Energi, plotted where owners report it happening.
Speed control
18%4 complaints
“Car accelerated by itself in Drive. I'd to either apply brake or put the car in Neutral to stop it. When shifted back to D, it auto accelerated. After I got home, shut…”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“THE CAR WAS IN ACCELERATION MODE AT EVERY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AT STOP SIGNS, ALWAYS EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMITS. I CONTINUALLY BRAKED TO MAINTAIN…”
Steering
14%3 complaints
“Steering wheel became loose. Within a week I took it into a Ford dealer who confirmed this was a serious safety concern. They worked on the problem a day later. Steeri…”
Wheels
14%3 complaints
“Lug nuts are deforming. Costco techs require 3 sockets to obtain proper torque. Two piece construction is problematic.”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 22 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 3 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking any seller before you hand over money:
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Ford CMAX ENERGI beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2017? See how every Cmax Energi model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Ford Cmax Energi against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.