2013 Ford C-Max Energi problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (13) · Steering (9) · Power Train (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford C-Max Energi model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
38 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Equipment:electrical:anti-Theft Devices 2013-10-17 · campaign 13V475000 · 23,000 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
Service bulletins (44)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields 2020-05-18 · TSB 20-2171 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2013-2018 c-max, 2013-2020 escape/fusion/mkz, 2015-2018 focus,2015-2019 mkc, 2015-2020 edge/f150/mustang, 2016-2018 mkx, 2016-2019 explorer, 2017-2020 f-super duty, 2018-2020 ecosport/expedition, 2019-2020 ranger/nautilus vehicles may experience seat pan looseness, lateral movement, or a clunk/
Power Train 2019-11-01 · SSM 48301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2013 2017 c-max energi, 2017 2018 c-max hybrid, 2013 2020 fusion energi and 2017-2020 fusion/mkz hybrid vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (mil) with any of the following diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs): p0496, p1450, p04ed, p04ef, p04ee, p2450, p2451. when performin
Visibility:glass, Side/Rear 2019-08-09 · SSM 48130 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. this is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent. hydrofluoric acid can attack the glass and cause visual distortion and/or disc
Electrical System 2018-12-12 · TSB 18-2373 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2012-2018 focus electric, 2013-2017 c-max energi, and 2013-2019 fusion energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (phev) may exhibit the high voltage (hv) battery failing to charge while connected to the second generation 120-volt electric vehicle service equipment (evse) charge cord. follow the s
Equipment 2018-07-20 · tsb18-2216 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2012-2018 focus electric, 2013-2017 c-max energi, and 2013-2018 fusion energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (phev) may exhibit the high voltage (hv) battery failing to charge while connected to the second generation 120-volt electric vehicle service equipment (evse) charge cord. follow the s
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2018-06-11 · SSM 47347 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2013-2017 c-max phev may exhibit diagnostic code p2183 and may have the coolant hoses that attach to the lower bulkhead connections incorrectly installed. the two hoses share the same female connectors and mate to matching male tube ends. there are two primary methods for telling which hose is
Showing the 6 most recent of 44 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-07-05 · Back Over Prevention · 144,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated while reversing, the back over prevention camera displayed the image upside down. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 144,000.…”
2023-03-31 · Suspension · 73,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated while driving 30 mph, there was a grinding sound coming from underneath the vehicle; followed by the vehicle shaking abnormally. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the front axle and the transmission needed to be replace…”
2023-03-14 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v413000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed …”
2022-12-30 · Power Train:automatic Transmission · 350,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the transmission inadvertently downshifted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rear bearings needed to be replaced. the dealer replaced the rear bearings; however, the failure recurred. the vehicle was then taken to sheehy for…”
2022-11-10 · Steering · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel locked up. the contact stated that it was difficult to turn the steering wheel. the contact received help from her passenger to pull off the road. the contact stopped and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering fu…”
2022-10-14 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v413000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclos…”
2022-03-17 · Unknown Or Other“the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a message to stop safely was displayed. the contact stated that the vehicle would slow independently and lose motive power. the contact stated that the failure occurred approximately every 6-months. the contact stated that during the failure, the con…”
2021-03-30 · Power Train · 152,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40-50 mph, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from under the hood of the vehicle. the contact stated that there was no warning light before or after the failure occurred. the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. the mechanic …”
2020-01-31 · Electrical System · 57,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max energi. the contact stated while driving at 10 mph and making a turn, water came in contact with the battery. the vehicle stopped after the battery was saturated. the vehicle was taken to roswell ford (821 n main st, roswell, nm 88201: (888 881-7087)) where it was confirmed that eh battery needed replacement b…”
2019-07-23 · Steering · 37,500 mi“power steering went out while in motion in a parking lot. car was less than 2,000 miles outside of warranty. poor design of column that had been recalled on similar vehicles caused shorts throughout the electrical system. this resulted in three pages worth of system errors when checked. $2,000 to repair. no shorts since replacement of faulty part.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.