2016 Ford C-Max Energi problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (7) · Power Train (4) · Steering (3)
🧭 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
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (19)
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.
Electrical System 2023-04-12 · 21B09 S2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2014-2020 model year multiple vehicle lines 3g telematics control unit to 4g upgrade kit reason for this supplement program terms & urgency / expiration date: program extension until july 31, 2023. service action: o ids level 128 or higher is now required to address various programmin
Communication:manufacturer Telematics 2022-07-28 · 21B09-S1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2014-2020 model year multiple vehicle lines - 3g telematics control unit to 4g upgrade kit. the north america 3g cellular service began decommissioning in august 2021 and a complete shutdown of the 3g network took place in february 2022. vehicles on the road equipped with a 3g telematics co
Equipment:electrical 2021-11-03 · 21B09 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2014-2020 model year multiple vehicle lines 3g telematics control unit to 4g upgrade kit the north america 3g cellular service began decommissioning in august 2021 and will be fully decommissioned in february 2022. vehicles on the road equipped with a 3g telematics control unit (tcu) / embed
Electrical System:software 2020-08-06 · TSB 20-2255 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2016 mks, 2016-2017 navigator, 2016-2018 f150/focus/cmax/edge/fiesta/mkx/ transit connect/mustang, 2017-2018 continental/fusion/mkz, 2017-2019 explorer, 2016-2019 escape/mkc/flex/mkt/taurus/transit/expedition/f-super duty, and 2018-2019 ecosport vehicles equipped with sync 3 may experience vari
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/
Unknown Or Other 2020-03-09 · SSM 48619 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ssm 48619 - various vehicles - perimeter alarm armed and original vehicle keys cannot be accessed to enter vehicle - can protection strategy some 2013-2016 model year vehicles may exhibit a concern in which the perimeter alarm is active and the original keys cannot be accessed to disable the peri
Showing the 6 most recent of 19 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-29 · Back Over Prevention · 54,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max energi. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that while in reverse(r), the rearview camera failed to display an image as intended on the center digital screen. no warning lig…”
2025-07-30 · Back Over Prevention · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max hybrid. the contact stated that while in reverse(r), the rearview camera image appeared upside down. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the…”
2025-07-01 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery · 50,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max energi. the contact stated that while charging the hybrid battery, the battery stopped charging after 15-16 minutes. the contact stated that the battery could only be charged for 15-16 minutes at a time. the contact stated that there was a red triangle warning light illuminated on the charger but there was no warn…”
2025-01-24 · Steering · 37,200 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max energi. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "service power steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn in either direction. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. the veh…”
2025-01-08 · Power Train:automatic Transmission · 49,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, prompting her to discontinue driving the vehicle. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. the contact wa…”
2024-07-11 · Electrical System:horn · 92,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max energi. the contact stated while driving 25 mph, the contact attempted to honk at another vehicle, but the horn failed to respond while depressed. the contact stated that the horn occasionally responded while depressed. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was repaired temporarily with electri…”
2024-04-16 · Electrical System · 127,295 mi“the contact owns a 2016 ford c-max energi. the contact stated while in reverse (r) and backing up at 3 mph the back-over prevention camera failed and displayed a black screen. the contact stated that when the back-over prevention camera failed to operate, the radio and the gps became inoperable. the contact stated that the back over prevention scre…”
2023-10-02 · Power Train“was driving it to a shop to do a transmission fluid exchange and got a big stop safely now warning on the dash with an advancetrac warning as well. car stopped dead on a freeway off ramp - was very fortunate to get an immediate socal freeway service tow off the ramp in los angeles to a safe place, and after aaa told me i might wait 4 hours for a t…”
2023-09-19 · Electrical System“i have a 2016 ford c-max. on saturday, 9-16-2023 my wife and i were traveling on highway 69 in prescott az. we turned off the highway and about 50 yards from hwy 69 a stop safely now flashed on the instrument pannel. the car immediately braked hard and stopped. i had no time to pull over. had it been 50 yards sooner i would have abruptly stop…”
2023-05-24 · Wheels“in the course of routine maintenance, it has been brought to my attention that stock ford lug nuts have "swelled" and can not be removed using normal methods, making on the road tire replacement impossible. ford states this is a known issue with defective ford lug nuts.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.