2018 Ford C-Max problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (2) · Air Bags (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford C-Max model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod 2022-06-10 · campaign 22V413000 · 2,925,968 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Service bulletins (61)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-25 · 25N17 · Other
advance notice – customer satisfaction program 25n17 certain 2015-2025 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera replacement if required after dealer evaluation
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Electrical System 2025-11-26 · TSB 25-2570 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 24-2165 to update the tsb service procedure. some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit various sync performance related concerns including but not limited to: display operation concerns navigation inoperative voice recognition concerns phone co
Power Train 2025-11-12 · SSM 54366 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2015-2021 ford and lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated mil with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0011, p0012, p0014, p0015, p0016, p0017, p0018, p0019, p0021, p0022, p0024 and/or p0025. pinpoint test hk in the powertrain control and emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) or in section 303-14 of th
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
while performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Unknown Or Other 2024-05-27 · TSB 24-2165 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 21-2175 to update the tsb service procedure. some 2016 mks, 2016-2017 navigator, 2016-2018 f-150/focus/c-max/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
Showing the 6 most recent of 61 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-11-06 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i recently rear ended a car and the front of the vechical was damaged. the air bag censor was destroyed, however the airbags did not come out. this was on a 2018 ford c-max. many people pointed out this malfunction and how my life was put at risk.…”
2023-09-19 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i totalled my car. the steering wheel airbag failed to inflate…”
2023-08-18 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2018 ford c-max hybrid. the contact stated that after coming to a complete stop at a red light, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost motive power. after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality; however, the failure had since become a regular failure. no warning lights were illuminated. t…”
2023-03-06 · Steering“steering locks to the point that it can't turn. happened while driving. unknown cause. warning light came on for driver to park. issue unresolved and can no longer drive car.…”
2022-09-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“recently, there has been a whiff of gasoline around my garage but there is more than one vehicle in there so i didn't figure out what the culprit was for a while. after completely filling up my car 9/3/2022, i parked it in the attached garage and in minutes my whole house smelled like gasoline. so i immediately parked it outside and ventilated th…”
2021-08-02 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly · 14,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford c-max. the contact stated that the seat belt failed. the contact stated that while the driver’s side rear seat belt was fastened to the car seat, the seat belt tightened up independently on her grandchild’s chest. the contact’s grandchild was unable to breathe properly. the contact was unable to unfasten the seat from t…”
2020-02-15 · Unknown Or Other · 46,500 mi“electrical gremlins since the first day. touchscreen went on and off, phone didn't charge, door handles don't work, garage door opener forgot settings, presets on dash would blink out of memory. ultimately the car didn't even start. but for all of these problems, sometimes they would work, sometimes they wouldn't. ultimately got the yellow wrench…”
2020-02-11 · Visibility/Wiper“the right-hand outside rearview mirror contains a small inset mirror intended to provide a different angle of view so as to give the driver visibility of vehicles alongside or in the "blind spot." it is supposed to be mounted at an angle relative to the plane of the main mirror similar to the driver side mirror, but on my car it is mounted in the s…”
2019-05-01 · Suspension · 9,500 mi“2018 titanium ford c-max with rattling/clunking noise emanating from vehicle undercarriage. vehicle purchased new now has failing strut braces (which also failed on our new 2017 c-max). braces are failing approximately every 10,000 miles amongst our two vehicles.…”
2018-10-13 · Steering · 3,000 mi“steering at highway speeds is unsafe as vehicle wanders within lane purportedly due to electric-assist power steering. speeds above 40mph, vehicle requires excessive steering input to stay within lane.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.