Summary
The Ford C-Max has 9 recalls spanning 2011 through 2016, with the most serious being a steering gear defect on certain 2014 models where an incorrectly assembled gear can impair steering response or cause a complete loss of steering control.
The 2016 model year has a structural concern where floor pan welds at the front apron joints can fail to hold, reducing the front end's ability to absorb crash forces and raising the risk of injury in a collision. There is also a door latch issue that runs across 2013-2015 production: on vehicles previously repaired under an earlier door latch recall, the fix may not have been completed correctly, and a door that is not fully latched can swing open while driving.
Several recalls concentrate on 2013 models. The restraints control module can allow moisture in through failed sealant, causing corrosion on the circuit board that may disable airbags or other safety systems and triggers the airbag warning light. Separately, a software error in the restraint control module can delay side curtain airbag deployment during certain rollovers, reducing occupant protection in those crashes. Two recalls address the left rear door child lock on 2013 models, where the lock can fail to engage even when the operator turns it, leaving the door openable from the inside by a child. On 2013 C-Max Hybrid models without a panoramic roof, the interior headliner area exceeds the head injury threshold set by federal safety standards, meaning the risk of head injury is higher in a crash.
