NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can wear down or come loose, potentially affecting shift control.
This page covers 9 recalls, 307 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Ford C-Max.
40 mpg combined
5.9 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
The 2013 Ford C-Max draws the most complaints around its electrical system and steering. The dominant electrical complaint is a sudden loss of propulsion while driving, owners describe the accelerator becoming completely unresponsive while the vehicle is still powered on, typically accompanied by a "Stop Safely Now" warning and multiple other dashboard alerts. Owners report being able to coast to the side of the road in most cases, but the condition recurs. Steering complaints make up the second-largest named category, though the representative narratives provided don't detail specific steering symptoms to synthesize further. On the powertrain side, acceleration failure overlaps with the hybrid propulsion concerns already described. A smaller number of owners also report a rear impact bar rusting out severely and separating from the subframe, and at least one report describes the backup camera image flipping upside down and losing its overlay guidelines.
307
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Ford C-Max has 9 recalls, the most serious being a shifter cable bushing that can degrade or fall off, leaving the transmission unable to shift into the intended gear and potentially causing the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, and a 120V home charging cord on Energi models that can overheat and catch fire.
Two door latch recalls affect this vehicle: a component inside the door latches can break, causing a door to appear closed while it is not latched, and a prior repair attempt for that same issue may not have been completed correctly, leaving some vehicles still at risk of a door opening while moving. On the child lock side, the left rear door child lock can fail to engage even when activated, meaning a child inside could open the door from within. Restraint system concerns include a programming issue in the restraint control module that can delay side curtain airbag deployment in a rollover, and a separate issue where moisture can corrode the restraint control module circuit board, potentially disabling airbags or other safety systems. On non-panoramic-roof hybrid models, the headliner area in certain crash conditions can exceed federal head injury limits, raising the risk of head injury to occupants.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can wear down or come loose, potentially affecting shift control.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the worn bushing and install a protective cap over the cable bushing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A door latch component may break, making doors hard to close or allowing doors to appear closed when they're actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latches and replace them if needed at no cost. Owners can also check latch date codes online to verify if repair was done correctly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 120V charging cord lacks a thermistor. If your home's outlet or wiring has high resistance, the cord can overheat and melt during charging.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your cord with a new 120V convenience cord that includes a thermistor, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component inside the door latches can break, causing doors to fail to latch or appear closed when they are actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Sealant on the restraints control module can fail, letting moisture corrode the circuit board. This triggers the airbag warning light and may disable airbags or other safety systems.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the restraints control module with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side curtain airbags may deploy too slowly during certain rollover events because of a programming error in the restraint control module.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the restraint control module software to fix the deployment timing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The interior roof structure can cause excessive head injury risk in a crash, failing to meet federal safety standards for interior impact protection.
What the fix does
Dealers will install energy absorbers between the headliner and roof to reduce head injury risk.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left rear door child lock may fail to engage when activated with normal force due to incorrect manufacturing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rear door latches as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left rear door child lock may fail to engage with normal turning force, and the operator might think it's locked when it isn't. A child could then open the door from inside.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the left rear door latch and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
