This page covers 6 recalls, 79 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Ford C-Max.
39 mpg combined
6 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 2014 Ford C-Max draws the most complaints around its powertrain and steering systems. On the powertrain side, owners of the hybrid and plug-in variants report issues consistent with hybrid drive system behavior, reduced power availability and limitations on top speed that some owners tie to vehicle software or key programming. Steering complaints are notable in volume, though the reported symptoms vary. The electrical system rounds out the top three, and one recurring pattern there involves the backup camera: multiple owners describe it going dark, displaying a black screen, or showing an inverted image, with the problem appearing intermittently rather than as a permanent failure. Some owners also report unusual odors coming from the rear of the vehicle, though that pattern appears in a smaller number of reports.
79
Total Complaints
6
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Ford C-Max has 6 recalls, the most serious being steering gear defects that can impair steering or cause a complete loss of steering control, raising the risk of a crash.
Two separate steering gear issues affect certain vehicles: one involves incorrectly assembled gears, and the other involves gears built with too few ball bearings. Both can leave the driver unable to steer. On the electrical side, the 120V home charging cord supplied with Energi models can overheat and start a fire. The shifter cable bushing can degrade or fall off, which may prevent the transmission from engaging the intended gear and cause the vehicle to roll in an unexpected direction. Two recalls cover door latches that can break and allow a door to appear closed while not fully latched, letting it swing open while driving. The second of these addresses vehicles where a prior repair attempt did not fully resolve the problem.
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.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the worn bushing and install a protective cap over the cable bushing at no cost.
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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 →
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
The steering gear may have been incorrectly assembled, potentially affecting steering function.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering gear may contain too few ball bearings. This can impair steering function or cause loss of steering control, raising crash risk.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the steering gear with a properly manufactured unit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
