3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,279 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid Owner Comments

problem #13

Aug 012022

C-Max Hybrid

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. Additionally, the vehicle remained on after the contact had pushed the Auto Start/Stop button to turn off the vehicle. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle after pushing the Auto Start/Stop button numerous times. The dealer and Five Star Ford Stone Mountain (3800 US-78, Snellville, GA 30039) were made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #12

Jun 082022

C-Max Hybrid

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) and 20V331000 (Latches, Locks, and Linkages) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a transmission failure and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #11

Dec 152015

C-Max Hybrid

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds a grinding noise was heard with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed with a defective passenger-??s side rear wheel bearing. The contact was informed that the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was transported to Maryland. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the passenger-??s side rear wheel bearing. The contact stated that the grinding noise continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the front brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the grinding noise continued with unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced in the near future. The transmission was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact stated that the manufacturer offered to assist in paying for the transmission repair. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #10

Mar 012022

C-Max Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 101,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal sound. After exceeding 20 MPH, the abnormal sound stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to another local dealer: Krause Family Ford of Woodstock (195 Woodstock Pkwy, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 809-1030) where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000. Consumer wanted to add to existing complaint that this vehicle was serviced TWICE at the Ford Lithia Spring (870 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122) location prior to reaching the 100,000 miles. Consumer's step-father (the previous owner of the vehicle) stated that the vehicle was making the whining noise as early as DECEMBER 2021, but that he believed it was normal due to it being a hybrid vehicle and it having been serviced and not informed of any issues.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #9

Jul 212020

C-Max Hybrid

  • 100,060 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-max hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel and vehicle began to shake with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle hesitated to accelerate properly without warning. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the roadway, turned the vehicle off and back on which failed to resume back to normal. The vehicle was towed to the dealer peacock Ford (1875 S orlando ave, maitland, fl 32751) where the vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to contact NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 100,060.

- Oviedo, FL, USA

problem #8

May 302019

C-Max Hybrid

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-max hybrid. While driving at any speed, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The noise increased and the vehicle was taken to conway Ford (843-365-5596, located at 2393 highway 501 w, conway, SC 29526) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the failure would be reviewed to see if any assistance could be offered. The contact was not called back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

- Aynor, SC, USA

problem #7

Aug 222018

C-Max Hybrid

  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-max hybrid. While the vehicle was stationary, the battery saver warning indicator turned off and the following message displayed across the instrument panel: "911 assist is disabled, contact dealer". immediately afterwards, the shifter indicator displayed on the instrument panel. The contact turned the key in the ignition, but the motor did not indicate that it was ready to drive until approximately one minute later. The contact placed the shifter into reverse and attempted to reverse, but a sudden loss of power steering occurred. The contact placed the vehicle in the drive gear and depressed the accelerator pedal in an attempt to stop the vehicle; however, the vehicle accelerated beyond 35 mph. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to bob moore Ford (8948 S I-35 service rd, Oklahoma city, Oklahoma 73159) where it was diagnosed that the inner cell of the battery was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Oklhoma City, OK, USA

problem #6

Dec 212015

C-Max Hybrid

  • 12,456 miles
As of currently this is going to be the 10th time that this vehicle has been at dealership for repair ( factory recalls and repairs ). this last time was because of a faulty transmission that took over 3 weeks to repair.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #5

Apr 302015

C-Max Hybrid

  • 50,000 miles
2013 Ford C-max hybrid transmission, loud noise coming from transmission area when car is in gear and moving. No sound in park and neutral. Sound is intermittent.

- Forest Grove, OR, USA

problem #4

Jun 022013

C-Max Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 5,749 miles
At 35 mph entire display and operating system catastrophic failure completely shut down all but motor to get us.75 mile back home windows locked ac shut off in 109 degree outside temp with our service dog for search and rescue in car with us no sync system or driver info display no ability to open doors or unlock doors or windows could not turn ac back on in 109 degree outside temperature we got home called dealer where we leased it from and we were told "just jumpstart it that's what I did for a prius".

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 032013

C-Max Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 3,960 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

6 of 21 available plug-in miles remaining, driving in normal freeway traffic. Vehicle suddenly lost power and went into "stop safely now" mode with wrench icon and red warning triangle. Vehicle retained minimal power availability and was eventually able to limp vehicle out of traffic and onto side road. Called two different dealers and was told to wait a few minutes and restart. After 10 to 12 minutes and three restart attempts, finally restarted with full functionality restored. Error again appeared just as I reached home. Called dealer again and was told battery must have overheated; check again in the morning and it should be fine. This is the third time the problem has occurred since purchase in mid-June 2012. Each time taken to dealer they can find "nothing wrong with the vehicle - no error codes set." Concerned about the sudden loss of propulsion power in freeway traffic, and limited knowledge of service people / limited retention of error condition codes by the vehicle's computers. Running a Ford sync vehicle health report immediately after the event occurs shows all systems "okay."

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #2

Jul 192013

C-Max Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 1,200 miles
I thought I had placed my C max in park. I turned car off with power button and went into a store to shop. The car rolled out of parking space and almost hit another vehicle. I forgot to place my C max in park but the car gave me zero warning that the car was not in park and turned off like normal. I used to drive a prius hybrid and that car was push button start as well but the prius would tell me to place the vehicle in park if I tried to turn it off while it was in gear. Ford needs to correct this. The C max should not turn off while the vehicle is in gear. Someone is going to get seriously injured because of this design flaw.

- Lynchburg , VA, USA

problem #1

Dec 222012

C-Max Hybrid

  • 200 miles
I put the car in reverse to back out of the drive way and when I stopped, I couldn't go backwards. I pulled forward and parked. Pulled back again and the car didn't do it again. The engine light did come on and I took the car to the dealership. They had it for two weeks. Ford said it is a "reverse delay problem" and they know about it. Ford is working on a fix. Ford is knowing selling the C-max with a drive train problem and does not consider the "reverse delay" a safety problem. I do consider it as a safety issue and trying to get the car returned and Ford will not take it back.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

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