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.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to start up or unlock due to a defective battery. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer several times to have her battery replaced or her software updated; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had been repaired as of her last visit. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-max hybrid. The contact stated that the radio operational after the vehicle was turned off causing the battery to drain. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who recalibrated the radio fuse however, a year later the failure recurred. The mechanic then removed the radio fuse from the vehicle which disabled all audible sounds from the vehicle. The contact stated that it was a major safety hazard for her as it took away the backup alert sounds that would alert her of imminent objects when reversing the vehicle. The contact then called hansel Ford (3075 corby ave, santa rosa, ca 95407) and was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The contact was then referred to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
My car has been completely electrically dead approximately 4 times. When it is fixed it eventually happens again. I have to use the key in the key fob to open the car and when I push the start button it doesn't start. The batteries in the key fob are not dead. It is very worrisome to not know if my car will start. This happens in a parked and turned off situation.
I bought this used SUV on May 14, 2019 with 87,420 miles. In three occasions the display on the dashboard has shown, with no audible sound, the message to stop the vehicle. The vehicle will then shut down. All times happened while I was driving on the highway. I noticed that the air condition shut itself off, then I saw the display message. If I would not have seen the display message, the car would have stopped within 400 feet. This is extremely dangerous situation as I would not have time to change to the emergency lane, leaving a stopped car on the fast lane. I now keep looking glancing at the dashboard worried that the display will appear again. I have taken the car to the dealer two times. The first time they told me that a scanner showed no problems. Now the car is at the dealer for a second time where they are doing more testing. I just do not have any more confidence on this car. The dashboard has also shown a display "see manual".
I purchased my car used from a dealership in April of 2016. I leased the same model previously with no problems. I went out of town for an extended time and came back to find the battery dead. I was surprised, as I often travel and had no problems like this with the other C-max. I called a service, they got it started (with some difficulty) I drove it for about 45 minutes and it seemed fine. Several months passed and I went away, came back and car was dead. Aaa started it. I drove it for some miles, then stopped it. It wouldn't start. I had it towed to the dealership. It was Sunday, so they were closed. They went out the next morning and it started. They went through my car and could not find any problems. It drove fine for several months, and I went out of town again for extended time. Came back-car wouldn't start. This time I had purchased a battery charger, in case this happened again, but it was not powerful enough to get the car going. Called aaa and they started the car. I drove the car for about 1 hour, on the freeway, came home and everything seemed fine. Dealership told me that "something must be draining the battery" but could not find a problem. Today, 2 weeks later, my car is once again not starting. I noticed yesterday evening, that everytime I got in the car, it would not start. A message would come on saying it was shutting down to save the battery. A blue line would appear and when it had "loaded" all the way, I could start my car. Today it is totally dead, and wouldn't start even with a "jump". so I am stuck until Monday. Even if I get it started, I don't trust that it won't start the next time I turn it off.
The audio system of the vehicle stopped working - will not turn on, link to phone, etc. Performed a hard reset of the audio system and the system worked. Next day 12V battery was dead. Jumped started the car and took to the shop where the battery was replaced (original battery). System was tested and battery was reported as fine. Since it was the original battery I had them go ahead and replace it and no other issues were identified. Car sat in garage overnight with everything off. Next day car is dead again.
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.
Car electronics will not shut off. Radio remains on continuously, even with keys removed and doors locked. No chimes to indicate if car is on/off. At other times, car navigation and electronic systems will fail. Failures and non-response can happen while in motion. Radio not turning off after engine off and parked.
Upon starting my car, I was aware that there was no sounds--no audio, including warning beeps, gps voice, radio, etc. I went to Ford service and was told it would require testing numerous modules. It was costly, so I opted not to have it checked. The car was unused and in my garage for two days. On the third day when I got in the car, it was completely dead. A towing service came, jump started my car, and I drove it to Ford. I had to leave it overnight. The next afternoon, the Ford service manager told me it started up with no problem the following morning. Service tested everything. There were no faulty codes, no record of a problem. I was given a discount off the full price, although nothing was resolved. On carcomplaints.com I found that many other owners of the Ford C-max hybrid have had the same problem. Ford has no answers.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-max hybrid. The contact stated that the 12-volt battery did not stay charged. The battery died overnight and was jumpstarted. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (koerner Ford of syracuse, syracuse, NY, 315-474-4275) where the battery was recharged and restarted the vehicle. A diagnostic test was performed, but the technician was unable to pinpoint the source of the failure. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure was not repaired. The contact complained to the state attorney general and was referred to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Third time, electrical components were acting wonky (radio, no controls worked, no shut off, not turning off when door opened, after car turned off, phone part of sync didn't work), then, not sure when, but, after parking in driveway, and not driving for a day or two, car was dead, no response to fob, wouldn't start. Each time, dealership has told me they've fixed it, but, it happens again. Very irritating, to never know for sure, if I'll have a working vehicle. I have also experienced having the windows roll down, all at once, car was off, I'd pressed fob to lock doors. There are many complaints about these problems! Ford needs to figure out what is wrong! I am disabled, no one to help. A dead car is a very hard thing for me to deal with.
The dealer located in mena region jordan, not working or cooperate as well. Most recalls he said no need to do it and claim that no parts available and its need more than 45 days to be available and after 45 days he said still nothing come back after a month etc... and we are all customers facing problem in contacting then and the ways they are treat us in it is not professional. Not feel (not only me) that the have professional team, I want to do all recalls but affair if they did most probably they will make new issue and start paid for something wrong they made :(
After driving for about 30 miles at night, I get a burning smell in the interior of the car. I have had people stop me to tell me that my rear tail lights are out. This has happened only twice but I rarely drive at night. I was on the freeway the last time and some people followed me to tell me that they could barely see me. I have a black car and license plate. The car is our of warranty and I don't know if my extended warrant will cove it. I am terrified to drive it at night now.
2013 Ford cmax hybrid. This car has had 2 batteries already. The car went dead again after battery was replaced 10 months ago. Called the parts department to see if I could get a replacement. Clerk said it maybe the alternator. This car does not have an alternator. Ford personnel are not knowledgeable on this car. Does not give me any confidence that Ford will fix this problem. It's frustrating to drive this car and not know if it will start. Ford needs to fix this problem.
Twice in past two years the radio has suddenly stopped working while engine running, but would not turn off. Thus, battery was drained overnight when car was parked. The first time this happened (late 2014 or early 2015), the dealer reset the system and replaced the battery. No problems until Thursday 4/7/16 when again the radio suddenly stopped while car was running, and would not turn off, again draining battery by 4/10/16. I am concerned that this is a defect, which a simple reset does not fix.
After shutting the vehicle off, the battery has been dead when trying to restart (overnight or after work). This has occurred 3 times since new in 2013 - once at 11,900 miles on 12/30/13; once at 33,069 miles on 7/.10/15; and now yesterday at 38, xxx miles on 3/17/2016. There has been no warning, no warning lights prior, and the battery has checked out fine during routine maintenance occurring before the incidents.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-max hybrid. While the vehicle was parked, it was unable to be started. The contact stated that the battery was drained. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who approved the vehicle to be towed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery was drained; however, the vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
I parked the car in public parking to use public transit. When I returned approximately 10 hours later the batter was dead. Nothing was plugged in and drawing any electricity. Battery was simply dead. I was able to get a jump start and get the vehicle home, I removed the battery, cleaned the terminals, charged the battery over night and reinstalled it in the vehicle. After investigating online I see that this is a common problem for the C-max and want this documented. I believe that Ford Motor Company put a battery in this car that is not sufficient to do the job it was designed to do.
On repeated occasions since the car was 2 months old it has gone dead after sitting for 8-16 hours. It has been towed to the dealership twice and jump started numerous times. Both times at the dealership they said they performed a service recommended in a Ford bulletin to fix this known problem. It still happens. Nothing is left plugged in, no doors are ajar. It happened again today, July 23, 2015. The dealer service department told me they now have a recall on the vehicle that will fix it, but there is no record online of a recall issued for this problem since the last time it happened in April 2015.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Yonkers, NY, USA