Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Ford Cmax Energi problems

Owners filed 228 complaints about the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi with NHTSA between Mar 2014 and May 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (68).

Complaints
228
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system68
  2. Steering47
  3. Power train44
  4. Engine17
  5. Structure16
  6. Vehicle speed control9
  7. Fuel/propulsion system8
  8. Service brakes7
  9. Wheels6
  10. Equipment5
  11. Air bags5
  12. Back over prevention3
  13. Suspension3
  14. Latches/locks/linkages3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201416
201511
201617
201729
201829
201933
202032
202119
202225
202311
20244
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

68 reports3 fires
“WHILE DRIVING the dashboard instrument panel beeps and flashes the word "Put in Park" and "Stop Safely Now", and the speedometer stops working, all kinds of warning lights start flashing on and off on the instrument panel, the heater goes on and off on it's own, then the instrument panel goes black, speedometer shows zero and car goes into shutdown mode. I was put in risk while driving without a speedometer and other vehicles near me were put into risk; when I pull over and stop the vehicle it strands me and I need a tow. This has happened randomly many times; I took it to FORD for repair, they didn't know how to fix the problem, my car was at FORD for 6 weeks! and I was without a car all that time, now 3 months later it's doing the same thing! I have videos of it happening along with the pictures I'm posting here, it is very scary when it's happening while driving and it's scary being stranded in unsafe places having to wait for a tow. This issue is Unresolved and DANGEROUS, I need FORD to get more involved.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2025Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11648591

Steering

47 reports1 crash
“While driving car, power steering will fail and deactivate leaving the steering extremely heavy and manual. Can happen at any speed, and has happened on the interstate at highway speeds. Information cluster states, "power steering fault - service power steering immediately" When this happens it is highly unsafe and happens instantly without warning. Makes getting the car off the road and stopped safely very difficult and dangerous. Stopping the car, turning it off fully and restarting seems to clear the fault and makes the car power steering operate as normal again. But this has happened many times since owning the car and I can find no reason when or why it gets triggered. Online searches find many other owners of this car describing the exact same issue and they share the same concerns about it being unsafe.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2025SteeringODI 11662849

Power train

44 reports
“I have owned this car for the last 9 years and have kept It well-maintained. For over a year, the car stalls in the midst of driving, even on a highway, leaving me the only option to find a shoulder or safe area to park. After I turn off the engine, wait for a few minutes, and turn it back on, the engine turns on just fine and I am able to drive. Lately (for about a month or so) this has been happening more frequently(every other day, sometimes twice in a short while compared to once every 3-4 weeks). A few months ago I took it to the local Ford dealership and they told me, that they would need to replace the hybrid system, with an estimated cost of $15000, which didn't make any sense as even car is not worth that much. I also called Ford customer service and even they didn't offer much and just told me something to the effect of "tough luck". I came across this post [XXX] which matches exactly with the issue I am experiencing. That particular car owner was able to get the transmission replaced by Ford, under a California law and the issue was resolved. This seems to suggest, that Ford bears the responsibility for this manufacturing fault and they should own up…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2023Power trainODI 11550673

Engine

17 reports
“Vehicle engine light remain on forcing the vehicle to only operate in engine mode. Vehicle is a plug in hybrid vehicle and because of the engine light will not switch back to plug in or hybrid mode. Vehicle is available to inspection upon request.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2022EngineODI 11485402

Structure

16 reports2 crashes
“2013 Ford C-Max Energi Rear Door Interior Trim Panel detaches due to a faulty retainer clip and interferes with rear door closure. My door appeared closed, but during a right hand turn, the rear passenger door opened unexpectedly and ejected passenger contents onto the carriageway. Ford TSB-14-0030 "Rear Door Trim Panels Loose" describes a retainer clip that causes the rear door trim panel to detach (and interfere with safe operation of the passenger doors).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2022StructureODI 11450062

Vehicle speed control

9 reports1 crash
“The wrench light came on in my car. and when I put it in drive the car took off without me putting my foot on the gas. and it was like I had no control over the gas pedal. I tried hitting the brakes and it was still wanting to accelerate.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2024Vehicle speed controlODI 11603572
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.