Problems · by component

2013 Ford Cmax Energi electrical system problems

68 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Cmax Energi cite electrical system, 30% of all 228 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
68
30% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“My Stereo/Navigation console went out, just went black and stopped working. I bought it to my local garage and they said it was a costly repair and that there is a recall/service bulletin on it and that i should take it to a Ford Dealer. I did and they acknowledged the issue but said my VIN wasn't covered, but it was a known issue with C-Max of this year. So I didnt have the car services. A few months later, (2 weeks ago) my battery died and could not be jumped, so I had it towed to my Ford Dealer. He informed me that the potential cause of the battery damage was a short in the Console/Radio/Nav/Screen system. I agreed to go forward with the costly repair... They have so far not been able to resolve the issues. This morning I called Ford and explained the issue. They said since there is not a Recall associated with my VIN, there was nothing they could do. I asked them to look up the "issue" not the VIN and they acknowledged that there are issues with 2013 C-Max Energi models associated with the console. I asked for a bulletin number and was given 202363. I believe the recall is associated with the Ford Parts and so my VIN number may not be registered or…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2024Electrical systemODI 11616983
“Several times over the past 3 years, the 12 volt battery has been deeply drained while the car has been off/unused for ~3 days. (The problem has been described on your website: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/SB-10093862-2532.pdf.) This is a safety issue because there is a reasonable expectation of serviceability of a car, for emergencies or for returning to a safe place. Just as one depends on the reasonable reliability of devices like fire extinguishers, elevators, heart monitors, etc., so does one expect cars to be reasonably reliable. There is no advance warning that the battery will be drained.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2023Electrical systemODI 11505555
“The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers became inoperable, and the headlights inadvertently turned off. The contact stated that the horn would beep independently but failed to operate while depressed. Additionally, the heater and A/C unit became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle also failed to start. The contact had to jump start the vehicle on several occasions. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2022Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11497421
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I have a 2013 Ford C-Max SE that is having terrible white noise and static from the speakers. I see that this is common with the SYNC system and not limited to C-Max models How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I have not had a diagnostic run but I have seen so many listservs with the speaker issue. The car will be quiet and then blast static to the point of having to pull over to get the car over to get it to stop. It's so loud sometimes that it is hard to drive. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I am taking the car in on November 10th for an inspection. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I am taking the car in on November 10th for an inspection. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, this has gradually be increasing in severity over the last few months.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2022Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11491352
“This Vehicle has given us numerous numerous issues and left us stranded it has been a safety issue for my family we recently had to have law enforcement involved to try to save us from where we got stranded due to the unreliability of this vehicle and after already having a transmission replacement and having the car right now in the shop for approaching one month and they still cannot find the issue There has been one problem after another forward keeps giving me the run around when I contact them directly and the dealership Is just giving me extremely generic responses and telling me that their staff is not available this week and that they have many other customers to have to worry about and that I basically can go rent a car if I have a problem with not having a vehicle, I do not want to continue to have to risk my life or the life of my wife or children because of the lack of ownership from the dealership and the manufacturer in this situation I keep losing out and being told to just wait and wait, please help! There is a current safety recall also, butbi feel like this entire vehicle is a safety concern at this point for my family and myself.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2022Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11477476

Showing 6 of 68 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2013 Cmax Energi problem areas