Problems · by component
2013 Ford Cmax Hybrid engine problems
31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Cmax Hybrid cite engine, 10% of all 298 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
31
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated while driving on three occasions at approximately 30-55 MPH, several unknown warning lights were flashing. The message to shift to park(P) was flashing. The vehicle was shifted to park, and the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact's husband assisted with restarting the vehicle. The contact determined that the battery was working as designed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for five weeks, where it was diagnosed that the battery junction box had corrosion and defective fuses. Additionally, there was a failing control unit. The dealer informed the contact a Ford engineer was advising with the repairs. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.”
“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.”
“The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shut-off without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer on three separate occasions for service. Each time the vehicle was towed to the dealer, the vehicle would resume normal operation upon arrival and the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
“CAR WILL STALL AND BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. IT ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN ON A HILL. VERY DANGEROUS BUT FORD DENIES ANY PROBLEMS. IT HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2014. LAST TIME WAS AS BELOW”
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLED. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAYS, STOP SAFELY NOW. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE THAT PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. FINALLY GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MODULE-ENGINE CONTROL. PCM GET TOO HOT AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 10.14.20 AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THERE STILL IS NOT ETA. PART IS ON BACKORDER. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAG A LEMON AND IT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SOLD. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HER HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROWN FORD (247 SUNRISE HWY, LYNBROOK, NY 11563, (516) 825-8300) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED RECALL WAS EXPIRED.*JB”
Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.