Most common 2013 Ford C-Max Energi problems
Share of the 50 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford C-Max Energi complaints by model year
Best C-Max Energi years: 2015, 2017. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2016. Compare all years →
2013 Ford C-Max Energi recalls (1)
Equipment › Electrical › Anti-theft devices
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi:
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Door Latch Failure
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer…
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2013 Ford C-Max Energi owners say
Electrical system
The 120 volt, 12 amp charge cord that came with my car (Ford part no. Fm58-10b706ac) is overheating creating a fire hazard. The end of the cord that plugs into the wall has melted and the plug has left burn marks on three different electrical outlets on my house where I plug the car in to charge. Photos of the melted cord and outlet burn marks are attached. There is a design flaw in that the control unit built into the cord is too heavy and pulls the prongs from the outlet and if a prong is only partially plugged into the outlet it draws more current than the cord can handle. Ford is aware of the problem and advised (Ford EV help line [phone]) that the cord should not be left hanging in mid-air and needs to be propped up when plugged in. Those instructions are not in the owners manual or on the cord, nor were they communicated to cmax Energi owners. …
We have used the supplied utility 120v charging cable since we acquired the car to charge it at home. Recently, I noticed that the utility cable plug was melted and the weatherproof socket fixture plastic housing was burnt I changed the unit to a different outdoor outlet. It burned that outlet so badly that it's gfci was tripped and could not be reset. Fearing a possible house fire, I stopped using the cord. I reported it to our Ford dealer as a hazardous product defect. Out of warranty was the reply. I do not know where the electrical rate limiting circuitry is in the system, but I strongly suspect that during charging, the car now draws more wattage (1600-1700w, less than a powerful hairdryer) than the cable unit is rated at (1440w, per it's labeling), and this discrepancy over many many hours of continuous load has LED to the failure. …
Steering
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel locked up. The contact stated that it was difficult to turn the steering wheel. The contact received help from her passenger to pull off the road. The contact stopped and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated that she had stopped driving the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
For the past couple months the steering sounded like it needed lubrication, but I couldn't find any lubrication points everything is sealed, then the other day while my wife was driving the steering went out and a warning message appeared service power steering assist now and the steering wheel locked up ( it would only go straight not right or left) luckily she was going into a turn with a turn out next to it so she could get it stopped. She re started the car and had manual steering and got the car home. Later I started it got that message and an advance trac warning and couldn't turn the steering wheel after moving forward and backward a few times and restarting the car several times I was able to drive it to my mechanic who experienced the same problems and suggested we take it to a Ford dealership. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the transmission inadvertently downshifted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rear bearings needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the rear bearings; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to Sheehy Ford Lincoln of Gaithersburg (901 N Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20879) where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 14B07. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 350,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was a grinding sound coming from underneath the vehicle; followed by the vehicle shaking abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the front axle and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that there were no recalls for the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 73,000.
2013 Ford C-Max Energi engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | CVT | FWD | 40 / 36 / 38 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi a good car?
Based on 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 C-Max Energi rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the C-Max Energi at the same age. It is one of the C-Max Energi years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi?
The electrical system — 19 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (9) and transmission & drivetrain (8).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi have?
There is 1 recall for the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi, the most recent from October 17, 2013 (anti-theft devices). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford C-Max Energi?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014 and 2016. See the full Ford C-Max Energi years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford C-Max Energi problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 58% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.