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Ford C-MAX EnergiModel year report

2016 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems

Compared with other Ford C-MAX Energi years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2014

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
48,500miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
38 mpgcombined (gas only), 2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid FWD · 40 city / 36 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi. The part named most often is electrical system, with 13 complaints (41% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (5) and back-over prevention (4). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 55% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 48,500 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 19 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Ford C-MAX Energi model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Lane departure (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I entered the car and tried to start. Immediately it failed to start and warning lights came on saying not to drive the car then it went dark and I am not certain if the car is running or not. I was unable to drive it at all and had to get it towed to the dealer. This is the second time I have had rodent damage since I bought the car new. First time was in august 2016.”

NHTSA complaint #10939733, filed 2017-01, 13,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “While I was driving & turning around a corner on a city street in newport, ri, a silent warning flashed on the car dash in large red capital letters, reading: stop safely now! But the engine stopped immediately - before I could apply the brake - leaving me stranded in the middle of traffic. At the same time, a yellow engine and traction control icon appeared on the dash. I waited a while and tried to start the engine, but no response. Called newport police to get my car out of the traffic lane. …”

NHTSA complaint #11141013, filed 2018-10, 23,000 miles

Back-over prevention (rear camera): “The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera image appeared upside down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11677337, filed 2025-07, 100,000 miles

Engine: “Driving along a highway holding steady speed of 65mph, the car displayed a stop safely now message and disabled the accelerator. We were able to coast to a stop on the side of the road. The car would turn on and off with the push of the on/off button, but the stop safely now message remained on the dashboard any time the car was powered on, and the car would not move. We called Ford as we are still under warranty; however, a tow truck would have taken approx 90 minutes, and I was not in a safe position, so I used a obdii scanner and app to reset the fault codes. …”

NHTSA complaint #11353500, filed 2020-09, 44,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

55% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,000 and 69,052 miles.

9%0–1018%10–2527%25–5027%50–759%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 48,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

201820205202220242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Cmax Energi · hatchback FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 14.7% risk

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid FWD2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybridCVT403638 gas only—

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 19 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 19 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford C-MAX Energi

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20171012,9480439—Not enough data
20163248,500043850 · TypicalStable
20151520,0000438—Falling
20143032,000043845 · TypicalRising
20135045,450143865 · MoreFalling

All Ford C-MAX Energi model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 13 complaints (41% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 5.

Has the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi (C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid, 2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid) at 38 mpg combined, 40 city and 36 highway when running on gasoline in hybrid mode. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Ford C-MAX Energi reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 48,500 miles and the middle half falls between 23,000 and 69,052 miles; 55% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.