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Ford C-MAX EnergiModel year report

2017 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems

Complaints
10filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
12,948miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
39 mpgcombined (gas only), 2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid FWD · 41 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi. The part named most often is electrical system, with 2 complaints (20% of the total), followed by fuel system (2) and other or unknown (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 12,948 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 13 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The contact owned a 2017 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated while starting the vehicle in the parking lot of her residence, there was a strong burning odor and several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the steering wheel and the brakes were inoperable, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the hybrid battery system had burned and needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that there was no guarantee that the vehicle would become operable after the repair. …”

NHTSA complaint #11515556, filed 2023-04, 77,250 miles

Fuel system: “Vehicle shuts down while driving on the road/interstate. This is a vehicle with a plug-in battery propulsive system. Has happened 4x this year. Twice on I-96 in michigan this past weekend and 2x locally. Happened when switching from drive mode auto on the dash to EV later . Get all kinds of warning lights and the dreaded stop safely now warning. May be related to wire to hybrid battery pack and/or heat of battery pack.”

NHTSA complaint #11219149, filed 2019-06, 11,895 miles

Other or unknown: “The car was in reverse. My intention was clearly to back out of a parking stall. However I hit the brake, put the car in park, attempted to get out of the vehicle but the car kept going back, at an accelerated rate. It was as if it was going full speed, in reverse. I couldn't stop it in time before hitting a sidewalk and stair case behind me; as well as side swiping a parked car in the stall to the left of me. My driver door was destroyed because it was opened. The airbags did not deploy.”

NHTSA complaint #11402854, filed 2021-03, 14,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,895 and 14,000 miles.

25%0–1050%10–250%25–500%50–7525%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 12,948 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2017201920212202222023220242025
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 2017 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: 2016: 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 2017 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 hybridCVT413839 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 2017 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. 13 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 13 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 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi have?

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 2 complaints (20% of the total), followed by fuel system with 2.

Has the 2017 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 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2017 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 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi (C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid, 2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid) at 39 mpg combined, 41 city and 38 highway when running on gasoline in hybrid mode. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2017 Ford C-MAX Energi reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 12,948 miles and the middle half falls between 11,895 and 14,000 miles; 75% 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.