Ford C-MAX Hybrid Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 137 consumer complaints across the 2 model years of the Ford C-MAX Hybrid (2013–2015) that have at least 5 complaints. 2013 has the most, with 120. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (50 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All C-MAX Hybrid model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 17 | 53,615 | 0 | 4 | — | Rising |
| 2013 | 120 | 32,000 | 2 | 46 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Electrical system50 34%
- Transmission and drivetrain18 12%
- Steering17 12%
- Engine17 12%
- Body and structure14 9.7%
- Latches, locks and linkages11 7.6%
- Other or unknown9 6.2%
- Brakes9 6.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2013: “My car has been completely electrically dead approximately 4 times. When it is fixed it eventually happens again. I have to use the key in the key fob to open the car and when I push the start button it doesn't start. The batteries in the key fob are not dead. It is very worrisome to not know if my car will start. This happens in a parked and turned off situation.”
NHTSA complaint #11234034, filed 2019-07, 40,000 miles2015: “I was driving home from work, doing about 35 MPH in stop and go traffic, when I heard a loud almost metallic pop from the exterior rear. I was less than a half mile from home, and the back window, although still in its frame,was completely crackled/shattered. No sign of impact from anything having hit it, it was actually bowing out.”
NHTSA complaint #11073358, filed 2018-02, 44,000 milesOther Ford models
38,918 complaintsFord Explorer
34,637 complaintsFord Escape
27,545 complaintsFord Fusion
22,448 complaintsFord Focus
22,108 complaintsFord Taurus
18,164 complaintsFord Windstar
14,152 complaintsFord Edge
14,107 complaints
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. Methodology