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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
15about this part
Share
13%of 120 total for the year
Median mileage
61,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid, 13% of the 120 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,500 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“At 35 MPH entire display and operating system catastrophic failure completely shut down all but motor to get us .75 mile back home windows locked AC shut off in 109 degree outside temp with our service dog for search and rescue in car with us no sync system or driver info display no ability to open doors or unlock doors or windows could not turn AC back on in 109 degree outside temperature we got home called dealer where we leased it from and we were told just jumpstart it that's what I did for a prius .”

NHTSA complaint #10554417, filed 2013-12, 5,749 miles

“I thought I had placed my c max in park. I turned car off with power button and went into a store to shop. The car rolled out of parking space and almost hit another vehicle. I forgot to place my c max in park but the car gave me zero warning that the car was not in park and turned off like normal. I used to drive a prius hybrid and that car was push button start as well but the prius would tell me to place the vehicle in park if I tried to turn it off while it was in gear. Ford needs to correct this. The c max should not turn off while the vehicle is in gear. …”

NHTSA complaint #10532258, filed 2013-07, 1,200 miles

“I put the car in reverse to back out of the drive way and when I stopped, I couldn't go backwards. I pulled forward and parked. Pulled back again and the car didn't do it again. The engine light did come on and I took the car to the dealership. They had it for two weeks. Ford said it is a reverse delay problem and they know about it. Ford is working on a fix. Ford is knowing selling the c-max with a drive train problem and does not consider the reverse delay a safety problem. I do consider it as a safety issue and trying to get the car returned and Ford will not take it back.”

NHTSA complaint #10493822, filed 2013-01, 200 miles

“As of currently this is going to be the 10th time that this vehicle has been at dealership for repair ( factory recalls and repairs ). This last time was because of a faulty transmission that took over 3 weeks to repair.”

NHTSA complaint #10823318, filed 2016-01, 12,456 miles

“2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid transmission, loud noise coming from transmission area when car is in gear and moving. No sound in park and neutral. Sound is intermittent.”

NHTSA complaint #10781602, filed 2015-10, 50,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2015318%
20131513%

Other parts of the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid

Electrical system
49 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsSteering
15 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology