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Ford C-MAXModel year report

2018 Ford C-MAX Problems

Complaints
10filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
11,750miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
40 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 42 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Ford C-MAX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2018 Ford C-MAX. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (20% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and steering (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 11,750 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 61 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 29 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

Air bags: “I recently rear ended a car and the front of the vechical was damaged. The air bag censor was destroyed, however the airbags did not come out. This was on a 2018 Ford c-max. Many people pointed out this malfunction and how my life was put at risk.”

NHTSA complaint #11553864, filed 2023-11

Electrical system: “Electrical gremlins since the first day. Touchscreen went on and off, phone didn't charge, door handles don't work, garage door opener forgot settings, presets on dash would blink out of memory. Ultimately the car didn't even start. But for all of these problems, sometimes they would work, sometimes they wouldn't. Ultimately got the yellow wrench of death. Brought it in repeatedly and they could never reproduce the problem, until the day it wouldn't start at all and the wrench was on the dash. Finally diagnosed open seams on the back hinges to the hatch. Seamseal was missing on both hinges. …”

NHTSA complaint #11309434, filed 2020-02, 46,500 miles

Steering: “Steering locks to the point that it can't turn. Happened while driving. Unknown cause. Warning light came on for driver to park. Issue unresolved and can no longer drive car.”

NHTSA complaint #11510405, filed 2023-03

Fuel system: “Recently, there has been a whiff of gasoline around my garage but there is more than one vehicle in there so I didn't figure out what the culprit was for a while. After completely filling up my car 9/3/2022, I parked it in the attached garage and in minutes my whole house smelled like gasoline. So I immediately parked it outside and ventilated the house. I took the car to a local shop and they said yes there's a gas odor but they didn't want to touch the repair because it's a hybrid. …”

NHTSA complaint #11484528, filed 2022-09

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,500 and 14,000 miles.

50%0–1025%10–2525%25–500%50–750%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: 11,750 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2018201920202021202220234
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 2018 Ford C-MAX. 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 HEV · hatchback FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 14.3% risk

Neighbouring years: 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 2018 Ford C-MAX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
C-MAX Hybrid FWD2.0L 4-cyl · hybridCVT423840$1,700

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

Recall details for the 2018 Ford C-MAX → · Check a 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. 61 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 61 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford C-MAX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20181011,7501440—Not enough data
20171538,4481440—Stable
20162434,2403439—Falling
20155645,00064—31 · FewerStable
20148053,394843950 · TypicalFalling
201318768,00084—65 · MoreFalling

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

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Ford C-MAX have?

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 2018 Ford C-MAX as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Ford C-MAX is reported most often?

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

Has the 2018 Ford C-MAX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Ford C-MAX do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Ford C-MAX 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 2018 Ford C-MAX get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Ford C-MAX (C-MAX Hybrid FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 40 mpg combined, 42 city and 38 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Ford C-MAX reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 11,750 miles and the middle half falls between 9,500 and 14,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.