2017 Ford C-Max Energi

Routine

Owners filed 10 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other2
100
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Electrical System2
000
Wheels1
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Jul 25, 2025WA

At night I noticed the indicator light came on for tire pressure drove to the next gas station to check it was flat tire I looked every where for the spare tire no luck.called dealer told me where to look. Then he checked something and said it came with a air pump under the passenger seat. I read the symbol of Instructions very confused and limited no use of car for days with ordering tire waiting for delivery and so on....

Steering
Filed Jul 24, 2024NE

Steering wheel became loose. Within a week I took it into a Ford dealer who confirmed this was a serious safety concern. They worked on the problem a day later. Steering wheel bolt was damaged and would not retain torque. The steering wheel bolt was replaced by dealer.

Wheels
Filed Sep 29, 2023MN

Lug nuts are deforming. Costco techs require 3 sockets to obtain proper torque. Two piece construction is problematic.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 5, 202377,250 milesNM

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. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an unknown Federal mandate for an Extended Warranty that stated that the Ford manufacturer would cover the battery system repair for 8 years/100,000 miles; however, the dealer declined to honor the Extended Warranty. The insurance company considered the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 77,250.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 22, 2022CO

The vehicle accelerate on its own accord, despite no foot or pressure to the accelerator, even going uphill and including after braking. For example, ona flat road, I stepped on the brakes and began to decelerate, I released the brake and the vehicle immediately began to accelerate forward at a high speed. I had to slam the brakes to prevent further movement. This is one of many instances, the most common of which is acceleration upwards of 10-15mph after the accelerator is released. It appears as if the accelerator remains pressed forward, I can feel the accelerator move back into place significantly later than when I remove my foot. I fear for my life and safety, and that of others. The vehicle is available upon request. I have not gone to a dealer or service center. The vehicle has not been inspected, but I have read similar reports online. There were no warning lamps or messages, but the issues began October 2022, and have increased in frequency since.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 25, 2022MA

I own a 2017 Ford C-Max and share it with my husband. It is our only car so the past few weeks have been tough. Since I received my recall (22S43) in the mail, my car has been struggling to start. I believe this is due to the recall as the car is not in the correct gear to start the engine (even though I’ve been putting it in park & engaging the emergency parking brake). Yesterday, on our way home from the grocery store, our car gave us the “stop safely now” display; luckily we were close to home but it was still pretty scary. The engine had shut off. Also, I missed a doctors appointment last week because my car wouldn’t start. I almost missed my appointment for the RMV as well. Not only that but I had to cancel my trip to Lake George because the car feels unsafe to drive. I did not get a refund so the financial burden Ford is causing me for their negligence is frustrating to say the least. I bought the car a year and a half ago (Jan 2021). I have called Ford in Beverly, Framingham, Westborough, and Marlborough. None of the service departments could help me. They said that they won’t have the parts until the 4th quarter of this year. I’m not sure what to do at this point but would appreciate your help. My VIN is [XXX]. I am currently only using the car for “necessary” trips, though half of the time the car won’t start. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Electrical System
Filed Apr 22, 2021CA

VEHICLE FINISHED CHARGING, AND THEN WAS UNPLUGGED. VEHICLE'S WARNING SYSTEM SAYS VEHICLE WAS STILL PLUGGED IN AND AND WOULDN'T MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED CHARGING PORT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHARGING PORT IS UNATTAINABLE AND VEHICLE SITS AT DEALERSHIP WITH NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. CHARGING PORT UNATTAINABLE, TELLS ME FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE.

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Mar 14, 202114,000 milesCA

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.*DT

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 10, 201911,895 milesPA

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.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 28, 2017400 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE DOORS AND WINDOW AREAS CREAK AS IF THE FRAME/STRUCTURE IS COMPROMISED OR FLEXING UNUSUALLY. MAY BE SIMPLY POOR QUALITY CONSTRUCTION OR POOR LATCHING MECHANISMS, BUT SEEMS UNUSUAL FOR A NEW VEHICLE. CAR PURCHASED NEW AND HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW; CAR NOW HAS 3,028 MILES ON IT.

10 of 10 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2017 — this page10000Routine
201632000Routine
201515000Routine
201430010Routine
201350130Routine

Compare every C-Max Energi year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.