CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN MOTION ON BUSY STREET DUE TO SPONTANEOUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS FAILURE IS THE SUBJECT OF AT LEAST THREE FORD TSB'S. I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATIONS FROM FORD REGARDING THESE PROBLEMS.
2013 Ford C-Max complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →
2013 CMAX SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE 2014 CMAX STEERING BOX RECALL. SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENIG... LOSS OF POWER STEERING, HARD TO CONTROL AT TIMES, CAR WOBBLES WHEN SWITCHING LANES.
STEERING HAS BEEN HARD TO CONTROL. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN SWITCHING LANES - WE NOTICED A WOBBLE WHEN GOING FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER. TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR GRINDING / SLIPPING IN THE STEERING COMPONENTS. FEEDBACK TO THE WHEELS HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY MORE JERKY. TODAY, POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM MANY ARE HAVING WITH MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS. FORD SHOULD COVER THIS ISSUE AS A RECALL BECAUSE LOSING STEERING CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OWNERS OF THE 2014 C-MAX AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD.
WHEN VEHICLE IS LOCKED, WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN BY THEMSELVES.
A GRINDING, WHINING NOISE DEVELOPED AT ABOUT 66,000 MILES. BECAUSE IT WAS A ROAD NOISE AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WOULD SOON NEED NEW TIRES, I REPLACED THE TIRES. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING AND NO MORE NOISE. I WAS TOLD IF I CONTINUED DRIVING WITH THAT PART I WOULD HAVE SHORTLY LOST MY WHEEL AND THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF CONTROL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN CORRECTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR PANEL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
VECHILE AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT SHUT OFF WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED. RADIO VOLUME CAN NOT BE TURNED DOWN CREATING A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. CAR BATTERY DEAD AFTER SEVERAL HOURS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #: 15V436000 IS FOR SAME PROBLEM ON LIKE CARS, BUT NOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR MANUFACTURING DATE. (NOT A VECHILE CONDITION, BUT AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I WAS STRANDED IN BELOW FREEZING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS)
LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT BUCKLE. WILL NOT LOCK. GRANDSON USE TO SIT IN THAT POSITION.
I DRIVE WITH MY CMAX ENERGI APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WITH IN WINTER WITH HEAT SET TO 68F. PARKED AT DESTINATION AND RESTARTED APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AFTER. WHILE IN TRANSIT TO DESTINATION AN ORANGE WRENCH DISPLAYED ON VEHICLE. NO ISSUE OCCURRED. UPON RESTARTING A RED TRIANGLE ALONG WITH WRENCH DISPLAYED UPON ATTEMPTING TO START. THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
12 VOLT BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD RENDERING CAR INOPERABLE AND STRANDING DRIVER. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.
THE REAR HATCH BECOMES UNLATCHED WHEN A BUMP IN THE ROAD, EVEN A SMALL RAISED ONE, IS DRIVEN OVER. I HAVE INFORMED THE LOCAL DEALER OF THIS. THE HATCH DOOR DOES NOT FULLY UNHINGE TO OPEN.
WE PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN SEPTEMBER, 2016 AND IT HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT. ONE WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT WE RETURNED TO THE CAR FROM DINNER AND FOUND IT WOULDN'T START. HAD IT JUMPED AND CONTINUED ON OUR WAY. ONE WEEK AGO WE WENT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT AND THE SAME THING: BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE HAD IT JUMPED. THIS MORNING, AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN, BATTERY DEAD. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN JUST OVER A MONTH OUR BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD. THIS SITE IS FULL OF REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING, AND FORD DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T THIS CAR BEEN RECALLED? FORD NEEDS TO OFFER REPLACEMENT VEHICLES TO ANYONE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE PURCHASED ONE OF THESE LEMONS.
DRIVING ON I-40, ABOUT 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION ON JULY 31, 2016, THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON" LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I FINISHED THE DRIVE HOME WITH NO PROBLEM AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO UNLOAD IT. WHEN I RE-STARTED IT, THE CAR REPORTED A COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE, AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SIMPLY QUIT. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE FORD STEERING SYSTEM IN THE C-MAX AND OTHER MODELS. I ARRANGED TO HAVE THE ISSUE EXAMINED & REPAIRED AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. I DROVE THE CAR THERE, WITH EXTENSIVE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING UNIT HAD FAILED, WITH APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1880, AND I DO HAVE THE RECEIPT. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT. I BELIEVE THIS KNOWN DEFECT CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION. 1. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS DEFECT AS IT IS FAR MORE COMMON THAT ACCEPTABLE, AND 2. THEY SHOULD CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS TO A CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM IS DETECTED. HAD I NOT HAD A LOT OF STRENGTH, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO GET IT IN FOR REPAIR. THE SYSTEM WORKED JUST FINE FOR 150 MILES, SO THERE WAS NO REAL ISSUE STOPPING THE STEERING ASSIST...UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF AND THEN THE CAR DISABLED ITS STEERING. FORD SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LET THE CAR CONTINUE TO DRIVE AFTER THE CAR SELF-DISABLES ITS POWER STEERING. IT WAS ONLY SELF-DISABLED AFTER I SHU
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A 70MPH HIGHWAY. NO WARNING OR INDICATION. THE STEERING JUST CUT OUT. I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK WHEN I BASICALLY LOST ALL CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IT WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. A GENTLEMAN HAD TO STOP AND HELP ME GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR IS THREE YEARS OLD AND WE WERE TOLD THE POWER STEERING IS SHOT. WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND IT WILL COST $1,700.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE ADMINISTRATOR REGARDING TAKATA AIRBAGS. *SMD
I'VE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENCES OF A "BUCKING FORWARD" OF MY CAR WHEN BRAKING ON ROUGH ROAD OR BRAKING AND TURNING RIGHT WHEN THERE MAY BE UNEVEN ROAD OR POTHOLE NEAR REAR TIRES. I'VE BROUGHT IT FOR SERVICING , THEY ARE STUMPED BUT HAVE SUGGESTED MAY INVOLVE ABS. RECENTLY, MY ABS LIGHT WENT ON, INDICATING MY SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF OFF. I WAITED 2 HOURS TO BE TOLD THAT SOMETHING WRONG WITH SENSOR BACK TIRE WHICH IS READING THAT ITS GOING 250MPH. THEY HAVE TO ORDER PART, I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 2HRS FOR THE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $200 AS ITS NOT PART OF POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I THINK THESE THINGS ARE ALL RELATED AND HAVE TOLD THE SERVICE DEPT I PREDICT THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT RECALL. THEY ARE BRUSHING IT OFF, BUT IF ANYONE WAS IN FRONT OF MY CAR WHEN IT "BUCKED" FORWARD, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I REPORTED THE RECALL FOR DEAD BATTERY ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES, WAS DISMISSED BY THE SERVICE DEPT AND LATER THAT BECAME A RECALL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GETTING RID OF THIS CAR. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
MY "REGULAR" BATTERY DIED AND NEEDED TO BE JUMP STARTED ON 16 JUL 14. I NOTED THAT MY CLOCK/DATE ON THE DASHBOARD HAD STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE COMPUTER BUT DIDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. THE SAME THING OCCURRED ON 16 NOV 14. THIS TIME THE COMPUTER SHOWED THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. I AM A VERY LOW MILEAGE DRIVER. I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR WAS LOCKED AND ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES WERE SHUT OFF AFTER THE JULY INCIDENT.
CAR WOULD NOT START. ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 9 MONTH THIS HAS OCCURRED. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH IN GASOLINE MODE SO THE BATTERY BECOMES DRAINED AND NEEDS TO BE RECHARGED. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO OTHER REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS WEBSITE. ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF BUYING A HYBRID VEHICLE TO SAVE FUEL AND DRIVE IN HYBRID MODE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE? THIS SITUATION MAKES THE CAR EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE. PLEASE HELP FIND THE REASON.
ON 4-1-2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 1PM, WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON HIGHWAY 702 IN PIERCE COUNTY WASHINGTON IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN I SWITCHED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM INTERMITTENT TO THE LOW CONTINUOUS SPEED. ANTICIPATING THE HEAVY WASH FROM AN ONCOMING FULLY LOADED LOGGING TRUCK I SWITCHED THE WIPERS TO THE HIGH SPEED AND THE WIPERS FROZE IN PLACE JUST AS I REACHED THE LOGGING TRUCK. FORTUNATELY THEY RESTARTED WHEN I SWITCHED THEM BACK TO THE LOW CONTINUOUS SPEED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, KORUM FORD IN PUYALLUP, WA AND ARRANGED FOR A SERVICE CALL THE NEXT DAY 4-2-2015. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE WIPERS FAILED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE WIRING THAT GOES TO THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER'S HIGH SPEED. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE BY MICE AND SHOWED ME THE CHEWED MARKS ON THE PLASTIC COVER AND SOME MOUSE DROPPINGS. THEY ALSO SHOWED ME THE SHREDDED INSULATION LINING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE HOOD. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT FORD USES SOY IN THE INSULATION AND THAT ATTRACTS THE MICE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 4-11-2015 THE SERVICE ADVISOR SHOWED ME WHERE TO PUT CAYENNE PEPPER TO DISCOURAGE THE MICE FROM EATING THE WIRE INSULATION. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST OF THE DAMAGE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ON A FAMILIAR STRAIGHT ROAD I WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAD-ON WITH A LOADED LOGGING TRUCK. I GUESS I'M FORTUNATE TH
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INSTRUCTING ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. WHEN I DID PULLED OVER, I SET THE GEARSHIFT IN "PARK" MODE, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS THAT DAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE ( BOTH ELECTRIC AND GASOLINE) SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AND I LOST ALL POWER MOMENTARILY, THEN TURNED ON AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY AND I DISCOVERED THAT WHEN I POSITION THE GEARSHIFT JUST PAST THE DRIVE MODE, THE PROBLEM STOPS. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS SET JUST PAST PARK, THE CAR NEVER LOSES POWER. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR IN JANUARY 2015, I WAS TOLD THAT THE GEARSHIFT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND FURTHERMORE THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF MARCH (IT'S ON BACKORDER). *TR
WE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE TAKING A LEFT TURN ON TO TEXAS 77, WHEN I STARTED THE GAS MOTOR FAILED TO START BUT THE ELECTRIC CARRIED US FORWARD TO THE CENTER LINE. A WARRING CAME UP A TRIANGLE WITH ! TELL US TO STOP BUT OF COURSE WE WERE ON THE CENTER LINE. AN 18 WHEELER WAS COMING FAST BEHIND US AND WAS ABLE TO PASS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD AS NO CARS WERE COMING. COULD HAVE BEEN A MAYOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE BUT TOLD BY FORD DEALER THAT THE GAS MOTOR WHICH CYCLES OFF DID NOT START. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.. AS OF TODAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I AN AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVEN THOUGH I LIKE IT VERY MUCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
BATTERY FAILS TO CHARGE ON EARLY MODEL 2013 C-MAX SES. FORD RECOGNIZES PROBLEM AND HAS APPLIED 3 FIRMWARE UPDATES WHICH DO NOT WORK. BLAMES PROBLEM ON LOW-MILEAGE DRIVERS. YET PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AFTER 2 PREVIOUS DAYS OF LONG DISTANCE DRIVING AND IN BOTH HOT AND COLD WEATHER. NO LONGER OWN THE CAR BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE LEFT MY WIFE OR ME STRANDED. *TR
ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO BE STRUCK. ENDED UP IN A NEIGHBORS FRONT YARD 2 FEET AWAY FROM BRICK WALL BEFORE IT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CMAX HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AND INTENDED TO TAKE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 1/21/2015. ON 1/20/2015 UNABLE TO UNLOCK WITH REMOTE. THEN UNABLE TO GET CAR STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,400.
TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE, DEFECTIVE TRUNK LID RELEASE MECHANISM AND RECALL 14S04. SERVICE DONE. TRUNK DONE BUT AGAIN NOT WORKING - THIS THE 3RD ATTEMPT THAT HAS FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT THAT RECALL DID NOT REQUIRE ATTENTION. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH RIVERTOWNFORD IN COLUMBUS, GA, AND WISH TO REGISTER THEIR INEPTITUDE IN HANDLING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY MATTERS. *TR
UPON RETURNING TO CAR AND ATTEMPTING TO 'START' THE ENGINE, COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE. EVERY DASHBOARD COMPONENT DEAD. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE SERVICE (A DIFFERENT NIGHTMARE), CAR EVENTUALLY TOWED TO DEALER AND BCM REPLACED, BCM AND PCM BOTH RESET. THEN ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN 9/2/2014 AT 22000 MILES. TOWED TO DEALER, STILL AWAITING WORD ON WHAT WENT WRONG THIS TIME. IT IS BECOMING VERY UNSETTLING TO DRIVE THIS CAR FEARING IT WILL FAIL WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BE AT LEAST 5 FAILURES OF THE MYSYNC - ALL DURING TRIPS, LOOSING NAVIGATION. TWICE WITH A FATAL SOFTWARE ERROR MESSAGE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF NAVIGATION, RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROL FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEN MYSTERIOUSLY STARTS WORKING AGAIN. DEALER HAS NO ANSWERS BECAUSE PROBLEM CAN'T BE REPLICATED. NOW ALWAYS HAVE A GPS IN CAR IN CASE OF FAILURES IN MYSYNC. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS MISALIGNED, BENT UPWARD AND OUT, NOT MEETING THE DOOR PANEL/TOP OF DASH PROPERLY AS DOES THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS MISALIGNMENT CREATES A GAP BETWEEN THE DASH AND DOOR PANEL, NORMALLY LESS THAN A PENCIL WIDTH, OF NEARLY A HANDS WIDTH. ALSO, THE GAP BETWEEN TOP OF THE DASH, NORMALLY FLUSH WITH THE OTHER DASH MOLDINGS, IS POPPED UP 1/2 INCH OR MORE. THIS INCONSISTENT ALIGNMENT IS VERIFIED BY VIEWING OTHER C-MAX VEHICLES. MY CONCERN BESIDES THE QUALITY OF FITMENT IS THE AIRBAG ALIGNMENT DURING A CRASH. IS THIS MISALIGNMENT AN ISSUE FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT TO THE CORRECT ANGLE AND IF SO WOULD THIS CAUSE INJURY BEYOND THE INCIDENTAL INJURY CAUSED BY NORMAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.. *TR
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
THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS TAKING A TRIP OF ABOUT 65 MILES TO MY MOTHERS HOME. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE TIRES AND HAD TO PUT AIR IN THE TWO TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE LIGHT DID NOT GO OUT; BUT I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE I DID NOT TURN THE CAR OFF SO I CONTINUED THE LAST 3 MILES OF MY TRIP. I PARKED THE CAR AT MY MOTHERS AND VISITED FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. WHEN I GOT READY TO LEAVE, I WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND CHECKED THE TIRES AGAIN. I DID NOT NOTE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES OR THEM BEING LOW; BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I CONTINUED ON HOME WITH THE INTENTION OF TAKING THE CAR BACK TO MY DEALERSHIP. ABOUT A THIRD OF WAY HOME I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLOW OUT. THERE IS A WHOLE IN THE OUTSIDE TIRE WALL, AND THE INSIDE TIRE WALL SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. *TR
THE LOSS OF POWER INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 27, 2014, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF THE 405 FREEWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE 405 AND 5 FREEWAYS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE FORD C MAX 2013 SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 70 MPH TO LESS THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ: "STOP SAFELY". DUE TO THE COURTESY OF THE MANY DRIVERS ON THE FREEWAY AT 7 IN THE MORNING, THE CAR CROSSED 4 TO 5 LANES OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, IN A LIMITED OPERATING MODE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AN HOUR, ENDING AT THE ON-RAMP FOR CARS ENTERING THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BUT NOT TURNED OFF. AT THAT POINT THE FUEL HISTORY DISPLAY WAS BLANK FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND APPEARED TO RUN NORMALLY. IMMEDIATELY, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST FORD SERVICE CENTER, GALPIN FORD IN SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA FOR ASSISTANCE AND DIAGNOSIS. THE GALPIN SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT LOCATE A COMPUTER CODE THAT RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. AFTER LEAVING GALPIN FORD, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 350 MILES TO WALNUT CREEK, CA WITH NO POWER ISSUES. THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CONTACTED AT WALNUT CREEK FORD (WHERE THE CAR WAS LEASED ON MARCH 27, 2014). THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE INDICATED IF THERE WAS NO COMPUTER CODE FOR THE PROBLEM, NO DIAGNOSIS COULD BE MADE UNTIL THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AGAIN. AS OF JUNE 11, 2014, THE LOSS OF POWER ISSUE HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR
UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, MY HUSBAND BUMPED THE IGNITION KEY WITH HIS KNEE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. HE QUICKLY FIGURED OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED IT AND WE CONTINUED ON. *TR
VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE OVER NIGHT. DEAD BATTERY. TOWED TO DEALER. COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. JUNE 1 VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE OVER NIGHT, DEAD BATTERY IN THE MORNING. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START, NOTHING LEFT ON, CAR JUMPED WITH JUMPER, TOOK PLACE AGAIN YESTERDAY 5/27/2014. UNABLE TO JUMP START THIS TIME, FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE APPLIED A JUMPER ABLE TO GET ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UP, BUT CAR WILL NOT RUN. FORD DEALER RECEIVED CAR, STATED THAT THEIR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO JUMP CAR. ALSO STATED BATTERY WAS DEAD, BUT TESTED FINE. ASKED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN, COULD NOT TELL ME. THEY STATED THAT ALL POWER SYSTEMS LIKE LIGHTS OR PHONES ARE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF AFTER 45 MINUTES. HAVE CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. WHEN BATTERY IS DEAD, GEAR SHIFTER CANNOT BE MOVED TO EVEN PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE CARPORT TO BE TOWED. *TR
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. A LIGHT WARNING OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM CAME ON. EXITED AND WENT TO A TRUCK STOP. RESTARTED CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T WORK. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2013 Ford C-Max → · Every C-Max year → · How the figures are calculated →