Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2018 Ford C-Max with NHTSA between 2018 and 2023.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 8
Against the median year of the Ford C-Max. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
25% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
60% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2018 Ford C-Max
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
216.7%
Median failure at 3,000 miles
Airbags
216.7%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
216.7%
Median failure at 46,500 miles
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Median failure at 46,500 miles
Seat Belts
18.3%
Median failure at 14,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
18.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Suspension
18.3%
Median failure at 9,500 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
18.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
240.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
120.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
240.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 2018peak 3Nov 2023
NHTSA investigations into the 2018 Ford C-Max
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...
Recalls on the 2018 Ford C-Max
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2022311362,062 units in Canada
Powertrain
Issue: On certain vehicles, the shift cable may detach from the transmission. This could cause the transmission not to shift gears when the shifter is moved. As a result, the transmission could be in a different gear than the gear shifter indicates. If a driver attempts to exit the vehicle while the transmission is not in Park, and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle could move suddenly. Safety Risk: Sudden and unexpected movement of the vehicle could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the transmission shifter cable bushing and install a protective service cap. Ford advises that you should apply the parking brake each time the vehicle is parked.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Kansas City, KSCrash
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, AZCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I totalled my car. The steering wheel airbag failed to inflate
NHTSA complaint #11545455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Kansas City, KSCrash
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, AZCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
I totalled my car. The steering wheel airbag failed to inflate
NHTSA complaint #11545455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camarillo, CA
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop at a red light, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality; however, the failure had since become a regular failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11539404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, TX
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chardon, OH
FUEL/PROPULSION 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. So all this time later on 9/14/2022, the Ford dealership saw the car and stated that it requires immediate repair and park it outside while we wait for parts. My C-Max has always gotten regular normal maintenance like oil changes and brakes, it got new tires recently. There was one major repair Ford did when the car was assembled incorrectly at the back hatch hinge seal so water was pouring into the circuit board and the battery compartment which screwed up the electronics, and the touchscreen needed replaced, but that was over a year ago and the car has been ok since. It has never ever been wrecked beyond little dings like shopping carts. It makes absolutely zero sense that the car would require this major repair at 82830 miles, and it's going to cost me $2400 which blows my mind. And it's dangerous! Now it has the doom vibe of a Pinto. I am extremely concerned for other C-max owners.
NHTSA complaint #11484528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,000 milesWinthrop, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2018 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated that the seat belt failed. The contact stated that while the driver’s side rear seat belt was fastened to the car seat, the seat belt tightened up independently on her grandchild’s chest. The contact’s grandchild was unable to breathe properly. The contact was unable to unfasten the seat from the clip. The contact had to cut the seat belt to be able to release the seat belt from her grandchild’s chest. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the seat belt operated as designed. The seat belt was not repaired or replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.
NHTSA complaint #11427457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,500 milesChardon, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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. WATER WAS COMING INTO THE JUNCTION BOX WHICH WAS SOAKED. THE BATTERY WAS SITTING IN A POOL OF WATER. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHETHER IT WAS PARKED OR RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint #11309434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,500 milesChardon, OH
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. WATER WAS COMING INTO THE JUNCTION BOX WHICH WAS SOAKED. THE BATTERY WAS SITTING IN A POOL OF WATER. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHETHER IT WAS PARKED OR RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint #11309434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lambertville, MI
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE RIGHT-HAND OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR CONTAINS A SMALL INSET MIRROR INTENDED TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT ANGLE OF VIEW SO AS TO GIVE THE DRIVER VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES ALONGSIDE OR IN THE "BLIND SPOT." IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE MOUNTED AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OF THE MAIN MIRROR SIMILAR TO THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, BUT ON MY CAR IT IS MOUNTED IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE MAIN MIRROR SO THE VIEWS ARE IDENTICAL. FORD DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER SAYS IT'S CORRECT, BUT EVERY OTHER FORD VEHICLE I HAVE SEEN HAS AN BLIND SIDE MIRROR THAT IS ANGLED. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSULTANTS REFUSE TO DISPUTE THE LOCAL DEALER'S OPINION. I BELIEVE THIS MIRROR WAS MANUFACTURED AND INSTALLED IN ERROR. FORD'S OWNER MANUALS FOR VARIOUS MODELS ALL DESCRIBE THE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS IDENTICALLY, BUT MY MIRROR DOES NOT CONFORM TO THOSE DESCRPTIONS. MORE CRITICALLY, IT DOESN'T PERFORM ITS INTENDED FUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #11308496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,500 milesHerndon, VA
SUSPENSION
2018 TITANIUM FORD C-MAX WITH RATTLING/CLUNKING NOISE EMANATING FROM VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW NOW HAS FAILING STRUT BRACES (WHICH ALSO FAILED ON OUR NEW 2017 C-MAX). BRACES ARE FAILING APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES AMONGST OUR TWO VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #11204914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesHerndon, VA
STEERING
STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS UNSAFE AS VEHICLE WANDERS WITHIN LANE PURPORTEDLY DUE TO ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING. SPEEDS ABOVE 40MPH, VEHICLE REQUIRES EXCESSIVE STEERING INPUT TO STAY WITHIN LANE.
NHTSA complaint #11140092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.