CarRecallWatchThe 2013 Ford C-Max has 8 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA, including 4 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (52 reports).
2013 Ford C-Max recalls
Shifter Bushing May Fail, Causing Unexpected Movement
A bushing that connects the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach on certain 2013-2021 Ford vehicles.
Door May Not Latch Securely and Could Open While Driving
A component in the door latches can break, making a door difficult to latch or causing the driver or a passenger to think a door is closed when it is not.
Charge cord can overheat and melt, risking fire
Certain 120V portable charge cords supplied with some plug-in hybrid and electric Ford vehicles were made without a thermistor, a temperature-sensing part.
Door Latch May Break, Leaving Door Unsecured While Driving
A component inside the door latch can break.
Most common 2013 Ford C-Max problems
Problem areas named in the 187 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 52 |
| Steering | 39 |
| Power Train | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Structure | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
What owners report
Summary of Safety Issue The vehicle repeatedly experiences sudden loss of propulsion while driving, accompanied by a âStop Safely Nowâ warning message and various other dashboard warnings . During these events the accelerator pedal becomes completely unresponsive while the vehicle remains powered, indicating a failure of the hybrid propulsion system or high-voltage battery control system. The vehicle and video footage of the failure are available for inspection upon request. Timeline of Events January 13, 2026 â The vehicle displayed a âStop Safely Nowâ warning message and lost the ability to accelerate. The vehicle had to be towed to Lehighton Ford. January 21, 2026 â Paid $866
The rear impact bar is completely disintegrated and is falling off of the subframe due to extreme rust. There is either no or very little amount of rust on the entirety of the rest of the vehicle. The impact bar is either manufactured with incorrect materials or is otherwise defective. The impact absorber is attached to the impact bar and due to the integrity of the impact bar being destroyed, the crumple zone in the rear of the vehicle will not work as intended and the safety systems would not perform as intended. The impact absorber is not sitting correctly as attached to the impact bar and major portions of the impact bar are missing due to extreme rust. This is currently available fo
Rear view camera display is upside down. Display was normal when the vehicle was purchased and then one day it flipped upside down and all overlay information disappeared (lines and distance indicators).
I took it to the Ford dealership and they diagnosed it as having a parasitic draw from the 12 V battery when the car is shut down so when you go to get into the car if the battery is dead, they will fix it for $425 however, this problem was a recall in 2013 and my car did have a recall done to it. However, the issue is still going on therefore I feel as though the customer should not be charged. My car broke down going up the canyon and it told me to pull over safely, which I did going up the hill, but it was on an exit and it was a dangerous situation as I could not even turn on my flashers. This has been a known issue with the Ford C max since 2013 and since their software program then did
The backup camera always quits working while in the middle of reversing. It will work for a second, but then the display will flip upside down or go completely black and display a message saying "Camera unavailable. Please contact your dealership." It started doing this about a year ago, but was intermittent. It started happening more often over time, and now it always happens. It makes reversing dangerous, as the camera will quit working while the vehicle is still moving. This is especially dangerous in parking lots where there are pedestrians around. It is available for inspection upon request. It has not been inspected by anyone yet.
2013 Ford C-Max questions
Does the 2013 Ford C-Max have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2013 Ford C-Max: Shifter Bushing May Fail, Causing Unexpected Movement; Door May Not Latch Securely and Could Open While Driving; Charge cord can overheat and melt, risking fire; Door Latch May Break, Leaving Door Unsecured While Driving; Air Bags; Air Bags:Side/Window; Seat Belts. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford C-Max?
Based on 187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (52), Steering (39), Power Train (37).
How do I check if a recall on my 2013 Ford C-Max has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.