2013 Ford C-max energi problems
The Ford C-Max (stylized as Ford C-MAX and previously called the Ford Focus C-Max) is a car produced by the Ford Motor Company from 2003 to 2019. It has a five-door compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) design. The Ford Grand C-Max has a longer wheelbase.
Ford introduced the C-Max in the United States as its first hybrid-only line of vehicles, which includes the C-Max Hybrid, released in September 2012, and the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, launched in October 2012. Although the C-Max was initially available only in Europe, the first generation was partially available in New Zealand.
First generation (2003)
The Ford Focus C-Max is preceded by the eponymous show car, which was designed by Daniel Paulin and unveiled at the 2002 Paris Motor Show.
C-Max Mk I was the first product to use the Ford C1 platform, also used by the Ford Focus Mk II and the compact MPV Premacy/Mazda5. Its internal code name is C214.
It seats five passengers and has a large amount of cargo space, which can be increased by folding the rear seats flat. Some models feature diagonally sliding outer rear seats. It also shares the control blade independent rear suspension from the Focus.
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Common 2013 Ford C-max energi problems
The 2013 Ford C-Max Energi has been reported to have several common problems, primarily related to the electrical system, transmission, and battery.
- Not keeping charge: Similar to the dead battery issue, some owners have reported problems with the car not keeping charge. This issue has been reported for the 2016 C-Max Energi, but it is possible that it could also affect the 2013 model. This problem can be caused by a faulty battery or issues with the car's electrical system.
- Transmission failure: Transmission failure has been reported for the 2013 C-Max Energi, with 3 complaints specifically for this model year. This problem can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or manufacturing defects.
- Fault in charging message: Some owners have reported a fault in charging message for the 2014 C-Max Energi, which could indicate issues with the car's charging system. This problem can be caused by a faulty charging cable, issues with the car's electrical system, or problems with the battery.
- MyFord Touch system: The MyFord Touch system, which was introduced in 2010, has been a source of frustration for many Ford owners. This system, which was designed to be an all-in-one communication and entertainment system, has been criticized for its poor user interface, frequent malfunctions, and lack of support from Ford dealers.
- In-car electronics: Several owners have reported problems with the car's in-car electronics, including issues with the sound system, GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including software bugs, hardware issues, or problems with the car's electrical system.
- Transmission issues: Some owners have reported transmission issues, including problems with shifting and transmission failure. These problems can be caused by wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or manufacturing defects.
In summary, the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi has several common problems, primarily related to the electrical system, transmission, and battery. These issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including wear and tear, lack of maintenance, manufacturing defects, or software bugs. If you are considering purchasing a 2013 Ford C-Max Energi, it is important to be aware of these common problems and to have the car inspected by a qualified mechanic before making a purchase.
Is the Ford C-Max Energi reliable?
The current Consumer reports Used Car Guide recommends the C-Max as “a hidden used car gem.” Avoid the 2013 model year, though. Transmissions on the Hybrid (not Energi) model were failure-prone before 2015. I own a 2014 C-Max Hybrid and a 2017 C-Max Energi, both for about six years now.
How long does a 2013 Ford C-Max hybrid battery last?
Average Lifespan: Hybrid batteries typically have a lifespan of 100,000 to 200,000 miles. Warranty Coverage: Most hybrid car manufacturers offer warranties that cover the hybrid battery for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Is there any problems with Ford C-Max?
The C-Max Mk2 also has problems that include a loose door frame weather strip, leaky manual transmissions, coolant pump leaks, and a failure of the keyless entry system. However, don't worry, because here we explain what the issues involve and how the DIY mechanic can save large sums of money by repairing them at home.
Is there any recalls on 2013 C-Max Ford?
Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for approximately 850,000 (actual 850,050) 2013-2014 Ford C-MAX, Fusion, Escape and Lincoln MKZ vehicles in North America for a potential issue with the restraints control module.
How long does a 2013 Ford C-Max hybrid battery last?
Average Lifespan: Hybrid batteries typically have a lifespan of 100,000 to 200,000 miles. Warranty Coverage: Most hybrid car manufacturers offer warranties that cover the hybrid battery for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Is there any problems with Ford C-Max?
The C-Max Mk2 also has problems that include a loose door frame weather strip, leaky manual transmissions, coolant pump leaks, and a failure of the keyless entry system. However, don't worry, because here we explain what the issues involve and how the DIY mechanic can save large sums of money by repairing them at home.
Is there any recalls on 2013 C-Max Ford?
Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for approximately 850,000 (actual 850,050) 2013-2014 Ford C-MAX, Fusion, Escape and Lincoln MKZ vehicles in North America for a potential issue with the restraints control module.
Is the Ford C-Max reliable?
Ford C-MAX reliability
The Ford C-MAX was rated a little above average for reliability in our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK. Of the owners who responded, 11.1% reported experiencing a problem with their car on at least one occasion.
2013 Ford C-max energi complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2013 Ford C-max energi.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
2013 Ford C-max energi recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2013 Ford C-max energi.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Consequence: Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
Negative 2013 Ford C-max energi car reviews
Positive 2013 Ford C-max energi car reviews
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Charging at home and work allows me to easily cover my 15-mile commute each way without using any gas, which is really nice. The battery typically shows 9 miles of range left when I arrive at work and 6 miles of range left when I arrive back home, even with more hills. I'm impressed with the breaking regen system, which allows me to regen a mile or two in estimated range at each of the 2 or 3 stop lights caught on my commute. During longer weekend trips and road trips, I average around 38 to 39 mpg after the battery charge is finished with EV mode and normal hybrid mode kicks in. Additionally, the car comes with an embedded cellular card, which allows me to see the car's location and charge status by phone or web.
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I recently switched from an '11 Prius to the C-Max Energi and the difference is remarkable. The build quality of the Energi is superb, providing a much more solid and upscale experience compared to the tin can feel of the Prius. The C-Max Energi also provides me with the data and information I need, allowing me to finesse the pedal and maximize my range. Despite the higher seating position of this mini-SUV, I find the view to be awesome and the interior quality to be upscale. I am grateful to Ford for bringing us a taste of the European Focus here in the USA.
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Hello! I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to share my experience with this car. I've driven it for about 6,000 miles and I haven't had any problems so far. The best part is that with the federal tax credit and CA rebate, the cost is the same as the regular CMAX hybrid. The seating position is nice, the interior is pleasant, and the pickup is good. After figuring out the battery limitations, I'm getting about 80-90 mpg in my daily 25-30 mile commutes. The car is very quiet and reasonably pleasant even on 400 mile drives (although I only get about 38 mpg on gas alone @ 70 mph). I do want to mention that the extra battery does limit space, so it may be a deal breaker if you have a family of 4. Overall, I think it's a much nicer drive than our prior Prius and Camry hybrids. Thank you for reading!
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Hi there! If you drive less than 40 miles between charges, you'll get great mileage (85mpg and increasing) with your Cmax, especially if you're driving on the freeway. If you're driving more than that each day, you might want to consider another car. I've had a great experience with my Cmax and haven't needed to go back to the dealer yet.
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I recently purchased the new C/MAX Energi and I must say, I am impressed! I was initially concerned about the power it would provide, but it did not disappoint. The car is nicely appointed and drives like a dream. However, be careful as the lack of road noise can lead you to go a little faster than you think. The seats are extremely comfortable with great lumbar support and the ride is smooth with excellent acceleration. The only downside is that there is very little storage space for long trips. On the bright side, you can go about 100 miles for the same cost of a gallon of gas, depending on where you live. Unfortunately, they are hard to find! If you are lucky enough to find one at your dealer, grab it before it's gone!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2013 Ford C-max energi problems:
Stay away from C-Max Energi with transmission issues? : r/cmaxhybrid
Dec 2, 2021 ... I found a 2013 C-Max Energi for $1500 that drives but needs a transmission and has a check engine light on for a faulty catalytic converter.
Buying Used 2013 C-Max Hybrid, worried about transmission issues ...
Feb 19, 2018 ... obob · 1. Rear tire cupping - kind of agree. · 2. Brakes at 10K - strongly disagree. · 3. The dead battery problems are largely in the past. · 4.
Potentially buying a 2013 Ford C-Max SEL this week! However.... : r ...
Feb 4, 2021 ... I've read about transmission issues some of you have had. This car has 53,000km (32k miles) this will be the first hybrid I've ever owned/drove ...
My 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Trans Issues Solved - eCVT ...
Apr 11, 2020 ... My tech remove the subframe and raised the car from the engine/trans. He checked the exterior of trans, flushed fluid and installed it and did ...
What's Wrong with the Ford C-Max Hybrid?
Aug 4, 2016 ... Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 33rd in overall reliability out of 42 Ford models , with real electrical and interior concerns. The ...
Other years of Ford C-max energi
Are you having problems with your 2013 Ford C-max energi?
Hazel Waelchi 2025-02-22
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with the C-Max Energi. I initially thought I could drive it just a few miles per day, plug it in at night, and avoid gas stations altogether. However, I ran into a bit of an issue. It turns out that while the lithium ion battery charges, the 12 volt battery that initially cranks the engine doesn't charge at the same time. As a result, if you don't drive extended miles every few days or so, the 12 volt battery will gradually be drained. I learned this the hard way when my battery died twice. According to my local dealer, this is because the Energi doesn't have an alternator. Just something to keep in mind! Let me know if you have any questions.
Guiseppe Shields 2024-10-18
Hi there! I bought this car 2 months ago and have been driving it to and from work mostly. I really like the concept of a plugin hatchback. The car handles fairly well and the motors work great. However, I have to admit that the electronics still need some work. The charging software, navigation, and voice recognition are not up to par yet and have made the experience less enjoyable for me.
Hadley Simonis 2024-09-02
This is my second Ford, and while I appreciate the good gas mileage, I have unfortunately had some issues with it. In the past 3 months, I have had to take it in for service three times due to an oil leak, a rear passenger door that repeatedly falls off, and a front passenger window that requires multiple attempts to close. Additionally, a plastic cover in the back seat fell off while I was taking it in for service. As a result, I am feeling frustrated and disappointed with my purchase, especially since I paid a lot for this car. While I cannot recommend the C-Max based on my experience, I hope that others have better luck with it.
Johnson Lakin 2024-08-23
I've had my CMAX for almost a year and put 14K miles on it. Unfortunately, it's currently at the dealership waiting for a high voltage controller that is backordered with no estimated time of arrival. While I wait, I'm driving a base model Ford Focus instead of my loaded CMAX. I'm hoping it doesn't take longer than 30 days, as I may have to file a lemon law claim. Despite this setback, I still think the car is great. However, it's frustrating that Ford won't provide a decent loaner or return my calls. I was eventually able to reach someone higher up at Ford and had a Ford Escape for a little over a month. Since getting my car back, it has worked fine, except for the voice commands using Sync. Even simple commands like 'Call Home' result in 'unknown, please repeat.' Saying 'Call Jim' brings up a list of names, but none of them are Jim. The gas mileage is okay, but I do wish the battery was a little bigger.
Dashawn Blanda 2024-05-05
I've noticed that many people seem to be happy with their Cmax Energi, so perhaps we just got unlucky with our purchase. We chose this car because it would allow me to use the commuter lane, and at the time, there were no all-electric options (other than Tesla) that I felt comfortable relying on for my daily commute. Here's my take after driving it for about 4 years and putting 60k miles on it. Fuel economy - Unfortunately, the battery has never taken me as far as Ford claimed it would, whether I'm driving on the freeway or local streets. I'm lucky to get 13-14 miles on a charge, and I was expecting 20+ based on what the dealer and the Ford brochure suggested. Comfort - The ride is much harsher, and the seats are not as comfortable as what we were used to with our 2004 Prius. The tires are lower profile, and while it's touted as being sportier than our old Prius, it's really not a comfortable ride for long trips. Road noise - It's very noisy, especially on stretches of freeway that are concrete instead of asphalt. I tried to find replacement tires that might help the issue, but the difference is minimal at best. FYI - it's not recommended to use chains or cable chains in the snow due to the very low clearance of the front tires. Interior layout - Some of the controls are in odd places, in my opinion. Even after 4 years of driving the car, it still doesn't feel natural. Infotainment system - The voice recognition is terribly inconsistent, and asking the car to do anything from dialing a phone number to finding a destination has been very unreliable. If you turn the car off with the radio on, you wouldn't expect it to come back on with the same station when you get back in the car, would you? Unfortunately, ours doesn't. Three-quarters of the time, it says it's on, but no audio is coming out, and the only way to get it to actually turn on is to change the station. The local dealer brushed it off like it wasn't a big deal, but it's frustrating nonetheless.The GPS software needs updating as it does not recognize roads that have been in place for 10-20 years in this area. Although the system was able to recognize the iPhone, it has had ongoing problems since switching to a new carrier and no longer using iPhones. The battery takes up a lot of storage space, but this was clear from the first time we looked at the car. Unfortunately, we recently had to pay $1350 for repairs associated with an injector failing, which was disappointing. We are also concerned about other random issues such as the AC spontaneously failing to work on hot summer days, wind noise, a dysfunctional backup camera, and the foot sensor operated lift gate rarely works as advertised (and seems to only respond to my foot which really makes my wife mad). Overall, we have had a less than satisfactory experience and will not be considering Ford products in the future. We have found that our experience with Toyota service centers has been superior to what we have experienced through Ford.