2015 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 2015 Ford C-max energi problems
The 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi has been associated with several common problems based on complaints from its owners. These issues primarily revolve around the vehicle's doors, windows, locks, and latches, as well as the infotainment system and fuel efficiency.
- Infotainment System: The Ford MyTouch infotainment system has been criticized for being difficult to operate, with numerous calls being received by the Lemon Law Center regarding battery and stalling issues, as well as glitches with the Ford MyTouch/sync system.
- Fuel Efficiency: The Ford C-MAX Energi has been questioned about its EPA gas mileage rating of 47 miles per gallon, with Consumer Reports unable to exceed 37 miles per gallon after 2,000 miles of testing. This discrepancy between the promised and actual fuel efficiency has been a point of contention among owners.
- Recall: Ford has issued a recall for C-MAX vehicles not equipped with panoramic roof panels due to a risk of head injury in the event of an accident, as testing has shown that occupants have a greater risk of injury with these vehicles.
- J.D. Power Ranking: The Ford C-MAX has ranked dead last in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study, with consumers complaining of confusing and poorly functioning technology.
These common problems have led to frustration and dissatisfaction among many owners of the 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi, with some reporting that the vehicle has been a constant headache due to its reliability and cost of ownership issues.
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 will Ford C-Max Energi last?
roughly 8 years
The make and model of your hybrid vehicle can affect its battery's life, but as a general rule the hybrid battery in Ford vehicles is warrantied to last roughly 8 years or to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, under normal driving conditions.
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 a recall on Ford C-Max Energi transmission?
Power train
Recall no. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
What is the problem with the 2015 Ford Cmax Hybrid?
Ford is recalling 2015 C-Max hybrids to address a software glitch, as part of a larger recall of more than 432,000 2015 models. The software-related malfunction in the body-control module could cause the engines in affected vehicles to continue running even after the driver has turned off the ignition.
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.
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.
How long will Ford C-Max Energi last?
roughly 8 years
The make and model of your hybrid vehicle can affect its battery's life, but as a general rule the hybrid battery in Ford vehicles is warrantied to last roughly 8 years or to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, under normal driving conditions.
2015 Ford C-max energi complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2015 Ford C-max energi.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
Negative 2015 Ford C-max energi car reviews
Positive 2015 Ford C-max energi car reviews
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Hello! Thank you for sharing your experience with the Ford C-Max Energi SEL with Skylight. It's great to hear that you were thoroughly pleased with the car overall, except for the rear volume. You mentioned that you averaged close to 66 mpg overall and over 40 mpg on several long trips, which is impressive! The C-Max sounds like it was very smooth and quiet on the highway and handled perfectly. I'm glad to hear that you found the Ford Sync system to be great and that the Nav and Back-up Camera were excellent. It's unfortunate that the C-Max was totaled in an accident, but I'm happy to hear that you purchased another 2014 with the Parking Assist Package. Based on your positive experience, I would highly recommend the Ford C-Max Energi to anyone looking for an electric/hybrid car. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts!
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This car gets great gas mileage, even better than advertised and my Prius. It's really fun to drive, with more pep and acceleration than other hybrids. Plus, it comes well-equipped for the price compared to other hybrids in its class.
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I absolutely love it! I bought it a year ago and waited to post a review until I had driven through the MA winter and had a year's worth of cost data. The total cost for the year was only $0.06/mile (compared to an SUV which costs $0.19/mile). The overall mpg is an impressive 97 mpg (compared to an SUV which gets only 18 mpg). It only costs $0.96/night to charge using a regular 110V plug in the garage. For the full year, I spent $283 on 8 tanks of gas and 365 days x $0.96/night electricity, which came to a total of $633. I drove 10,321 miles and only had to do maintenance once at 10K miles, which cost $0. It did amazingly well in the winter with stock tires; the heavy weight and low center of gravity helped a lot. I only had to garage it on the 2-feet-of-snow days. I must admit, I learned how to drive a hybrid and am as diligent as possible about it. It felt weird at first, but now it feels normal. It makes a big difference!
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In our area, we have a lot of Prii, and while everyone appreciates the mileage, they don't seem to enjoy the car itself. However, this car has a much nicer standard interior than the Prii or the Leaf and gets excellent mileage. Our daily driving is usually under 20 miles, so we're mostly electric. Over the past twelve months of driving, we've averaged 70mpg when we go over that range. One of the bonuses of this car is that it's small on the outside but has tons of space on the inside (except for the trunk). I'm 6'1
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This is our first hybrid car and we are thrilled with it! We wish we had gotten it sooner. The car just makes perfect sense, and it's a great way to say 'screw Big Oil!' We've only had the car for about two weeks, but we are already very impressed with it. Ford did a great job with it. My fiancee drives it to work every day, about 42 miles round trip. Our terrain is rural back roads, open highway and a bit hilly--great for mild hypermiling. He gets to work in all EV mode and regens a couple miles, and a few miles back toward home before entering hybrid mode. If he could plug in at work, we would rarely ever have to get gas. As it is, we expect we will need to get gas once a month. Wow! This seems crazy! We are very happy overall! Update - It's now been two years since we have owned the car. We have had a few minor issues, such as turned down rear rotor, turned down front rotors, alignment (not covered under warranty), replace charger cable, replace steering component, replace charge port light, and ongoing noise coming from brake at slow speed- unsolved. A recall has been issued on a door part. Ford will contact us to do replacement of component once parts are available. Despite these issues, we are still very happy with the car at 32,000 miles. No reduced battery capacity has been detected at this time. UPDATE - It's now been nearly 3 years that we've owned the car and we still love it. We've not had any more problems with the car, outside of the modem replacement that still does not connect. Otherwise, it has been great and very dependable. We are still running the original tires at about 48,000 miles. Switching out the LLR with winter treads helps a lot, but those tires reduce MPG greatly. Here's a funny story to share: When we first got this car, my eldest daughter made fun of it. She called it 'gay.' She's 20 now and a bit more mature. So my daughter wrecked her Ford Fiesta earlier this year (obviously not funny). She then borrowed her boyfriend's dad's car to get back and forth to work. Several weeks later, the transmission went out in that car, so who does she call?My husband and I have two vehicles, but since I work from home, we only need one. A friend asked to borrow a car, and although my husband needed the truck to bring home firewood from work, I offered her the car. It's a great car with a range of 28 miles in warm temperatures with no climate controls on, and we've had it for over 4 years now. We recently got a good deal on a '14 CPO and our friend fell in love with it, so she is now a proud owner too! If you're looking for a car, I recommend getting a nice, low mileage CPO with a clean Carfax for cash. We did have a front end alignment over the summer and noticed some odd wear on the hatch, but no major problems. We also had an issue with cupping on the rear tires, but we won't replace them with the OEMs. The yellow wrench occasionally comes on, but nothing comes up on the diagnostics. Thankfully, we have an extended warranty in place just in case. It looks like the paint on the left side, around the middle area, has worn off. The dealer is going to take a look at it for us. Other than that, there's nothing new to report. I'm really happy that we bought such an efficient car. You should consider getting a nice used one!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2015 Ford C-max energi problems:

C Max Energi Used 2015 vs 2017 : r/cmaxhybrid
Dec 20, 2021 ... From what I've seen on forums and this subreddit, these cars are very reliable with the main issues being the transmission and a 12V battery ...
2015 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 ...

Stay away from C-Max Energi with transmission issues? : r/cmaxhybrid
Dec 2, 2021 ... Hey all, been lurking for a bit and have been highly interested in the Ford Energis, both C-Max and Fusion. I have a '12 Focus SEL right now ...
2015 Ford C-MAX Reliability - Consumer Reports
Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Body Hardware · Electrical Accessories · Engine Major · Engine Electrical · Electric Motor · Drive System · Brakes · Steering And ...
Common 2015 Ford C-Max Hybrid Problems - Q&A on Revving Issues
May 4, 2021 ... 2015 Ford C-Max hybrid. Seems like it's revving to much. Particularly at low speed with AC on. Feels like the trans is - Answered by a ...
Sherman Bayer 2024-11-17
I experienced problems with the electrical system early on. However, I am confident that the issue was primarily caused by the dealership. Despite the sales people and management appearing to care, the car had to be towed twice due to the technicians failing to make proper electrical connections. Shockingly, the second time they delivered the car to me without reassembling the hybrid battery compartment! Fortunately, FMC came to the rescue and made some commercial accommodation that has worked for me.
Kane Watsica 2024-10-17
It seems like there might be some issues with the car you're describing. Specifically, you mentioned that there is no trunk space, the glove box cannot be locked, the colors in the dash are blending, and there is not enough storage space. Is there anything else you'd like to add or any other concerns you have?
Luis Friesen 2024-07-23
If you're looking for a car that will last, I would recommend considering other options. While I have had some issues with this car, such as having to replace a headlight assembly and battery, I understand that these things can happen with any vehicle. Unfortunately, my extended warranty did not cover these repairs. Additionally, the car's value has not held up well over time, especially if you drive more than 15,000 miles per year. If you're looking for a reliable and valuable car, I would suggest considering a Toyota Prius. I also own one of these and have had a great experience with it. It's important to note that while I have had some issues with my Ford, I still appreciate its features and use it for my daily commute. Thank you for considering my experience with this car.
Rod Schinner 2024-04-03
charge port cover is held in place with a spring and if it disconnect it affects the entire housing which can cost up to $500. What a surprise... it happens after the warranty! The charge error message "fault in charging!" I cannot believe the poor design that cost the owner hundreds! I have own cars since the 70s and this is the 1st time a signal light bulb fails within 2-years! I have a truck/2004 and I never had to replace any lights to this day. Cheap!!!