2017 Ford C-max energi problems

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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.

2017 Ford C-max energi

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Common 2017 Ford C-max energi problems

Based on the complaints from owners of the 2017 Ford C-Max Energi, several common problems have been identified:

  1. Hybrid Battery Issues: Some owners have reported concerns related to the hybrid batteries, such as the car not starting, displaying a powertrain fault symbol, and issues with the EV modes not functioning correctly. This could indicate potential problems with the hybrid battery system or electrical components.
  2. Door-Sealing Problems: Loose sealing strips around the door frames have been reported, causing a high-pitched squeal at speed. This issue can be resolved by removing, straightening, and refitting the sealing strips with new adhesive.
  3. Transmission Oil Leaks: Certain versions of the C-Max Energi have experienced oil leaks from the transmission due to incorrectly fitted driveshafts, leading to damage to gearbox seals. DIY mechanics can address this issue by correctly refitting the driveshafts.
  4. Child Lock System Failure: Some models have faced issues with the child-locking system, often caused by water ingress through faulty seals on the door mirror. The solution involves removing the affected components, drying them out, and replacing any damaged parts.
  5. Keyless Entry Problems: Versions equipped with keyless entry have encountered failures in the system, particularly in winter when salty water can affect the door lock sensor. Cleaning the affected areas and following specific procedures can resolve this issue.
  6. Miscellaneous Electrical and Mechanical Faults: Owners have reported various electrical and mechanical faults, such as issues with spark plugs, ABS modules, and battery voltage. These problems may require diagnostic tests and specific repairs to address them effectively.

By addressing these common problems with the 2017 Ford C-Max Energi based on owner complaints, owners and potential buyers can be better informed about potential issues they may encounter with this vehicle.

2017 Ford C-max energi engine

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 gas mileage on a 2017 Ford Cmax Energi?

39 MPG combined

Compare Side-by-Side

2017 Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy 1 gallon of gasoline=33.7 kWh Show electric charging stations near meElec + Gas Reg. Gas
Combined MPG on Electricity:95 MPGe Combined MPG on Gas Only:39 MPG combined city/highway combined city/highway

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.

What is the gas mileage on a 2017 Ford Cmax Energi?

39 MPG combined

Compare Side-by-Side

2017 Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy 1 gallon of gasoline=33.7 kWh Show electric charging stations near meElec + Gas Reg. Gas
Combined MPG on Electricity:95 MPGe Combined MPG on Gas Only:39 MPG combined city/highway combined city/highway

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.

2017 Ford C-max energi complaints

The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2017 Ford C-max energi.

You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.

Negative 2017 Ford C-max energi car reviews

  1. Destin Baumbach 2025-04-13

    We signed the papers to lease this car on Saturday, August 13, 2016. The odometer read 62 miles. After familiarizing ourselves with the car, we were excited to hit the road! However, the car wouldn't start. No one knew what to do, but eventually, they got it going. The salesman explained that they reset the code. We drove home with a Ford employee following us, just in case. Thankfully, we made it home without any issues. On Wednesday, August 17th, the car wouldn't start again. This time, the odometer read 122 miles. I had the car towed to the nearest dealership and left it there. The service manager called and informed me that the 'electronic control module for hybrid' needed replacing, but unfortunately, the part was on back order. Does this mean that there is a run on this part? I was disappointed because I bought this car to replace my 14-year-old car, hoping for a reliable vehicle. I'd like to keep in touch with Ray Brisbine of CA, who seems to have had the same experience. I wonder if his problems were resolved. After two weeks, we finally got the car back from the dealer service. The service manager told us that Ford engineers called him and said the car did not need a new control module, but rather the computer needed re-programming. So, Ford engineers talked the dealer tech people through a complete re-programming of my c-max energi. We've had it back for four days now, and it is running well. We hope that this is 'the fix'. The service manager said that they have gotten a recall for all c-max energi cars, probably for this reprogramming. We still have a minor problem: holding the lock sensor area for a second does not work to lock the doors. However, unlocking does work. Despite these issues, we found the Ford dealership to be very helpful during this period, even giving us a lender car to keep for the duration of the repair.

  2. Robert Windler 2024-10-19

    The C-Max has some quirks to consider before purchasing. During the winter, it takes a while for the car to warm up and the battery drains quickly when using the heater and fans on short trips. However, during the summer, the car averages 43mpg and can even eliminate the need for gas entirely. It's important to note that the hybrid mode may not kick in on short trips below 20 degrees. The lithium ion battery has an 8-year warranty and typically lasts around 10 years with proper care. While the C-Max is a good car, there may be better options available from competitors.

  3. Gerardo Greenfelder 2024-04-03

    The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Mini Van has a turning radius of 19.85′, while the 2017 Ford C-Max has a turning radius of 19.19′. It's worth noting that the C-Max's handling may not be as smooth as expected, as its U-turn is quite wide. In comparison, the Escape SUV handles U-turns better. The salesman mentioned that the C-Max gets 40 mpg, but that's something I already get on my older Honda Civic with a gasoline engine!

  4. Deven Reilly 2024-02-02

    The car's gas mileage is about the same as my previous car, a 2012 Ford Focus. It is a bit low to the ground, which can make getting in and out a bit of a challenge, and I have hit my head a few times. The batteries do take up some cargo space, but overall it's a comfortable drive with good brakes and acceleration. I haven't needed any major repairs in the two years I've had it.

Positive 2017 Ford C-max energi car reviews

  1. Braden Rosenbaum 2025-05-17

    Using it almost exclusively on electric mode. I make a lot of short trips and can go about 24 miles in all electric mode. Great rebates from Ford, Federal government and State of California. My utility company will pay for charging the first year and after that on all-electric mode it is about 1.5 cents per mile. I am very happy with the car.

  2. Connor Haag 2025-04-29

    The car is a 'Plug-in Hybrid'. The 'Plug-In' part refers to the pure electric car that needs to be plugged into an electric power source to charge its battery. This battery powers an electric motor to drive the car. Electric-only vehicles are typically called 'EVs' and I will use EV to refer to the car in electric-only mode. Separate from the EV, the C-Max Energi is a 'Hybrid' car. The Hybrid is a car with a normal gasoline engine, but also uses the engine to charge a battery, which powers an electric motor to either drive the car on its own or supplements the gasoline engine to drive the car. This improves gas mileage, especially in stop-and-go city driving. The battery for the EV part of the C-Max Energi is good for about 20 miles on a full charge and has a 550-mile range on a full tank/charge. Prior to getting this car, I had rented several Toyota Prius models and drove them for months. They have many plusses: first, they have been on the market for over 10 years so all the kinks have been worked out; next, they have 50+ MPG gas mileage and even higher in stop-and-go city driving. Also, there are probably 15 variations of Prius to choose from. And Toyotas have legendary reliability. So, why did I go for the C-Max, a Ford, an American car? The two minuses compared to the Prius are it has lower gas mileage - 45 MPG in my first two tanks of gas - and the reliability is unknown – the model has been available for about five years. Consumer reports has the C-Max 5-10% below the Prius in reliability. But, I felt the pluses were many. Listing them quickly: it's much quieter - insulation from road noise and a longer wheelbase and larger wheels means it rides smoother/quieter. Better acceleration - while the engine is 2.0L vs. the Prius 1.8L, the C-Max is heavier cancelling out the larger engine advantage. But the C-Max combines electric and gas power when you want to accelerate, so getting on the highway quickly is no problem.The C-Max Energi has many advantages, including its roomy interior and lower cost. As an EV, it qualifies for a US$7,500 federal government tax credit, and the C-Max Energi qualifies for an additional $4,007. It also qualifies for a $1,500 rebate from California. These incentives make the car much less expensive and pushed me to get the plug-in hybrid instead of a normal hybrid. Combined with incentives from Ford, the price was very attractive and pushed me to get a C-Max Energi vs. the Prius. Before I go into the numbers in the lease, let me describe the incentives (or discounts) from Ford that totaled $12,000. These include a $4,000 tax credit for an EV, which Ford takes if you lease the car, and a $4,000 factory incentive. Additionally, there is a $2,500 year-end incentive and a $1,500 lease incentive. The 2016 C-Max Energy had a sticker price of $34,000. Add to it about $2,000 of taxes and fees and subtract the $12,000 in incentives, right off the bat, the car is costing me $24,000. $24,000 is the amount I am financing with lease.Ford took the $12,000 less the $2,000 tax and expense and used the remaining $10,000 as a down payment for the lease. So, I didn't have to put any money down. After looking at the monthly payments and the residual value for leases of 24, 36, and 48 months, it was clear that the 36-month lease was the most cost-effective option. Here are the numbers: Price of the car: $24,000, Deduct the end of three years’ residual value provided by Ford: $12,500, My 36 payments, including interest: $12,000, Tax on the payments: $1,000. So, I am paying $13,000 divided by 36 monthly payments (about $360 a month) and can give the car back to Ford at the end. If I want to keep the car, I pay Ford $12,500 plus tax of about $1,000 or $13,500. I have done the math and the interest rate I am paying is 4.36% per year.

  3. Fredrick Dibbert 2025-04-26

    This isn't actually a Volt, as a Volt has a larger battery that allows us to go all summer on about 5 gallons of gas. However, the Energi has a smaller HV battery, which is perfectly fine. The idea is that you can drive an Energi on electric about 70% of the time. It's a great road car, with a very quiet engine and cabin on the highway, and plenty of headroom. I haven't had any problems with it yet, and it's a nice, tight car. I would definitely buy it again!

  4. Darian Erdman 2025-04-24

    Hi there! I wanted to let you know that we have a great deal on our Second C max right now. You'll love the savings!

  5. Justus Hartmann 2025-04-05

    I recently purchased a C-MAX Energi and compared it to a 2017 Prius V, as well as a 2013 Prius. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the C-Max is a lot more fun to drive than the Prius V, which felt more like a van with non-existent acceleration. The C-Max, on the other hand, can be driven like my 200hp Passat, although the mileage does drop considerably. However, Ford has integrated a lot of tools to monitor efficiency, which can help achieve very good mpg. For me, it's the perfect compromise of both worlds, even though the mpg is somewhat lower than a Prius. The interior quality is also much better than a Prius V, and in my opinion, the regular Prius's exterior is just hideous. It's worth noting that the plug-in Energi will be discontinued in 2018 and eventually be replaced by an Escape version (according to Ford). Currently, the price for the C-Max Energi is below that of the regular hybrid after the tax deduction. The price will be largely influenced by the extras, since the discounts are not applied to these. I decided to opt for the cold weather package ($300) which includes heated seats, as well as the reversing sensors and camera with a bigger screen ($1200). You can get both of these features and leather seats with package 402A ($1600). I chose to stay away from the Navigation, which is another $800, since this is included in every phone and thus useless since the C-Max supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2017 Ford C-max energi problems:

2017 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems | Kelley Blue Book
2017 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems | Kelley Blue Book
https://www.kbb.com/ford/c-max-energi/2017/common-problems/

How reliable is the 2017 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
Stay away from C-Max Energi with transmission issues? : r/cmaxhybrid
https://www.reddit.com/r/cmaxhybrid/comments/r7kzfw/stay_away_from_cmax_energi_with_transmission/

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 ...

2017 Ford C-MAX Reliability - Consumer Reports
2017 Ford C-MAX Reliability - Consumer Reports
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/c-max/2017/reliability/

Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Brakes · Noises And Leaks · EV Battery · Exhaust · Steering And Suspension · Drive System · Engine Major · Climate System.

2017 C-Max Problems : r/cmaxhybrid
2017 C-Max Problems : r/cmaxhybrid
https://www.reddit.com/r/cmaxhybrid/comments/14rv2it/2017_cmax_problems/

Jul 6, 2023 ... I have a 2017 Ford C-Max. It has approx 78,000 miles. Last week, I went to start my car and it wouldn't start. After a few attempts it did ...

My 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Trans Issues Solved - eCVT ...
My 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Trans Issues Solved - eCVT ...
https://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/8124-my-2013-ford-c-max-energi-trans-issues-solved/

Apr 11, 2020 ... ... 2017 VIN's that I could see a change i part #'s. I tried to get a 2016 trans which many said had updates that addressed the bearing issues.

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