AI Damage2013 Ford redundant C-MAX Hybrid reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Ford redundant C-MAX Hybrid filed 120 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 120
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 41% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 13% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 9% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 49 complaints (41% of all).
- Engine: 17 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 15 complaints (13% of all).
- Steering: 15 complaints (13% of all).
- Structure: 13 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 120 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 49 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 146,000.
I was in an accident, driving approximately 25 mph when I hit the brakes with approximately 20 feet of distance, the anti lock brakes failed to engage causing the car to slide, and rear end the car in front of me, upon impact the airbags did not deploy.
Abs failed causing car to slide on slick surface, and airbags did not deploy in front end collision.
The wife jumped a curb while parking and the cmax ran into a brick pillar causing damage to the front end, the airbags did not deploy. Wife said her foot was on the brake and the acceleration from a stop was violent.
The message "Stop Safely Now'" was displayed on the screen. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. However, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired.
The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was parked, it failed to start. The vehicle was jump-started on several occasions but needed to be towed occasionally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with battery failure.
The contact stated that while in reverse, the rearview camera failed to display a rearview image, potentially compromising the back over prevention system. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The rearview camera warning light was illuminated.
The contact then pulled into a parking lot and the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear subframe was rusted, causing the control arms to separate. The dealer determined that the rear subframe and connecting parts needed to be replaced.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,065 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the redundant C-MAX Hybrid has 69 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 120, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford redundant C-MAX Hybrid?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, powertrain. Total complaints: 120. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (14%), won't start (13%), infotainment or screen glitches (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Ford redundant C-MAX Hybrid?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford redundant C-MAX Hybrid from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.