2016 Ford C-MAX ENERGI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
48,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 32 complaints (34.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 21.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 1 |
Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 4; Back Over Prevention: 3; Engine: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Structure:Body: 2; Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11182118 · 2019-02-23 (February 23, 2019)
I WAS GOING TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THEN ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WENT HAYWIRE.EVERYTHING TURNED ON( WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RADIO, ALL THE LIGHTS. ETC.) THEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO IN REVERSE AND IT WENT FORWARD. THEN I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, SO I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I THEN MOVED THE STICK SHIFT BACK AND FORTH, PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN AND IT WENT A COUPLE OF FEET, THEN WOULDN'T MOVE ANYMORE. ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAINED ON, BUT I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11377393 · 2020-12-01 (December 1, 2020)
SEVERAL TIMES NOW THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, IT WAS DRIVING UPHILL ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN IT HIT A SMALL BUMP IT WOULD SHUT OFF. I FIGURED IT WAS JUST AT HIGH SPEEDS THAT THIS OCCURRED. RECENTLY, IT WAS JUST DRIVING UP A DRIVEWAY INCLINE AT 5 MPH, AND GOING OVER A SMALL SPEED BUMP TRIGGERED IT TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE SERVICE FIX IT AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. IT DOES NOT GO INTO A SAFE MODE, JUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,052 miles reported. Look up ODI 11377393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10968744 · 2017-03-27 (March 27, 2017)
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN I WAS TRANSITIONING FROM PAVEMENT TO GRAVEL WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT THAT TRANSITION PERIOD. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR PARKED IN THE ADJACENT SPOT. I CRANKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID MISSING THAT CAR. THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB, AND PROCEEDED INTO A TREE. HAD IT NOT HIT A TREE I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THE OPPOSITE CAR AS IT WAS A GRADE BELOW FROM MY P…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089206 · 2018-04-21 (April 21, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED RESPONDING. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RESPOND WAS TO MAKE DRASTIC TURNS THAT WOULD TAKE ME ACROSS 3 LANES OF HIGHWAY AND THEN BACK THE OTHER WAY. I FINALLY GOT THE BRAKE TO SLOW ME DOWN ENOUGH, I PULLED OVER. I HAD HIT ANOTHER CAR AND THE C-MAX WAS TOTALED. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE CAR, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DESTROYED IN THE ACCIDENT SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10946869 · 2017-01-21 (January 21, 2017)
PRESSED THE BRAKES TO STOP IN A PARKING LOT, AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AS OBSESSED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A HUGE FLOWER POT,
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11547715 · 2023-10-02 (October 2, 2023)
Was driving it to a shop to do a transmission fluid exchange and got a big Stop Safely Now warning on the dash with an AdvanceTrac warning as well. Car stopped dead on a freeway off ramp - was very fortunate to get an immediate SoCal Freeway Service tow off the ramp in Los Angeles to a safe place, and after AAA told me I might wait 4 hours for a tow to my preferred Ford dealer, I got the car restarted and got it to a another dealer a couple miles away. Inspection showed a P0B37 error code with chafing of the high voltage battery harness. The …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11547715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11634947 · 2025-01-08 (January 8, 2025)
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, prompting her to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission had previously been replaced 3 years prior. The manufacturer was noti…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11634947 at NHTSA ↗