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2014 Ford C-MAX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

80 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

53,394 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 80 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1620.0%
Transmission and shifting1417.5%
Electrical and battery issues1215.0%
Braking behavior78.8%
Engine operation11.3%

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.

Unknown Or Other
19
Electrical System
17
Power Train
17
Steering
14
Engine
5
Latches/Locks/Linkages
5
Air Bags
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other19
Electrical System17
Power Train17
Steering14
Engine5
Latches/Locks/Linkages5
Air Bags4
Fuel/Propulsion System3

Unknown Or Other: 19; Electrical System: 17; Power Train: 17; Steering: 14; Engine: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 5; Air Bags: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 40 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.

2014
3
2015
3
2016
5
2017
7
2018
5
2019
7
2020
8
2021
10
2022
15
2023
5
2024
7
2025
2
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20143
20153
20165
20177
20185
20197
20208
202110
202215
20235
20247
20252
20263

2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 7; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 8; 2021: 10; 2022: 15; 2023: 5; 2024: 7; 2025: 2; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10633639 · 2014-09-16 (September 16, 2014)

1ST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED WHILE I WAS DOING 50MPH DOWN A 5 LANE ROAD. ALL ELECTRICAL WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LOST MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AS IT WOULD NOT RE-START. 2ND TIME ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER GETTING THE CAR "FIXED" THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I75 WITH SAME SCENARIO. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON SHOULDER AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. 3RD TIME AFTER GETTING THE "FIXED" VEHICLE BACK THE RADIO WENT OUT, THEN THE CLOCK WENT WACKY, THE CHECK ENGINE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10633639 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10672064 · 2015-01-13 (January 13, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND FAILED TO TURN. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE STEERING WHEEL OPERATED AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLU…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10672064 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10916154 · 2016-10-14 (October 14, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX HYBRID. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNING IT OFF, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING IT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE SEPARATE OCCASION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 18,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916154 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11005220 · 2017-07-14 (July 14, 2017)

2014 FORD CMAX ENERGI - 70,300 MILES PURCHASED NEW NOV. 2014. WAS DRIVING SWITCH BACKS DOWN HILL WITH MY CAR IN LOW. I HEARD A NOISE AND SUDDENLY THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR IN NEUTRAL. I BRAKED TO A STOP. PUT IT IN PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE AND IT SEEMED FINE. A WEEK AND A LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN IN THE SAME DOWN HILL PLACE ON THE SWITCH BACKS. I REALLY TAKES OFF WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD AGENCY THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY KEPT IT 42 DAYS (INCLUDING SUNDAYS) BUT NEVER FOUND THE CAUSE. THEY TOL…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005220 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11032161 · 2017-10-07 (October 7, 2017)

WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON MEANING CONTACT DEALER ASAP ABOUT POWERTRAIN ISSUE. I HAD NOTICED A FEW DAYS EARLIER IT SEEMED TO NOT BE SWITCHING BETWEEN ELECTRIC AND ENGINE AS WELL OR SMOOTHLY WHEN DRIVING. WHEN STATIONARY, THE DISPLAY SCREEN FOR RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. INSTEAD IT GIVES MESSAGE "TURNING OFF TO CONSERVE BATTERY." CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS AT 78000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER. CANNOT FIND ISSUE. CODES IT IS THROWING ARE FOR BATTERY BUT THEY BOTH TEST GOOD. THEY RESET CODES AND WE WENT TO PICK IT UP. NOW KEY …

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032161 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10660656 · 2014-12-23 (December 23, 2014)

2014 FORD C-MAX. CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. *TA THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT COULD NOT AND CONSEQUENTLY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 12/14/14*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10660656 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11433871 · 2021-09-21 (September 21, 2021)

Sudden loss of power to steering....noted that many others have had this problem.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11433871 at NHTSA ↗