2014 Ford C-MAX: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

THE AVERAGE MILES PER GALLON OF FUEL IS INCORRECT BECAUSE THE FUEL USAGE IS INCORRECT. THIS VEHICLE HAS A DISPLAY THAT INDICATES THE AMOUNT OF FUEL USED. I RESET WITH EVERY FILL-UP. IT IS CONSISTENTLY WRONG. USUALLY LOW BY .5 TO .7 GALLONS. THIS PRODUCES A FALSE AVERAGE MILES PER GALLON READING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651569 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE COMPASS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD NEXT TO THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES INACCURATE PERPENDICULAR DIRECTIONS WHILE INDICATING THE CORRECT DIRECTION OF PROGRESS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE CAR IS PROGRESSING NORTH THE TOP OF THE DIAL INDICATES "N" FOR NORTH CORRECTLY. BUT THE MARKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHICH SHOULD INDICATE "E" FOR EAST INSTEAD INDICATES "W" FOR WEST WHILE THE MARKING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE ALSO INACCURATELY INDICATES THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. WHEN PROGRESSING WEST, SOUTH OR EAST THE SAME REVERSAL OF THE PERPENDICULAR DIRECTIONS…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693536 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE TORQUE IS TOO EASILY APPLIED TO THE WHEELS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP CAUSING UNEXPECTED TRACTION LOSS AND TIRE SPIN EVEN UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED WHILE PASSING OR OTHERWISE USING CLOSE TO OR FULL POWER (IN A STRAIGHT LINE), THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER UNEXPECTEDLY. ANY NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTION CAUSES THE CAR TO PULL TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND OFTEN CAUSES THE CAR TO WANDER ACROSS THE LANE BACK AND FORTH AS I TRY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THESE ISSUES SEEM…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789796 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH HER STEERING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V514000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,910.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,910 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819061 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence: The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.

Reported: 2014-05-07 (May 7, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (RCM) may have errors in the programming software which may result in a delayed deployment of the side-curtain rollover air bag.

Consequence: If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.

Reported: 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Focus and C-Max vehicles manufactured August 8, 2014, to August 15, 2014. The affected vehicles may have steering gears that were incorrectly assembled.

Consequence: The incorrectly manufactured steering gears may cause impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S18.

Reported: 2014-09-26 (September 26, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to November 1, 2013; and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to September 30, 2013. The coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) may crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short.

Consequence: The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.

Reported: 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.

Reported: 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-10B706-AD, FM58-10B706-AE and FM58-10B706-AF were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.

Consequence: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.

Reported: 2020-06-08 (June 8, 2020)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

Reported: 2022-06-10 (June 10, 2022)

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.

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.