2015 Ford C-MAX: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. I WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE IMPACT WAS TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. MY VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND 45 DEGREES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I WAS TOSSED AROUND IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. THE CARS COMPUTER DETECTED AN IMPACT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO INITIATE A 911 CALL. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811026 at NHTSA ↗

REVERSE GEAR SETTING ACTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AFTER STARTING THE PARKED CAR ND ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OFPARKING SPACE. I TRIED TURNING OFF ENGINE, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED, THE CAR CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD UNTIL THE CAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE PARKING SPACE SIGN. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE AS 1) IT PROBABLY OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WITH THE SAME MODEL IN THE SAME FLEET AND LEASER CHARGED ME UPWARD OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX VOSMETIC DAMAGE CAUSED WHILE PARALLEL PARKING AND 2) THUS COULD CAUSE BODILY INJURY HAD THE PARKING SPACE NOT BEEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895980 at NHTSA ↗

1. ON TAKING A TRIP FROM PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN THIS CMAX WAS PARKED & LOCKED IN THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA BEACHES PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 9 AM CST 2. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM EST A TELEPHONE CALL WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AIRPORT POLICE INFORMING ME THAT THE CMAX WAS IN THE PARKING LOT RUNNING WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND I WAS ASKED TO GO TO THE PARKING LOT AND TURN THE AUTOMOBILE OFF. AFTER I INFORMED THE OFFICER THAT I WAS IN INDIANA AND COULD NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST, I PROCEEDED TO MAKE NUMEROUS TELEPHONE CALLS; FORD MOTOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954093 at NHTSA ↗

IT IS ACCELERATING TO FAST AFTER LETTING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991067 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING MY 2015 FORD C-MAX AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOSE POWER. I PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A INTERSECTION AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. BIG RED TRIANGLE SHOW UP SAYING "STOP SAFELY NOW". CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 4 DAYS, THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE FORD VEHICLES AND A RECALL WAS CALLED FOR THE FOCUS. I GUESS FORD IS TO BIG TO GO AFTER AND THE NTSB DRAGS THERE FEET LIKE NO OTHER. CALL FOR A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES THAT "STOP SAFELY NOW'. WILL …

Owner-reported narrative. 36,725 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024493 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE IS NOT HOLDING EV NOW/LATER MODES CAUSING UNEXPECTED BATTERY USAGE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION. AN EXAMPLE IS TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70-75 MPH); VEHICLE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SWITCH INTO AUTO MODE AND REVERT FROM GAS/HYBRID PERFORMANCE TO ELECTRIC/BATTERY ONLY PERFORMANCE WHICH IS REDUCED POWER AND RESPONSE AGAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AS I HAVE FOUND THIS TO HAPPEN BEFORE I ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND CAN ADJUST MY DRIVE ACCORDINGLY. ADDITIONALLY, THIS HAPPENS IN EV NOW MODE WHICH HOLDS THE ELECTRIC ENGINE TO PREVENT GAS USE…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,173 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031986 at NHTSA ↗

CHARGING CORD OVERHEATED AND MELTED AT THE PLUG. RECALL IN PLACE ON THIS ITEM, BUT FORD SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS IN RECALL TO ENSURE CHARGING CORD IS PLUGGED IN TO DEDICATED AND UNDAMAGED/NON CORRODED OUTLET (IT WAS-UNTIL AFTER EVENT) AND NOT ATTACHED TO AN EXTENSION CORD (IT WAS NOT).

Owner-reported narrative. 30,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11170728 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V592000 (EQUIPMENT). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NORTH SIDE FORD (1312 N KELLER DR, EFFINGHAM, IL 62401, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVIALABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11190308 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-07-08 (July 8, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C06.

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.

Reported: 2025-10-13 (October 13, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.