Reliability & cost of ownership
Ford C-Max Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Ford C-Max? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Ford C-Max problems by model year
27 recall entries and 356 owner complaints on file across 6 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 C-Max | 1 | 10 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 C-Max | 1 | 13 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 C-Max | 3 | 24 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 C-Max | 6 | 54 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 C-Max | 8 | 77 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 C-Max | 8 | 178 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Ford C-Max, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system81 complaints
- power train69 complaints
- steering62 complaints
- unknown or other57 complaints
- engine23 complaints
- back over prevention19 complaints
- structure17 complaints
- air bags17 complaints