Is the 2013 Ford C-Max a bad year?
187 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other C-Max years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Ford C-Max are in line with other C-Max years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 C-Max owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 52,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 51 (27%) | 18k–87k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 39 (21%) | 50k–88k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 37 (20%) | 65k–110k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 17 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 52,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 187 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 1 reports an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving on the highway, a warning light came on instructing me to pull over to the side of the road and stop.
Transmission bearing failure, as specified by recall TSB 14B07. Left stranded.
While vehicle was stationary, or in motion loud grinding or thudding noise from engine. Whrn placing vehicle in neutral slightly improves.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 52,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Ford C-Max: 8
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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.
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 door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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. An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
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. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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. 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.
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. If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.
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 back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 86
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Ford C-Max. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise coming from the transmission
Some vehicles can now be disassembled to repair and clean any contamination that may have been the result of a differential or transfer shaft bearing failure…
2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion Hybrid/MKZ Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0340 and/or P0344
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1450, P0456, P0457, P04EE and/or P04EF
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Door Latch Failures
Door Latch Failure
Neighbouring years
2014 C-Max: 80 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford C-Max year
2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · All C-Max years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Ford C-Max a bad year?
187 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other C-Max years. At 52,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford C-Max?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (51), steering (39), transmission and drivetrain (37), engine (17), body structure (13).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford C-Max have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-413), Latches and locks (NHTSA 20V-331), Equipment (NHTSA 18V-592), Latches and locks (NHTSA 16V-643) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.