NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2013–2015

Ford C-Max Hybrid recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 137 owner complaints for the Ford C-Max Hybrid, covering model years 2013 to 2015. The 2013 model year drew the most complaints (120), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Ford C-Max Hybrid VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
137 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
2 model years with data (2013–2015)

most complaints: 2013 (120 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (50 complaints)
latest recall 13V303000 (reported Jul 10, 2013)

5 complaints reporting a crash (3.6%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
4 complaints reporting an injury (2.9%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Ford C-Max Hybrid complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2013 model year has the most complaints: 120 of 137, or 87.6%. Next come 2015 (17).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Ford C-Max Hybrid complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Ford C-Max Hybrid complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting an injury
2013	120	5	4
2015	17	0	0
All model years	137	5	4

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Ford C-Max Hybrid components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 50 complaints (36.5% of all 137), followed by Power Train (18) and Engine (17).

Components named most often in Ford C-Max Hybrid complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Ford C-Max Hybrid complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	50	36.5%
Power Train	18	13.1%
Engine	17	12.4%
Steering	17	12.4%
Structure	14	10.2%
Latches/Locks/Linkages	11	8.0%
Back Over Prevention	9	6.6%
Unknown or Other	9	6.6%
Service Brakes	8	5.8%
Air Bags	6	4.4%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	5	3.6%
Fuel/Propulsion System	5	3.6%
Exterior Lighting	4	2.9%
Seat Belts	4	2.9%
Vehicle Speed Control	4	2.9%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Ford C-Max Hybrid recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name C-Max Hybrid, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model year 2013.

2 recall campaigns

Ford C-Max Hybrid recall campaigns covering each model year
2013: 2 campaigns

NHTSA campaign 13V303000
Reported Jul 10, 2013
Structure
Model year 2013
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2013 C-Max hybrid vehicles, without panoramic roofs, that were manufactured January 19, 2012, through June 25, 2013. During vehicle testing, the vehicle exceeded a head injury criteria requirement set by the standard. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
Consequence:
In the event of a crash, an occupant could be at an increased risk of an injury.
Remedy:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install energy absorbers between the headliner and the roof. The recall began on August 5, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C02.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 13V085000
Reported Mar 7, 2013
Latches/Locks/Linkages
Model year 2013
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles built from November 16, 2012, through November 21, 2012; and model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2012, through November 21, 2012. The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. As a result, the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Consequence:
The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
Remedy:
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by Ford Motor Company

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Ford C-Max Hybrid questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Ford C-Max Hybrid have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the Ford C-Max Hybrid, covering model years 2013 to 2015. The most recent, 13V303000, was reported on July 10, 2013 and is filed under “Structure”.

Which Ford C-Max Hybrid model year has the most complaints?

The 2013 model year, with 120 of the 137 complaints in NHTSA’s file (87.6%). The next is 2015 (17). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Ford C-Max Hybrid complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 50 complaints, or 36.5% of all 137. Power Train (18) and Engine (17) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Ford C-Max Hybrid?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Ford dealer.

How many Ford C-Max Hybrid complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 137 complaints, 5 report a crash, 0 a fire, 4 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Ford models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Ford VIN decoder with every Ford model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Ford F-150 1995–2027 · 158 recalls · 35,790 complaints
Ford Explorer 1995–2027 · 131 recalls · 31,089 complaints
Ford Escape 2000–2026 · 95 recalls · 27,343 complaints
Ford Fusion 2006–2020 · 46 recalls · 22,383 complaints
Ford Focus 1999–2018 · 36 recalls · 22,086 complaints
Ford Windstar 1995–2005 · 33 recalls · 14,108 complaints
Ford Edge 2004–2024 · 43 recalls · 14,009 complaints
Ford Taurus 1995–2019 · 52 recalls · 12,702 complaints

All Ford models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.