The Used Car Index

2016 Ford C-MAX problems

NHTSA lists 22 complaints for the 2016 Ford C-MAX, 2 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 3 complaints mention an injury, with 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD C-MAX.

At a glance

Complaints
22
With crash
2
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
3
Injuries
3
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
2,925,968
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
128

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
BACK OVER PREVENTION522.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER522.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29.1%
POWER TRAIN29.1%
SERVICE BRAKES29.1%
VISIBILITY/WIPER29.1%
AIR BAGS14.5%
ENGINE14.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM14.5%
SEATS14.5%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
BACK OVER PREVENTIONSENSING SYSTEM2
BACK OVER PREVENTIONREARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
electrical electronic731.8%0.72
visibility or lighting627.3%0.89
mechanical failure313.6%0.75
fire or overheating29.1%0.76
loss of control29.1%0.92
restraint or airbag14.5%0.73
structural or corrosion14.5%0.65
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate1463.6%0.73
low418.2%0.65
high313.6%0.94
critical14.5%0.98

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 22 tagged complaints of 22 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

25V695000

Date: 2025-10-13. Systems: BACK OVER PREVENTION.

Defect: 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. (excerpt)

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

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 le (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V413000

Date: 2022-06-10. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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 1-866-436-73 (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V052000

Date: 2017-01-24. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.

Consequence: Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

128 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM69
EQUIPMENT48
POWER TRAIN20
ENGINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
SEATS4

11029052

Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the

11025837

Date: 2025-11-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone co

11025611

Date: 2025-11-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN.

Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of th

11008948

Date: 2024-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

11001174

Date: 2024-05-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty

10254138

Date: 2024-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,

10225458

Date: 2022-10-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Some 2013-2020 Fusion, MKZ and 2013-2018 C-Max vehicles equipped with an HF35 transmission may exhibit a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise coming from the transmission. The noise may be present in all gear ranges including neutral when the vehicle is moving but will not be present when the vehicle

10218617

Date: 2022-08-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Some 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with 8 inch or larger center display screen may be unable to complete modem authori

10214758

Date: 2022-06-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Some 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC screens 8 inch or larger may be unable to complete modem authorization af

10212957

Date: 2022-05-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone applications as an alternate channel to access vehicle commands such as door lock/unlock, remote start, vehicle loc

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
C-MAX22

Same model, other years

All model years | All Ford models

Other Ford models, 2016

Sources

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