2013 Ford C-Max electrical system problems

Related recalls

• Recall 13V475000Oct 17, 201323,000 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

  Risk: 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.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.

What owners say

1. Filed Apr 7, 2026PAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Summary of Safety Issue The vehicle repeatedly experiences sudden loss of propulsion while driving, accompanied by a “Stop Safely Now” warning message and various other dashboard warnings . During these events the accelerator pedal becomes completely unresponsive while the vehicle remains powered, indicating a failure of the hybrid propulsion system or high-voltage battery control system. The vehicle and video footage of the failure are available for inspection upon request.…

   NHTSA complaint #11729640 · source
2. Filed Feb 28, 2026IDBrakesElectrical SystemEngine

   I took it to the Ford dealership and they diagnosed it as having a parasitic draw from the 12 V battery when the car is shut down so when you go to get into the car if the battery is dead, they will fix it for $425 however, this problem was a recall in 2013 and my car did have a recall done to it. However, the issue is still going on therefore I feel as though the customer should not be charged. My car broke down going up the canyon and it told me to pull over safely, which…

   NHTSA complaint #11721095 · source
3. Filed Mar 16, 2025CAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   WHILE DRIVING the dashboard instrument panel beeps and flashes the word "Put in Park" and "Stop Safely Now", and the speedometer stops working, all kinds of warning lights start flashing on and off on the instrument panel, the heater goes on and off on it's own, then the instrument panel goes black, speedometer shows zero and car goes into shutdown mode. I was put in risk while driving without a speedometer and other vehicles near me were put into risk; when I pull over and…

   NHTSA complaint #11648591 · source
4. Filed Sep 28, 2024DCElectrical System

   My Stereo/Navigation console went out, just went black and stopped working. I bought it to my local garage and they said it was a costly repair and that there is a recall/service bulletin on it and that i should take it to a Ford Dealer. I did and they acknowledged the issue but said my VIN wasn't covered, but it was a known issue with C-Max of this year. So I didnt have the car services. A few months later, (2 weeks ago) my battery died and could not be jumped, so I had it…

   NHTSA complaint #11616983 · source
5. Filed Feb 4, 2023WVElectrical System

   Several times over the past 3 years, the 12 volt battery has been deeply drained while the car has been off/unused for ~3 days. (The problem has been described on your website: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/SB-10093862-2532.pdf.) This is a safety issue because there is a reasonable expectation of serviceability of a car, for emergencies or for returning to a safe place. Just as one depends on the reasonable reliability of devices like fire extinguishers, elevators,…

   NHTSA complaint #11505555 · source
6. Filed Dec 14, 2022110,000 miCAElectrical SystemEngineVisibility & Wipers

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford C-Max. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers became inoperable, and the headlights inadvertently turned off. The contact stated that the horn would beep independently but failed to operate while depressed. Additionally, the heater and A/C unit became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…

   NHTSA complaint #11497421 · source
7. Filed Oct 28, 2022ORElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I have a 2013 Ford C-Max SE that is having terrible white noise and static from the speakers. I see that this is common with the SYNC system and not limited to C-Max models How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I have not had a diagnostic run but I have seen so many listservs with the speaker issue. The car will be quiet and then blast static to the point of…

   NHTSA complaint #11491352 · source
8. Filed Aug 3, 2022WAElectrical SystemOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

   This Vehicle has given us numerous numerous issues and left us stranded it has been a safety issue for my family we recently had to have law enforcement involved to try to save us from where we got stranded due to the unreliability of this vehicle and after already having a transmission replacement and having the car right now in the shop for approaching one month and they still cannot find the issue There has been one problem after another forward keeps giving me the run…

   NHTSA complaint #11477476 · source
9. Filed Feb 16, 2022CAElectrical System

   12 volt battery had been drained of all power and would not start. Bought new battery, same thing happened. Jump started several times. 3 batteries later, Ford said it was a cooling fan fuse. Radio and window worked sporadically.

   NHTSA complaint #11452265 · source
10. Filed Dec 28, 2021PAElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / Unknown

    While driving, the Cmax displayed a red hazard, STOP SAFELY NOW, and lost all propulsion. The car was unable to be moved and is stranded in the driving lane.

    NHTSA complaint #11445246 · source
11. Filed May 12, 2021107,200 miOHElectrical System

    The radio would not shut off or change stations and the volume control didn't work. The dash screen said the radio was off. Could not change audio inputs from fm station it was tuned to. The radio stayed on when the car was shut off even when the doors were opened. I googled the problem and found it is a known issue that can drain the battery completely. The suggested fix was to pull the radio circuit fuse from the main fuse panel under the dash, (#79), which i did. That…

    NHTSA complaint #11416345 · source
12. Filed Jan 13, 2021125,000 miCAElectrical SystemEngine

    Car will stall and brakes and steering lock up. This has occurred in when pulling into traffic. It always occurs when on a hill. Very dangerous but ford denies any problems. It has occurred since 2014. Last time was as below

    NHTSA complaint #11387933 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology