2015 Ford C-Max problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford C-Max, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 6 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 42
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 8
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 7
- Median mileage
- 75,916 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech is the most-reported problem area, named in 9 of 42 complaints (21%).
- Electrical System (7) and transmission & drivetrain (5) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 75,916 mi.
- Owners reported 8 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries.
- The 2015 Ford C-Max has 6 recalls on file.
- NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
- It has the most serious complaint record of all 6 Ford C-Max model years we track.
- That is 16% fewer complaints than the 2014 model year (50).
2015 Ford C-Max problems by category
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 1 crash9 complaints
- Electrical System · 1 crash7 complaints
- Other / Unknown6 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain · 2 crashes5 complaints
- Airbags · 4 crashes5 complaints
- Steering4 complaints
- Body & Structure2 complaints
- Seats & Seat Belts · 1 crash2 complaints
- Engine2 complaints
- Brakes2 complaints
- Wheels & Tires1 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion1 complaints
- Lighting1 complaints
- Acceleration & Cruise Control · 1 crash1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Back over prevention | 7 |
| Electrical system | 6 |
| Unknown or other | 5 |
| Air bags | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Power train | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service brakes | 2 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2015 Ford C-Max recalls (6)
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) · POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD
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.
Risk: 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.
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. 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 component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
- EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. 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.
Risk: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. 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.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C06.
NHTSA defect investigations
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Some VOQs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other VOQs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl sprin…
Door Latch Failure
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer alleged an injury that occurred while driving when a door inadvertently opened and then closed on a child's arm.Another alleged that a door that inadvertently opened struck a parked …
Recent 2015 Ford C-Max complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Oct 7, 202671,833 miVADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera image was blank or black, and the image became permanently inverted. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that there would be a cost for the diagnostic test. The contact stated that the manufacturer had…
NHTSA complaint #11769637 · source - Filed Oct 2, 2026140,000 miVACrashDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed an upside-down image. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle crashed into an object, causing a dent to the driver’s side rear bumper. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated…
NHTSA complaint #11768556 · source - Filed Oct 2, 2026187,000 miILCrash1 injuredAirbags
The contact owned a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that upon accelerating from a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle ahead suddenly slammed on the brakes and was rear-ended by the contact's vehicle. The contact's forehead struck the steering wheel before the front driver's side air bag partially deployed, with smoke coming out of the air bag. The fire department responded to the scene, inspected the vehicle, and advised the contact to drive the vehicle. Upon…
NHTSA complaint #11768465 · source - Filed Aug 12, 2026PADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated that while seated inside the vehicle and attempting to start the vehicle, the rear-view camera displayed a blinking screen with the message “Camera not Available. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
NHTSA complaint #11756502 · source - Filed Aug 6, 2026SCDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet…
NHTSA complaint #11755222 · source - Filed May 15, 2026CADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that the rearview camera became inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received the recall notification letter related to the NHTSA Campaign Number. 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted, who referred him to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11738031 · source - Filed Dec 29, 2025SCElectrical System
NHTSA Complaint Update / Addendum I am submitting this update to my existing complaint regarding Safety Recall 25S49 (NHTSA Recall No. 25V695) for my 2015 Ford C-MAX Hybrid (VIN: [XXX] ). Ford Motor Company has now formally stated, in writing through the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, that: • The rearview camera defect may cause a blank or distorted image while in reverse • The condition increases crash risk • Parts are not currently available in sufficient…
NHTSA complaint #11707531 · source - Filed Dec 22, 2025SCElectrical System
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding NHTSA Recall 25V695 / Ford Recall 25S49 on my 2015 Ford C-MAX (VIN: 1FAD*************). Ford Motor Company’s recall notice dated October 2025 states that the rearview backup camera may display a blank or distorted image, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford further confirms that parts are not available and that there is no estimated timeline for repair. Due to this acknowledged safety defect, my vehicle was removed from service…
NHTSA complaint #11706588 · source
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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. 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