YearToAvoid

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 C-MAX Energi years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi has 50 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 75 out of 100 — #2 highest of 5 C-MAX Energi model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is electrical system (19 complaints, 38% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes, 3 fires, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
50
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 3
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
38
40 city / 36 hwy

Top 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System19 (38%)
  2. Steering9 (18%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain8 (16%)
  4. Other6 (12%)
  5. Structure & Body5 (10%)
  6. Engine4 (8%)
  7. Fuel System4 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)
  9. Airbags1 (2%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)
2013 Ford C-MAX Energi complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2014Sep 2015Oct 2016Jul 2017May 2018Jan 2019Jul 2019Nov 2022
62 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2014 to Jul 2023; peak Jul 2014 (4).

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 13V475000Oct 17, 2013Other23,000 vehicles

    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.

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi fuel economy and fuel cost

City
40 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
38 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular Gas and Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other C-MAX Energi years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid7550138
2014Caution5030038
2015Good2515038

All Ford C-MAX Energi years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi ranks #2 of 5 among C-MAX Energi model years (Complaint Index 75/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 50 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (19 complaints), steering (9 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (8 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 47,900 miles.
Does the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi, most recently reported 2013, covering other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi?
EPA rates the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi at 38 MPG combined (40 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,700. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.