YearToAvoid

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi ranks 2nd worst of 5 model years, with a complaint index of 75 and 50 complaints, mostly electrical (38%) and steering (18%) issues. It carries an Avoid verdict and one recall for a missing door chime alert.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
75/100
#2 of 5 C-MAX Energi years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
50
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
2
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
38
40 city / 36 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Charge cords included with the car overheat and melt, leaving burn marks on wall outlets and creating a fire hazard.
  • Power steering fails intermittently at various speeds, sometimes at very low mileage, without the dealer finding a cause.
  • The rear hatchback latch fails to release properly, causing the door to stay shut or pop open unexpectedly while driving.
  • The power liftgate can drop suddenly while opening, striking the person operating it.
  • Tire pressure sensors fail to warn of a bad tire, which owners say contributed to a tire failure.
  • The engine surges unexpectedly at low speed when shifting into reverse or easing off the accelerator, leading to a collision in one case.
2013 Ford C-MAX Energi complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2014Sep 2015Oct 2016Jul 2017May 2018Jan 2019Jul 2019Nov 2022
50 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2014 to Jul 2023; peak Jul 2014 (3).

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 good year to avoid?
Yes. It has a complaint index of 75, the second-worst among the 5 model years with data, and carries an Avoid verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 C-MAX Energi?
Electrical System complaints are the most common, making up 38% of all complaints (19 of 50), including charge cords that overheat and melt.
Does the 2013 C-MAX Energi have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 13V475000, covering a missing audible warning chime for the push-button start system; Ford updated the door chime software free of charge.
How does the 2013 C-MAX Energi compare to other years?
The 2013 has a complaint index of 75, worse than 2014 (50), 2015 (25), and 2017 (0, rated Best), but better than 2016 (100, rated Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 C-MAX Energi?
EPA rates it at 38 mpg combined (40 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,700.

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.