YearToAvoid

2015 Ford C-MAX Energi Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

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

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

The 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi has 15 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 25, ranking 4th-best of 5 model years with a "Good" verdict. No recalls apply to this year, and the top problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras.

Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
38
40 city / 36 hwy

Top 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi problems

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

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (33%)
  2. Electrical System4 (27%)
  3. Steering3 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body2 (13%)
  5. Airbags1 (7%)
  6. Brakes1 (7%)
  7. Engine1 (7%)
  8. Other1 (7%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (7%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report the vehicle rolling away or failing to stay in park after being turned off, in one case rolling into a river at 90,000 miles.
  • Electrical system complaints describe unexpected inability to turn off the ignition, along with an illuminated ABS service warning.
  • Owners describe repeated 12-volt battery drain causing the car to die, with one case recurring five times and requiring multiple dealer visits.
  • Steering complaints mention a sticky, not-smooth power steering feel accompanied by a power steering fault warning light, in one case at 57,500 miles.
  • One owner reported the electric-only range falling well short of the manufacturer's stated 22 miles, sometimes as low as 8 miles.
  • A structure and body complaint describes the front passenger door unlocking and opening on its own without warning.
2015 Ford C-MAX Energi complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2016Jun 2016Apr 2017Dec 2019Jul 2022Apr 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2016 (4).

2015 Ford C-MAX Energi recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2015 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.

2015 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
2016Avoid10032038
2017Best010039

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi reliable?
Compared with other C-MAX Energi model years, 2015 ranks 4th-best out of 5 with a complaint index of 25 and a "Good" verdict based on NHTSA data. It has fewer complaints (15) than the 2013, 2014, and 2016 model years.
Does the 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2015 model year, unlike the 2013 model year which has one recall on file.
What is the most common problem area for the 2015 C-MAX Energi?
Collision Avoidance & Cameras is the top problem area, accounting for 5 of 15 complaints (33% share), followed by Electrical System complaints at 27%.
What year Ford C-MAX Energi should I avoid instead of the 2015?
NHTSA complaint data flags the 2013 (complaint index 100) and 2016 (complaint index 75) model years as "Avoid," while 2015 is rated "Good" and 2017 is rated "Best" with a complaint index of 0.
How is fuel economy on the 2015 Ford C-MAX Energi?
EPA rates the 2015 C-MAX Energi 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.