YearToAvoid

2014 Ford C-Max Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#2 most-complained of 6 C-Max years

The 2014 Ford C-Max has 80 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 80, making it the second-worst of 6 model years and rated Avoid. Electrical System issues (25% of complaints, including 3 fires) and Transmission & Powertrain problems (23%) are the top concerns.

Complaints
80
Recalls
8
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
6 / 4
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
39
41 city / 36 hwy

Top 2014 Ford C-Max problems

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

  1. Electrical System20 (25%)
  2. Other19 (24%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain18 (23%)
  4. Steering14 (18%)
  5. Structure & Body12 (15%)
  6. Engine7 (9%)
  7. Airbags4 (5%)
  8. Brakes3 (4%)
  9. Fuel System3 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)

What owners report

  • Charging cords for the plug-in hybrid melted and burned outlets, in some cases sparking fires.
  • Vehicles rolled backward or forward unexpectedly after being shifted into park, leading to crashes.
  • Some vehicles lost power, electrical systems, power steering, and braking while driving at highway speed.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in crashes despite the vehicle being part of an airbag-related recall.
  • Brakes reportedly failed while backing out of a driveway, with the transmission not stopping the vehicle even after shifting to park.
2014 Ford C-Max complaints: complaints filed per quarter82014 Q32016 Q42018 Q32019 Q42021 Q22022 Q32023 Q42025 Q3
105 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (8).

2014 Ford C-Max recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V413000Jun 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain2,925,968 vehicles

    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.

  2. NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles

    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.

  3. NHTSA 18V592000Sep 10, 2018Other49,197 vehicles

    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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2014 Ford C-Max →

2014 Ford C-Max fuel economy and fuel cost

City
41 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
39 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2014 compared with other C-Max years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201320142015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid100187840
2014Avoid80808 !39
2015Caution6052639
2016Good4022339

All Ford C-Max years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Ford C-Max reliable?
NHTSA lists 80 owner complaints and 8 recalls for the 2014 C-Max, giving it a Complaint Index of 80 and an Avoid verdict, ranking 2nd worst among the 6 model years with data.
What are the biggest problems with the 2014 Ford C-Max?
Electrical System complaints make up 25% of reports, including 3 fires, followed by Transmission & Powertrain issues at 23% with 2 crashes. Steering complaints, at 18%, had a median failure mileage of just 20,000.
Does the 2014 Ford C-Max have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for this year, including one do-not-drive steering gear recall (14V514000) and recalls covering seat belts, door latches, airbags, and charge cords.
How does the 2014 C-Max compare to other C-Max model years?
The 2014 has a Complaint Index of 80, worse than 2015 (60), 2016 (40), 2017 (20), and 2018 (0), but better than 2013 (100), which had 187 complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Ford C-Max?
The EPA rates it at 39 mpg combined (41 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,650.

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.