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2016 Ford C-Max Energi problems

The most common problem on the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi is electrical system, typically around 50,000 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical C-Max Energi model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
68/100
Owner complaints
32
Recalls
0
Service bulletins
19
Worst area
Electrical

The worst 2016 Ford C-Max Energi problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Electrical
    13
  • Driver assistance
    5
  • Transmission
    5
  • Engine
    3
  • Steering
    3
  • Acceleration
    2
  • Body
    2
  • Wheels
    2
  • Lights
    1
  • Seat belts
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi

Backup camera 5

Recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi 19

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 19 bulletins for the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi

What 2016 Ford C-Max Energi owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 29, 2026 · Driver assistance · 54,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera failed to display an image as intended on the center digital screen. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Filed Jul 30, 2025 · Driver assistance · 100,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera image appeared upside down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jul 1, 2025 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that while charging the hybrid battery, the battery stopped charging after 15-16 minutes. The contact stated that the battery could only be charged for 15-16 minutes at a time. The contact stated that there was a red triangle warning light illuminated on the charger but there was no warning light illuminated on the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the mileage range of the vehicle per charge was decreasing continuously. The vehicle was taken to dealer several times to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Gator Ford (11780 Tampa Gateway Blvd, Seffner, FL 33584), where it was diagnosed that the hybrid battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Filed Jan 24, 2025 · Steering · 37,200 miles · RI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer has not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 37,200.

Filed Jan 8, 2025 · Transmission · 49,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, prompting her to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission had previously been replaced 3 years prior. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 49,000.

Filed Jul 11, 2024 · Electrical · 92,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact attempted to honk at another vehicle, but the horn failed to respond while depressed. The contact stated that the horn occasionally responded while depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was repaired temporarily with electrical gel on a fuse. The contact attempted to check the fuse, but the fuse box cover was difficult to remove. The failure reoccurred after several months but the electrical gel failed to repair the vehicle. In addition, the horn failed to respond while depressed. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Filed Apr 16, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 127,295 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated while in reverse (R) and backing up at 3 MPH the back-over prevention camera failed and displayed a black screen. The contact stated that when the back-over prevention camera failed to operate, the radio and the GPS became inoperable. The contact stated that the back over prevention screen occasionally turned blue or showed a distorted image. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but occurred several times. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that she was advised by the dealer that the software update was not a certain remedy. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred and that the back-over prevention camera became inoperable. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,295.

Filed Oct 2, 2023 · Transmission · CA

Was driving it to a shop to do a transmission fluid exchange and got a big Stop Safely Now warning on the dash with an AdvanceTrac warning as well. Car stopped dead on a freeway off ramp - was very fortunate to get an immediate SoCal Freeway Service tow off the ramp in Los Angeles to a safe place, and after AAA told me I might wait 4 hours for a tow to my preferred Ford dealer, I got the car restarted and got it to a another dealer a couple miles away. Inspection showed a P0B37 error code with chafing of the high voltage battery harness. The dealer originally quoted me $1200 to fix it, but when I mentioned the California 10/150 hybrid powertrain warranty, they subsequently found TSB 17-0015 which deals with this exact issue on the 2013-16 Energi, and I've now read a report of the same issue on a 2017. The TSB quotes 1.8 hours labor with chafing and installation of heat shrink tubing, tie strap, and electrical tape... where the dealer came up with $1200 is beyond me. Obviously I'm pleased with the fact Ford is covering this one, but hope it doesn't happen to you... I had about 30 seconds to get the car to a safe place before it stopped entirely, and if I'd been in heavier traffic the vehicle would have stopped dead on a very busy expressway.

Filed Sep 19, 2023 · Electrical · AZ

I have a 2016 Ford C-Max. On Saturday, 9-16-2023 my wife and I were traveling on Highway 69 in Prescott AZ. We turned off the highway and about 50 yards from Hwy 69 a STOP SAFELY NOW flashed on the instrument pannel. The car IMMEDIATELY braked hard and stopped. I had no time to pull over. Had it been 50 yards sooner I would have abruptly stopped on Hwy 69. The Hwy was traveling at 55 MPH. You figure it out, we were going to have an accident 100%. The C-Max was towed to Sun Valley Tire, a AAA approved repair shop in Prescott Valley. They pulled up the Ford, Technical Service Bulletin - TSB 17-0015. That bulletin describes wiring that chafes and shorts out the car. Exactly what happened to us. The actual fix is simple, locate the shorted out wire and repair it. To get to it requires disassembling most of the car. Total cost $438.01. That is not the point, Ford knew that this problem existed, sent out a TSB and is allowing Ford owners like me to have a life threatening incident. WHY has Ford been allowed to continue allow these C-Max's to stay on the road without a fix! Are you doing your jobs? I want the federal safety agency to do its job. I also want to be reimbursed. Who do I contact. You have my VIN # and therefore all my information.

Filed May 24, 2023 · Wheels · NV

In the course of routine maintenance, it has been brought to my attention that Stock Ford lug nuts have "Swelled" and can not be removed using normal methods, making on the road tire replacement impossible. Ford states this is a known issue with defective Ford lug nuts.

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Compare the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi

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Questions about the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi

Is the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi reliable?

Owners have filed 32 complaints about the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi, close to a typical C-Max Energi model year.

What is the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi year score?

The 2016 Ford C-Max Energi scores 68 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Ford C-Max Energi: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi?

Electrical system, with 13 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles. Next is driver assistance (5).

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford C-Max Energi have?

No recalls on record.

What year does the Ford C-Max Energi have the most electrical problems?

The Ford C-Max Energi model years with the most electrical complaints are 2013 (19 complaints), 2014 (16 complaints) and 2016 (13 complaints).

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