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2016 Ford C-Max problems

The most common problem on the 2016 Ford C-Max is driver assistance and stability. It has fewer complaints than a typical C-Max model year.

Fewer complaintsAmong the best years of this model
Year score
84/100
Owner complaints
24
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
129
Worst area
Driver assistance
Fuel economy
38-39mpg

The worst 2016 Ford C-Max 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.

  • Driver assistance
    7
  • Electrical
    3
  • Brakes
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Visibility
    2
  • Acceleration
    1
  • Airbags
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Suspension
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Ford C-Max

Backup camera 7

Recalls 3

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported October 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk
A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on October 14, 2025.

Recall number 25V695000 · Recall details

Power train: shift linkage/cable/rodReported June 10, 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 22V413000 · Recall details

Structure: bodyReported January 24, 2017 · 17 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Risk
Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.

Recall number 17V052000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2016 Ford C-Max

Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Ford C-Max 129

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

See all 129 bulletins for the 2016 Ford C-Max

2016 Ford C-Max fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.0L 4‑cyl HybridFWD413639
2.0L 4‑cyl Plug-in hybridFWD403638

What 2016 Ford C-Max owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Driver assistance · 63,343 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that the rearview camera is malfunctioning, cuts out intermittently, and displays an error message stating that the camera is unavailable. The contact received a safety recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the replacement parts required to complete the repair are not yet available. The contact has reached out to the local dealer and notified the manufacturer of the failure, noting that the manufacturer has exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the recall remedy. The failure mileage was 63,343.

Filed Oct 9, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

Rear view camera recall was last year on October 2025 I am facing serious safety issues with the camera not working properly or sometimes entirely not at all the screen turns blue and does not display anything it’s very dangerous

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Driver assistance · 136,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The contact stated that the failure was a persistent failure, and the rear-view camera displayed an upside-down image. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was associated with a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

Filed Mar 4, 2026 · Driver assistance · 40,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid. 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 the rear-view camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, preventing the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The message "Rear-view Camera not Available" was displayed on the screen. The local dealer was 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 issue. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

See attached document for complaint. RE: the federal safety agency SAFETY RECALL 25V695 To whom it may concern, In August 2025 we took our 2016 CMAX into the Ford Dealer we purchased it from to have the check out the back-up camera that was not working and have a service done. They charges us $225.00 to check it out and then wanted to service it for several hundred dollars more. There was no mention at that time about a recall, and after re-reading the bulletin you sent out, that did not come until October. The online status was that any repairs were not to begin until June 2026. Both of us are seniors and being concerned of the safety issues with the camera, we looked for the best price to repair/replace the camera and found a company, G&O Body in Placerville that did the repair for $618.25 In November.. So, at this point, we are out of pocket $843.25 to fix an issue that was put under free repair thru the recall. I would like to know how to apply for reimbursement for this camera replacement cost.

Filed Feb 18, 2025 · Engine · 44,530 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2016 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that while coming to a stop in a parking lot attempting to obtain mail from a mailbox; the vehicle independently accelerated and it was unknown what gear the vehicle was stationed in. In addition, it was unknown if the brake pedal was depressed or the gear the vehicle was in at the time of the failure. The vehicle had struck and knocked 3 mailboxes down and crashed into the front passenger side corner panel of a Mail Van coming to a stop as it was revving. The vehicle traveled 26 feet from its original stationed position. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. Both front wheels were severely bent outwards after the crash. The air bags did not deploy. The mail delivery employee sought medical attention for cuts and bruises. The contact did not seek medical attention or sustained any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot by AAA where it was later taken by the insurance provider for further investigation. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,530.

Filed Nov 21, 2023 · Driver assistance, Visibility · TX

The backup camera doesn't regularly function, ranging from 15% to 75% of the time. A tire man with prior experience in a Ford dealership recommended checking for an electronics update to the system. There may be a worsening functionality when the weather is wet, but that's not a clear correlation.

Filed Feb 27, 2022 · Driver assistance · WI

Both this 2016 and my 2013 ford c-max hybrid have the backup cameras failing. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they have a black or blue screen than pops up and it says camera unavailable. I know there is a recent recall for other fords with backup camera issues, but the c-max sells much lower volumes so it is harder to get the same exact problem recalled.

Filed Jan 15, 2022 · FL · fire

I was driving slowly leaving a supermarket parking lot. There was no one else around. There was a sudden loud bang, the car lurched upward and to the right, coming to rest over a curb hanging down a ditch. The front end started to smoke and then caught fire. The car was a total loss. There had been no impact. I was able to escape down the ditch with the help of police and the fire department put out the fire. The first 2 pictures are on the scene; the remainder in the tow lot. Friends have suggested that perhaps the hybrid battery exploded.

Filed Jan 4, 2022 · Seats · OH · 1 injury

We drove from Cincinnati, OH to Wray, Co for Christmas. We drove 15 hrs straight back home ( gas and potty breaks). I drove the last 9 hrs. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. So the heated seats are wonderful - usually. Yes, I used the heated seats almost all the way. I’m always hurting so I didn’t notice a problem. On our last gas stop I told my husband I must have been sweating because I felt like I had a heat rash. We got home at 3 am and my husband said it looked more like a burn. It was painful and when I looked at it I saw blisters. Next morning it was more painful and red and ugly looking. I called Ford Corporate to give them a heads up that there was an issue with their heated seats. They stated they couldn’t help. Sorry I got hurt. Take it to local service and let them know. Called Ford service - they can get me in on Jan 17 and I have to pay for it. I just want someone aware that their heated seats can cause severe burns. Btw. The burn is on my upper right thigh.

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Questions about the 2016 Ford C-Max

Is the 2016 Ford C-Max reliable?

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 2016 Ford C-Max, fewer than a typical C-Max model year.

What is the 2016 Ford C-Max year score?

The 2016 Ford C-Max scores 84 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Ford C-Max: 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?

Driver assistance and stability, with 7 complaints. Next is electrical (3).

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

3 recalls, covering back over prevention, power train and structure.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford C-Max get?

Official estimates for the 2016 Ford C-Max range from 38 to 39 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 41 city and 36 highway.

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