Ford C-Max check engine light comes on

Filed Sep 29, 2025 · Engine · IL

Engine light came on. Mechanic said 2 codes showed up. One for low coolant, another for engine misfiring. The misfiring code had come on several times in past and spark plugs were replaced. Upon inspection was told the engine block is cracked due to faulty design. I will need a new engine!

Filed Sep 20, 2022 · Engine · FL

Vehicle engine light remain on forcing the vehicle to only operate in engine mode. Vehicle is a plug in hybrid vehicle and because of the engine light will not switch back to plug in or hybrid mode. Vehicle is available to inspection upon request.

Filed Sep 14, 2021 · Transmission · MO

While my son was driving his / my 2013 C-Max Energi (on gasoline, the "battery only" range had been depleted), the vehicle lost power and shut down completely, and could only be coasted to the side of the road and not restarted or moved. Fortunately it was not on the highway at the time. The CEL was on, and unfortunately I do not still have the 3 codes which appeared, however the three codes were all for systems in the hybrid propulsion. When I did a google search on the three codes together, for the C-Max, I located a service bulletin from Ford showing that there are two low voltage wires which were improperly routed and insulated, in the back of the car behind the rear seat and under the steel cover over the Energi additional battery. Since the vehicle is a 2103, I had it brought to my home rather than the dealer, and I was able to remove the rear seat, rear carpet, rear seat belts, side panels and battery cover to get to the defective wiring. The "Ford Fix" involved replacing part of the wiring harness and rerouting the new harness, but with about 4 hours of my own labor, I was able to disassemble the rear interior of the vehicle, insulate the 2 defective wires and zip tie to another harness next to them so that they would not rub the steel housing over the Energi additional battery again. After thinking about this, after the fact, I realized that this should absolutely be a recall by Ford. **** Ford knows of the problem, Ford issued a Service Bulletin for the repair, and most importantly, the issue is incredibly unsafe because when the vehicle stops, it will only coast to a stop wherever it is, whether it is on a parking lot of the fast lane on the interstate, and cannot be moved under its own power. ****.

Filed Aug 16, 2021 · Transmission · 160,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated that the transfer shaft assembly bearing had failed prematurely which caused an abnormal, grinding sound to come from the transmission while driving at various speeds without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and had the transmission replaced under warranty. Recently, the contact stated that the same failure recurred with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the dealer where they had test driven the vehicle and confirmed that the same transmission defect had recurred. The contact was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Apr 4, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 76,600 miles · PA

Turned the car on in a parking lot and saw the check engine light was on. Had totally lost power steering and acceleration, and braking was extremely difficult. Rolled down the parking lot and was able to stop the car with the parking brake and turn it off. Turned it back on and the power steering and brakes and accelerator were back. Drove the car home and tried turning it on and off a few more times. Power steering seems to be completely gone. Check engine light is on.

Filed Mar 21, 2021 · Transmission · 86,225 miles · VI

There is a grinding or rubbing sound emanating from the transmission while driving, at any speed (generally not while stationary but sometimes), and the check engine light turns on. The local ford dealership (metro motors, st. Croix, u.s. Virgin islands) found "transmission variator to drive chain loose causing noise" and "[n]o internal serviceable components" and recommended "[r]eplacement of hybrid CVT transmission." the dealership specifically recommends replacement of the transmission part, jm5z-7000-arm, which is the same part indicated in the technical service bulletin 20-2219, published on june 29, 2020, on this same issue of grinding/rubbing noise emanating from transmissions in 2014 ford c-max (among other vehicles). The tsb further provides the part is "eligible under provisions of new vehicle limited warranty," however, the local dealership has stated ford motor company denied the claim, and the ford motor company has said it agrees with the dealership that the claim should be denied. However, the vehicle (mileage: 86,225 miles; years: not yet 7) is under an active new vehicle limited warranty as the terms have not expired. The local dealership is willing to replace the defective part, however, it says it needs written confirmation from ford motor company, which ford motor company has not provided, despite two letters of notice of defective part and multiple phone calls with the customer relationship center.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle a wining type noise was present coming from the engine compartment and the check engine warning light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · Transmission · 107,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford c-max. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a loud high pitch wining sound was present coming from the engine compartment and the check engine light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer race ford located at 436 w 250 n warsaw in. Who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.

Filed Aug 5, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 15,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford c-max. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was restarted. The failure recurred five times. The contact took the vehicle to sunbury motors ford (945 n 4th st, sunbury, pa 17801) and an appointment was made to have the vehicle repaired which was still pending. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Filed Jan 8, 2020 · Electrical · 52,000 miles · TX

Since I purchased the 2013 c max there has been an ongoing problem. It starts with the clock, time is wrong. Next the radio will not work unable to shut it off, change volume basically nothing works. After a day or 2 the car will not start, no power. Once we jump start the car everything will be ok until the next time. Currently radio is not working again and now engine light is on and I am getting a warning to pull over safely now. It took multiple times to try to shut vehicle off. Ford tells me 'we never heard of this'. They want $500.00 dollars to just diagnose the problem. This is insane because it is not the first time we had the vehicle in for the clock, radio and dead battery. What had to happen before this gets fixed? A serious accident? I read all the comments on here and it looks like that this is an ongoing problem! Ford needs to fix this problem !