2013 Ford Redundant C-Max Hybrid: loss of power steering

Filed Mar 15, 2019 · Steering · 140,000 miles · NV

For several months, at startup, power steering had a delay for a few seconds, then performed normally. Yesterday the power steering went out and stayed out. About 10 seconds into the failure, received an alert tone and a "service steering soon" message. Without power steering this car is much harder to steer than any car with power steering failure I have owned. I was able to drive it, but gingerly and with great effort. If this had happened on a highway it probably would not have been as bad, assisted somewhat by rolling of the wheels, but at higher speed I would additionally have to overcome the centripetal force of rotation. It would be most dangerous if it had failed in a turn. The dealership said the electronic power assisted steering module was shorting out and the entire system had to be replaced and reprogrammed. The repair cost is $2000.

Filed Aug 22, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 73,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford c-max hybrid. While the vehicle was stationary, the battery saver warning indicator turned off and the following message displayed across the instrument panel: "911 assist is disabled, contact dealer". Immediately afterwards, the shifter indicator displayed on the instrument panel. The contact turned the key in the ignition, but the motor did not indicate that it was ready to drive until approximately one minute later. The contact placed the shifter into reverse and attempted to reverse, but a sudden loss of power steering occurred. The contact placed the vehicle in the drive gear and depressed the accelerator pedal in an attempt to stop the vehicle; however, the vehicle accelerated beyond 35 MPH. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to bob moore ford (8948 s I-35 service rd, oklahoma city, oklahoma 73159) where it was diagnosed that the inner cell of the battery was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

Filed May 4, 2018 · Steering · 84,000 miles · IN

While driving down the road on the highway the power steering went out almost causing .a wreck. The power steering light came on found out there is no way of putting power steering fluid in vehicle. Its a eps system failure ,ford dealership told us it would cost $2000.00 to fix. Then we seen on the internet several other people with the same complaint.

Filed Jun 15, 2016 · Steering · 43,681 miles · OH

This is a 2013 car that should not have had to have the steering rack replaced at our cost because warranty has expired, as this should be considered a mfg defect! Ford has had this problem with power assist steering for a long time. Earlier models were recalled and it appears to fix the issue ford has reprogrammed computer so that you do not lose steering while driving, only after you shut off key and try to restart. However, this does not fix the problem. Why is the steering failing, and the repair at$1500.00 is costly!

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 21,000 miles · MI

Purchased used c-max 2013 on or about 15 october 2014. Visited ford dealer 3 times. The next morning the car was found dead in our drive way. Charged the battery at 12 amps for 2-2.5 hours and read 75% charge. There were no indications of battery or charging system malfunction. Called the ford dealer and tried to drive to dealer located 15-20 minutes away. Stopped at red light and proceeded through light when green. Got to the green light side and the battery light flashed for 2-3 seconds, blinked and the car quit. Speed under 10 MPH. Hwy speed 50 MPH limit. With the car now in the off position you have no power steering, no power brakes, no emergency flashers and no brake lights due to battery failure. One day later they found that the charging dc/dc system module had failed which is why the battery failed. The battery light came on at or about 12.0 v instead of 12.8 volts which would have indicated a failed charging system (like the old alternator light but this vehicle does not have an alternator). No battery/charging system monitoring system gauge present in standard instrumentation panel. I believe that there is an error in the computer monitoring system to alarm at 12.0 v (dead battery voltage) verse 12.8 volts showing a failed charging system component. Posted alert on c-max form to buy volt meter to plug into 12 v socket to monitor until ford fixes both the warning light and also makes the charging system components fault tolerant (have 3 or more parallel system with alarms). Called ford. Wrote ford a letter advising them of this condition.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Steering · 18,760 miles · CA

During a two-leg road trip from orange county, ca to park city, ut via las vegas, on the first leg just outside las vegas I got a warning message "steering assist fault:service required". Car did not lose steering assist however after the next key cycle (off/on) a steering assist failed message appeared and vehicle lost steering assist. The vehicle was driven carefully to the nearest ford dealer . They told me the fault was caused by excessive tire pressures (really?) and they had set the tire pressures and reset the fault code (c102d - excessive friction in steering rack). On the second leg around 40 miles from destination the same thing happened again - same fault code, same result. Car was taken early next morning to nearest ford dealer in park city. After a short time they diagnosed the problem as a faulty steering rack. They issued a loaner car while steering rack assembly was replaced under warranty. It's my opinion that this was a potentially serious safety issue and after reading of similar occurrences on other ford vehicles, I believe further investigation is warranted.

Filed Aug 29, 2013 · Steering · 1,200 miles · OR

After starting (push button start) and driving out of my garage, the power steering failed and a "service power steering soon" warning was displayed. After I stopped and started again, the power steering was again enabled. I took the car to the dealer but no repairs were performed as they could not duplicate the problem. Error code u3000:49 was stored.