Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford C-Max, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Back over prevention7
- Unknown or other6
- Electrical system3
- Visibility/wiper2
- Power train2
- Service brakes2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Air bags1
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 2016 C-Max vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 Ford C-Max failed the safety check 2.49% of the time — 26% more often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 69,296 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
59,111 new Ford C-Max cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (13,606), Italy (12,761), the United Kingdom (11,103).
- Average mass
- 1,428 kg
- Average power
- 97 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 54% · Petrol 42% · LPG 3.5%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2016 Ford C-Max cars on Dutch roads are the 1.0 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp), 1.5 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 1.5 petrol (134 kW, 180 hp), out of 6 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 1,180 |
| 1.5 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 769 |
| 1.5 petrol | 134 kW 180 hp | 60 |
| 1.5 diesel | 88 kW 118 hp | 58 |
| 1.0 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 32 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 24 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
2,143 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 44% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €30,739.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,176
- Band onvoldoende profiel642
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld478
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht319
- Achterlicht werkt niet (goed)292
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm276
- Band beschadigd236
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage166
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
10,415 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 96 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 10,653 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 82% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 6.4% | 6.2% |
| Brakes | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.3% | 6.1% |
| Visibility | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.4% | 1.7% |
| Suspension | 1.0% | 4.9% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
281 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 141,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 6.0 L/100 km (about 39 mpg US), CO₂ 140 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-MAX Hybrid · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 5.6 | 6.4 | 6.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2016 Ford C-Max.
| 2022311 13 Jun 2022 | Powertrain Issue: On certain vehicles, the shift cable may detach from the transmission. This could cause the transmission not to shift gears when the shifter is moved. … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2016 Ford C-Max: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11008948 | While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. |
| 11001174 | This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance related concerns. related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink |
| 10254138 | All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is lost, follow these steps to recover the code. Dealer Key Code access is granted through the Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES); dealership managemen |
| 10225458 | Some 2013-2020 Fusion, MKZ and 2013-2018 C-Max vehicles equipped with an HF35 transmission may exhibit a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise coming from the transmission. The noise may be present in all gear ranges including neutral when the vehicle is moving but will not be present when the vehicle is stationary or in park. |
| 10218617 | Some 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with 8 inch or larger center display screen may be unable to complete modem authorization after 3G to 4G modem upgrade was performed. No Authorization Pop-up will be displayed on the center display screen during the Authorization process. The vehicle may also not have proper functionality of remote app features such as remote start, return odometer, fuel information, or vehicle lo |
| 10214758 | Some 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC screens 8 inch or larger may be unable to complete modem authorization after 3G to 4G modem upgrade was performed. No Authorization Popup will be displayed on SYNC infotainment screen during the Authorization process. The vehicle may also not have proper functionality of remote app features such as remote start, and return odometer and fuel information to the app. This m |
| 10212957 | Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone applications as an alternate channel to access vehicle commands such as door lock/unlock, remote start, vehicle location, etc. The battery drain may be caused by excessive calls for data through the vehicle network keeping it in an activated state. Recommend that the customer uninstall the app to ensure this is not contributing to battery symptoms experienced. Advise the customer that unaffiliated third-party ap |
| 10211728 | Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2020-2022 Escape, 2021-2022 Corsair, 2022 Maverick vehicles equipped with HF35/HF45 hybrid transmissions can now be disassembled to repair and clean any contamination that may have been the result of a differential or transfer shaft bearing failure and the transmission can be overhauled/rebuilt. Service tools and service parts are now available. Refer to the Workshop Manual, Section 307-01. |
| 10211709 | Some 2014-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2014-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX, 2016-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV) and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC screens 8 inch or larger may be unable to complete modem authorization after 3G to 4G modem upgrade was performed. No Authorization Popup displayed on SYNC infotainment screen during the Authorization process. This may be due to the Sync Software. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to toggle Valet Mode. |
| 10210730 | Some 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2014-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles may indicate an incorrect shifter lever position. This may be due to the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter lever cable resulting in a mismatch of cluster and selected gear position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the bushing and on certain vehicles install the protective cap over the selector at the transmission end of the selector lever cable. |
| 10209209 | This article supersedes TSB 21-2236 to update the models and year affected. Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2022 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2022 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty, 2018-2022 EcoSport/Expedition, 2019-2022 Ranger/Nautilus, 2021-2022 Bronco/Bronco Sport/Mustang Mach-E, 2022 Maverick vehicles may experience seat pan looseness, lateral movement, or a clunk/thump noise on turns. This may be due to the seat pan track. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to install a reinforcement. |
| 10205694 | Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software. If possible, using the original USB that installed the update, reperform the update and verify the navigation voice prompts have returned. Multiple reboots are expected when this update is being performed. Verify the Installation Is Complete message displays in the touch screen. If the original USB is not available, go to website https://syncnavigation.com/ford/ho |
| 10205015 | Energi - Malfunction Indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0C27 AND/OR P0C28 |
| 10204994 | Online automotive service information system for March 2016 |
| 10203848 | Various 2014-2020 vehicles equipped with a 3G modem may experience a lack of 3G modem performance. This may be due to the 3G cellular service functionality being decommissioned starting August 2021 and through March 2022. As the 3G cellular service is decommissioned, vehicles equipped with the 3G telematics control unit (TCU) will lose MyFord Mobile and MyLincoln Mobile app functionality/connectivity. Repair or Replacement of the TCU should no longer be performed using existing service stock. Replacement of the 3G TCU for this concern will result in programming concerns and repairs should not |
| 10201050 | Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK12 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor |
| 10201013 | Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode. This is considered normal due to the power saving features enabled while in transport mode. It is beneficial for battery life to keep the vehicle in transport mode until the vehicle is prepped for sale. To prevent a SYNC system lockup during transport mode deactivation, follow the Workshop Manual (WSM) procedure exactly allowing time for the SYNC system to complete its tasks such as fully booting up or powering down and shu |
| 10199536 | Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2021 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2021 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2021 F-Super Duty, 2018-2021 EcoSport/Expedition, 2019-2021 Ranger/Nautilus, 2021 Bronco Sport/Mustang Mach-E vehicles may experience seat pan looseness, lateral movement, or a clunk/thump noise on turns. This may be due to the seat pan track. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to install a reinforcement. |
| 10194434 | Some 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2014-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles may indicate an incorrect shifter lever position. This may be due to the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter lever cable resulting in a mismatch of cluster and selected gear position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the bushing and on certain vehicles install the protective cap over the selector at the transmission end of the selector lever cable. |
| 10194428 | Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor |
| 10189767 | Some 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2013-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles may indicate an incorrect shifter lever position. This may be due to the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter lever cable resulting in a mismatch of cluster and selected gear position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the bushing and install the protective cap over the selector at the transmission end of the selector lever cable. |
| 10183749 | In some of the affected vehicles, the front control/display interface module (FCDIM) may have been unintentionally programmed for the European market instead of the North American market |
| 10179356 | Some 2016-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2016-2018 Focus/C-MAX, And 2016-2018 Transit Connect vehicles may exhibit a concern where the radio will revert to an AM or FM station after the vehicle's ignition has been turned off and turned back on. To address this condition, reprogram the audio control module (ACM) using the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. For claiming, use causal part 18C869 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual. |
| 10179117 | Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F150/Focus/CMAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/ Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance related concerns. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure. |
| 10177123 | Some 2013-2016 Fusion/MKZ/C-MAX vehicles equipped with an HF35 transmission and built on or before 15-Aug-2015 may exhibit a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise coming from the transmission. The noise may be present in all gear ranges including neutral when the vehicle is moving but will not be present when the vehicle is stationary or in park. This may be due to the differential side bearings and/or the transfer shaft and housing. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to install either a transfer shaft kit or a remanufactured transmission assembly. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)