2018 Ford C-Max Owner Complaints
Complaint Summary
The 2018 Ford C-Max has 12 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve steering and electrical system.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 12 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
STEERING
2 16.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 16.7%
AIR BAGS
2 16.7%
SUSPENSION
1 8.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 8.3%
Quick Insights
The top category is STEERING, accounting for 16.7% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 9 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2018 Ford C-Max
The 2018 Ford C-Max has 12 owner complaints in this dataset. STEERING is the most common complaint category, representing about 17% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2018 Ford C-Max are STEERING (2), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2), AIR BAGS (2).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 8 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2018 Ford C-Max?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 9 of 9 systems
STEERING
2 Reports17% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS UNSAFE AS VEHICLE WANDERS WITHIN LANE PURPORTEDLY DUE TO ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING. SPEEDS ABOVE 40MPH, VEHICLE REQUIRES EXCESSIVE STEERING INPUT TO STAY WITHIN LANE.
10/13/2018
Steering locks to the point that it can't turn. Happened while driving. Unknown cause. Warning light came on for driver to park. Issue unresolved and can no longer drive car.
3/6/2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 Reports17% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
ELECTRICAL GREMLINS SINCE THE FIRST DAY. TOUCHSCREEN WENT ON AND OFF, PHONE DIDN'T CHARGE, DOOR HANDLES DON'T WORK, GARAGE DOOR OPENER FORGOT SETTINGS, PRESETS ON DASH WOULD BLINK OUT OF MEMORY. ULTIMATELY THE CAR DIDN'T EVEN START. BUT FOR ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK, SOMETIMES THEY WOULDN'T. ULTIMATELY GOT THE YELLOW WRENCH OF DEATH. BROUGHT IT IN REPEATEDLY AND THEY COULD NEVER REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, UNTIL THE DAY IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL AND THE WRENCH WAS ON THE DASH. FINALLY DIAGNOSED OPEN SEAMS ON THE BACK HINGES TO THE HATCH. SEAMSEAL WAS MISSING ON BOTH HINGES. WATER WAS COMING INTO THE JUNCTION BOX WHICH WAS SOAKED. THE BATTERY WAS SITTING IN A POOL OF WATER. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHETHER IT WAS PARKED OR RUNNING.
2/15/2020
Steering locks to the point that it can't turn. Happened while driving. Unknown cause. Warning light came on for driver to park. Issue unresolved and can no longer drive car.
3/6/2023
AIR BAGS
2 Reports17% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
I totalled my car. The steering wheel airbag failed to inflate
9/19/2023
I recently rear ended a car and the front of the vechical was damaged. The air bag censor was destroyed, however the airbags did not come out. This was on a 2018 Ford c-max. Many people pointed out this malfunction and how my life was put at risk.
11/6/2023
SUSPENSION
1 Report8% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
2018 TITANIUM FORD C-MAX WITH RATTLING/CLUNKING NOISE EMANATING FROM VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW NOW HAS FAILING STRUT BRACES (WHICH ALSO FAILED ON OUR NEW 2017 C-MAX). BRACES ARE FAILING APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES AMONGST OUR TWO VEHICLES.
5/1/2019
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 Report8% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
THE RIGHT-HAND OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR CONTAINS A SMALL INSET MIRROR INTENDED TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT ANGLE OF VIEW SO AS TO GIVE THE DRIVER VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES ALONGSIDE OR IN THE "BLIND SPOT." IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE MOUNTED AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OF THE MAIN MIRROR SIMILAR TO THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, BUT ON MY CAR IT IS MOUNTED IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE MAIN MIRROR SO THE VIEWS ARE IDENTICAL. FORD DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER SAYS IT'S CORRECT, BUT EVERY OTHER FORD VEHICLE I HAVE SEEN HAS AN BLIND SIDE MIRROR THAT IS ANGLED. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CONSULTANTS REFUSE TO DISPUTE THE LOCAL DEALER'S OPINION. I BELIEVE THIS MIRROR WAS MANUFACTURED AND INSTALLED IN ERROR. FORD'S OWNER MANUALS FOR VARIOUS MODELS ALL DESCRIBE THE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS IDENTICALLY, BUT MY MIRROR DOES NOT CONFORM TO THOSE DESCRPTIONS. MORE CRITICALLY, IT DOESN'T PERFORM ITS INTENDED FUNCTION.
2/11/2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 Report8% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
ELECTRICAL GREMLINS SINCE THE FIRST DAY. TOUCHSCREEN WENT ON AND OFF, PHONE DIDN'T CHARGE, DOOR HANDLES DON'T WORK, GARAGE DOOR OPENER FORGOT SETTINGS, PRESETS ON DASH WOULD BLINK OUT OF MEMORY. ULTIMATELY THE CAR DIDN'T EVEN START. BUT FOR ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK, SOMETIMES THEY WOULDN'T. ULTIMATELY GOT THE YELLOW WRENCH OF DEATH. BROUGHT IT IN REPEATEDLY AND THEY COULD NEVER REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, UNTIL THE DAY IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL AND THE WRENCH WAS ON THE DASH. FINALLY DIAGNOSED OPEN SEAMS ON THE BACK HINGES TO THE HATCH. SEAMSEAL WAS MISSING ON BOTH HINGES. WATER WAS COMING INTO THE JUNCTION BOX WHICH WAS SOAKED. THE BATTERY WAS SITTING IN A POOL OF WATER. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED WHETHER IT WAS PARKED OR RUNNING.
2/15/2020
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1 Report8% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford C-MAX. The contact stated that the seat belt failed. The contact stated that while the driverâs side rear seat belt was fastened to the car seat, the seat belt tightened up independently on her grandchildâs chest. The contactâs grandchild was unable to breathe properly. The contact was unable to unfasten the seat from the clip. The contact had to cut the seat belt to be able to release the seat belt from her grandchildâs chest. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the seat belt operated as designed. The seat belt was not repaired or replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.
8/2/2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 Report8% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
Recently, there has been a whiff of gasoline around my garage but there is more than one vehicle in there so I didn't figure out what the culprit was for a while. After completely filling up my car 9/3/2022, I parked it in the attached garage and in minutes my whole house smelled like gasoline. So I immediately parked it outside and ventilated the house. I took the car to a local shop and they said yes there's a gas odor but they didn't want to touch the repair because it's a hybrid. So all this time later on 9/14/2022, the Ford dealership saw the car and stated that it requires immediate repair and park it outside while we wait for parts. My C-Max has always gotten regular normal maintenance like oil changes and brakes, it got new tires recently. There was one major repair Ford did when the car was assembled incorrectly at the back hatch hinge seal so water was pouring into the circuit board and the battery compartment which screwed up the electronics, and the touchscreen needed replaced, but that was over a year ago and the car has been ok since. It has never ever been wrecked beyond little dings like shopping carts. It makes absolutely zero sense that the car would require this major repair at 82830 miles, and it's going to cost me $2400 which blows my mind. And it's dangerous! Now it has the doom vibe of a Pinto. I am extremely concerned for other C-max owners.
9/14/2022
POWER TRAIN
1 Report8% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop at a red light, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality; however, the failure had since become a regular failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.
8/18/2023
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2018 Ford C-Max?
Are complaints about the 2018 Ford C-Max a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2018 Ford C-Max?
Are complaints about the 2018 Ford C-Max severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Ford C-Max: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 12
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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