Vehicle Data Hub

2016 Ford C-Max problems

NHTSA has received 30 complaints about the 2016 Ford C-Max, and 23% of them involve backover prevention. After that come brakes (10%) and electrical system (10%).

At a glance

Complaints
30 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Backover prevention 23% of complaints
Crashes and fires
2 and 1
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0
Typical mileage
32,000 miles 16 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Backover prevention 23%
  • Brakes 10%
  • Electrical system 10%
  • Drivetrain & axles 7%
  • Wipers, windshield & visibility 7%
  • Air bags 3%
  • Cruise control 3%
  • Engine 3%
  • Fuel system 3%
  • Seats 3%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2016 Ford C-Max Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 32,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 6 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 3 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 1 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 32,000 miles
Based on 16 complaints that include mileage. 81% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles6
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles3
60k to 80k miles1
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 16 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 32,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 3 injuries reported.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2016 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Ford C-Max with enough data (19 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

Head impact - previously recalled in july 2013 by ford motor company for headliner design issues. Struck when turning vehicle onto highway.

Reported at 20,000 miles, September 2013 CrashInjury

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.

Reported at 44,530 miles, January 2025 CrashInjury

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.

December 2021 Injury

Intermittent inability to control speed. Finally got an error code of p2112 (throttle actuator control system) while in motion and vibration because the battery does not engage properly

Reported at 36,000 miles, July 2018

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.

Reported at 136,000 miles, February 2026

Other model years of the C-Max

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