KnownCarProblems2015 Ford C-Max Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford C-Max, most often about the transmission (16% of complaints, typically around 42,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about C-Max model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2015 Ford C-Max problems
Transmission
9 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that upon shifting to park, the vehicle accelerated forward unintendedly. The vehicle ran over the curb and crashed into the handicap sign. The fuel tank detached during the crash. There were no warning lights illuminated. The fire department was on the scene. A…
Vehicle is not holding EV now/later modes causing unexpected battery usage and fuel consumption. An example is traveling highway speeds (70-75 MPH); vehicle will unexpectedly switch into auto mode and revert from gas/hybrid performance to electric/battery only performance which is reduced power and response again at…
Electrical
9 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: horn.
Vehicle is not holding EV now/later modes causing unexpected battery usage and fuel consumption. An example is traveling highway speeds (70-75 MPH); vehicle will unexpectedly switch into auto mode and revert from gas/hybrid performance to electric/battery only performance which is reduced power and response again at…
When parking or stoping, turning the key off, removing the key the engine will keep running. This was reported to Ford under warranties. This is easy to catch in a closed garage but impossible to detect outside (no noise when walking away from car) 6 times in the last 3 years.
Backup camera
9 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: sensing system, rearview system braking, warnings.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(r), the rear-view camera displayed an upside-down image. The contact…
The contact owns a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera image was blank or black, and the image became permanently…
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 14%The hatchback door will not close properly. It was close, but then not latch. At time, it seems it has closed and latched, and then at odd times, the latch may not hold and will open the hatchback. This has happened repeatedly.
Air bags
6 complaints · 11%I was making a left turn. I was struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The impact was to the front passenger side wheel. My vehicle was spun around 45 degrees in the opposite direction and I was tossed around in the vehicle with my seat belt on. The cars computer detected an impact serious enough to…
The contact owned a 2015 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that upon accelerating from a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle ahead suddenly slammed on the brakes and was rear-ended by the contact's vehicle. The contact's forehead struck the steering wheel before the front driver's side air bag partially…
Steering
6 complaints · 11%When starting the car one day, I got a message on the dashboard that there was a power assist steering failure - steering was manual and very heavy. No codes present and the problem seemed to go away. It came back again another time while driving and went away again. The power assist seems to be working but is…
The power steering failed while backing out of the parking stall at the grocery store as we pulled out a message came up power steering failure service now
Fuel system
4 complaints · 7%Vehicle is not holding EV now/later modes causing unexpected battery usage and fuel consumption. An example is traveling highway speeds (70-75 MPH); vehicle will unexpectedly switch into auto mode and revert from gas/hybrid performance to electric/battery only performance which is reduced power and response again at…
Charging cord overheated and melted at the plug. Recall in place on this item, but Ford specifically mentions in recall to ensure charging cord is plugged in to dedicated and undamaged/non corroded outlet (it was-until after event) and not attached to an extension cord (it was not).
Engine
3 complaints · 5%Driving my 2015 Ford C-Max and all of a sudden I lose power. I press the gas and nothing. I was driving through a intersection and had to coast to the side of the rode. Big red triangle show up saying "stop safely now". Car has been at the dealer for 4 days, they are trying to find the problem. I have read online…
When parking or stoping, turning the key off, removing the key the engine will keep running. This was reported to Ford under warranties. This is easy to catch in a closed garage but impossible to detect outside (no noise when walking away from car) 6 times in the last 3 years.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Ford C-Max recalls
Backup camera: camera
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on october 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed january 2, 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25sa9. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall bec
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: shift linkage/cable/rod
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed july 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed october 27, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s43.
Full defect summary
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.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on july 27, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s30.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 fiesta, 2013-2014 fusion, 2015 mustang, 2013-2015 escape and c-max, 2012-2015 focus, 2014-2016 transit connect, 2013-2014 lincoln mkz, and 2015 mkc vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15v-246, 16v-643 or 17v-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Equipment: electrical
Risk: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120v convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began january 18, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18s24.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 120v convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 ford c-max energi and fusion energi vehicles and 2012-2015 ford focus electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers fm58-10b706-aa, fm58-10b706-ab, fm58-10b706-AC, fm58-10b706-ad, fm58-10b706-ae and fm58-10b706-af were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on january 27, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16s30.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 ford focus, 2013-2015 ford escape and ford c-max, 2015 lincoln mkc and ford mustang, and 2014-2016 ford transit connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on july 27, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15c06.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 ford escape vehicles manufactured april 1, 2014, to june 12, 2015, ford focus vehicles manufactured june 17, 2014, to june 12, 2015, and ford c-max vehicles manufactured april 22, 2014, to june 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the start/stop engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Door latch failures
Summary
In december 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation based on 235 vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (my) 2012-2014 ford fiesta, and 2013-2014 fusion and lincoln mkz. Some voqs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other voqs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl spring tab typically results in a ?door will not close? Condition, however in certain somewhat rare circu
Door latch failure
Summary
In january, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (my) 2012-2013 ford focus vehicles (subject vehicles).odi has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.one consumer alleged an injury that occurred while driving when a door inadvertently opened and then closed on a child's arm.another alleged that a door that inadvertently opened struck a parked vehicle.in response to odi's information request, ford motor company (ford) provided 500 unique repo
Questions about the 2015 Ford C-Max
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Ford C-Max?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (9 complaints, typically around 42,500 miles); electrical (9 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles); backup camera (9 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Ford C-Max have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 13, 2025 (backup camera). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Ford C-Max?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about C-Max model year since 2000, with 56 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.