2013 Ford Redundant C-Max Hybrid Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED NORTH CENTRAL FORD AT 972-584-1338 (LOCATED AT 1819 N CENTRAL EXPY, RICHARDSON, TX 75080) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

NHTSA ID

11192042

Incident

Mar 23, 2019

Mileage

54,000 mi

LIGHT CAME ON SAYING SERVICE POWER STEERING. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER IT. WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER IT IS A $2,000.00 FIX. RESEARCH SHOWED ME THAT OTHER MODELS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE LISTED AS A RECALL BUT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH DOCUMENTATION YET ON THE C-MAX'S TO WARRANT INCLUDING THEM. AT 55,000 MILES THAT SEEMS VERY EARLY TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. WE LOVE OUR C-MAX BUT THIS IS A DEFINITE CONCERN WHEN YOUR ON SOCIAL SECURITY 2,000 IS A BIG EXPENSE FOR A FOX AT 50 SOMR THOUSAND MILES. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED. [ ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID

11190470

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

56,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11187009

Incident

Mar 14, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING MADE A CLUNKING NOISE, STIFFENED, AND WOULD NOT TURN. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION FORD NORTH CANTON AT 330-238-3206 (LOCATED AT 5900 WHIPPLE AVE NW, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720), BUT WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT DUE TO THEIR TIGHT SCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,392.

NHTSA ID

11176531

Incident

Feb 11, 2019

Mileage

80,392 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11121726

Incident

Aug 22, 2018

Mileage

73,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11091745

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

84,000 mi

THE STEERING POWER BOX APPARENTLY FAILED ON SEPT. 18 WHEN I WAS GOING TO WORK. THE CHECK POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN I TRIED TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING PLACE AND THEN WHEN I TRIED TO EASE BACK INTO IT, I HAD IT TOWED TO MCCAFFERTY FORD IN LANGHORNE, PA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE STEERING POWER BOX FAILURE. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND THE 2014 CMAX HYBRIDS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO - THE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THAT A LOT OF 2013 MODEL OWNERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING CONTROL BOX - SAME AS ME - BUT THE FORD DEALERS ARE MAKING THEM PAY ANYWHERE FROM $1,500 TO $1,900 FOR THE REPAIR (I AM BEING CHARGED @ $1,800.) CLEARLY IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD REMEDY - AND NOT EXPECT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR IT. (I HAVE OWNED FORD CARS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE HAVE HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THEM.)

NHTSA ID

11024975

Incident

Sep 18, 2017

Mileage

46,274 mi

STEERING WENT OUT 2 TIMES TAKEN TO DEALER COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, CAR WAS STOPPED CALLED A TOW TRUCK ,DRIVER OF TOW TRUCK COULD NOT TURN WHEEL11/18/2016

NHTSA ID

10928636

Incident

Nov 29, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

FLAT TOWING WITH MY RV FROM A STOP HARD TURN AND ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WILL WOBBLE OUT OF CONTROL FORCING YOU TO COME TO A,COMPLETE STOP AND THEN RE ACCELERATE FROM A STRAIGHT POSITION. YOU MAY BE FORCED TO STOP RIGHT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC YOU JUST PULLED IN FRONT OF .WITH YOUR MOTORHOME PULLING THE CMAX . ROAD MASTER SAYS ITS FORDS FAULT FORD SAYS NOTHING

NHTSA ID

10896632

Incident

Apr 7, 2016

Mileage

13,000 mi

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!

NHTSA ID

10874315

Incident

Jun 12, 2016

Mileage

43,681 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651294

Incident

Oct 23, 2014

Mileage

21,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610580

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

18,760 mi

ONE MONTH AFTER THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE FAILED (AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED HERE) & HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE RCM MODULE FAILED. ADVANCED TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE/ARE LIT ON DASHBOARD. I DROVE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING AIRBAG FOR 10 DAYS WHILE BEST FORD NASHUA TRIED TO REPLACE THE MODULE WHICH IS OUT OF STOCK. YESTERDAY 6/6/14 FORD NASHUA PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596805

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

10,000 mi

STOPPED TO GET GAS. AFTER FILL-UP CAR STARTED BUT STEERING WAS GONE, LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD "CHECK POWER STEERING NOW". WAS 75 MILES FROM HOME. HAD TO BE TOWED, CAR IN SHOP FOR WEEKEND UNTIL TUESDAY WAITING FOR ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE. TOWING, CAR RENTAL AND PART REPLACED AT FORD'S EXPENSE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON NEW FORD SMALL CARS ON VARIOUS INTERNET FORD CMAX FORUMS. ACCORDING TO REPORTS ON INTERNET, THIS CAN REOCCUR AND HAS HAPPENED AT SPEED AFTER THE MODULE IS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587644

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

1,500 mi

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. *TT

NHTSA ID

10537988

Incident

Aug 27, 2013

Mileage

1,200 mi