Ford C-Max
The Ford C-Max is a five-seat MPV that began production in 2003. It features a 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 92 kW, with a top speed of 192 km/h and CO₂ emissions of 154 g/km. The vehicle measures 4,491 mm in length and has a kerb weight of 1,424 kg, accommodating up to five passengers. In Norway, the C-Max saw 11 new registrations in 2019, representing the model's peak year during this period.
| Manufacturer | Ford |
|---|---|
| Production | From 2003 |
| Body type | MPV |
| Fuel | Petrol |
| Kerb weight | 1,292 kg |
| Displacement | 1,407 cc |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Top speed | 192 km/h |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy (comb.) | 6 l/100 km |
| Length | 4,380 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,630 mm |
| Seats | 5 |
| Doors | 4 |
Engine variants
Different engine versions of the Ford C-Max (from registration data). 5 variants.
| Engine | Fuel | Transmission | Top speed | Economy | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 l · 3-cyl | – | – | 185 km/h | – | – |
| 1.5 l · 4-cyl | – | – | 199 km/h | – | – |
| 1.6 l · 4-cyl | – | – | 195 km/h | – | – |
| 1.8 l · 4-cyl | – | – | 195 km/h | – | – |
| 2.0 l · 4-cyl | – | – | 194 km/h | – | – |
Source: RDW (NL). European engine variants.
Other Ford models
Similar MPV models
Common problems & reliability
US owners have filed 1 complaints for the Ford C-Max, most often about fuel system, gasoline. These are owner-reported issues, useful for spotting recurring weaknesses before you buy. In the UK, 77% of Ford C-Maxs pass their MOT test first time, based on 117,801 inspections in 2023. (2023 is the most recent annual release published by the DfT.)
Based on real owner complaints and inspection data — not an editorial rating. Sources: NHTSA (US, public domain), DVSA MOT (UK, Open Government Licence).
Recalls & safety
4 recalls recorded in the EU Safety Gate (European market) and 10 in the US-market NHTSA database for the Ford C-Max. Recalls can flag known weaknesses of the model.
- Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (United Kingdom)
This may result in reduced vehicle performance.
EU Safety Gate · alerted 2019-01-11
- Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)
This may lead to a malfunction of the transmission and to increased risk of the engine catching fire.
EU Safety Gate · alerted 2019-12-06
- Passenger carEU · Safety Gate (Germany)
The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
EU Safety Gate · alerted 2024-01-26
- Passenger car / vanEU · Safety Gate (Germany)
If this happens while the vehicle is in motion, propulsion may be lost.
EU Safety Gate · alerted 2018-07-20
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)US · NHTSAModel year 2017
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V413000 · reported 10/06/2022
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)US · NHTSAModel year 2016
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V413000 · reported 10/06/2022
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel year 2016
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.
Remedy: 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
NHTSA campaign 25V695000 · reported 13/10/2025
- STRUCTURE:BODYUS · NHTSAModel year 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.
NHTSA campaign 17V052000 · reported 24/01/2017
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)US · NHTSAModel year 2015
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V413000 · reported 10/06/2022
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAUS · NHTSAModel year 2015
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.
Remedy: 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
NHTSA campaign 25V695000 · reported 13/10/2025
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHUS · NHTSAModel year 2015
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V643000 · reported 06/09/2016
- EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICALUS · NHTSAModel year 2015
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V592000 · reported 10/09/2018
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONUS · NHTSAModel year 2015
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."
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V436000 · reported 08/07/2015
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHUS · NHTSAModel year 2015
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V331000 · reported 08/06/2020
Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all Ford recalls.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the top speed of the Ford C-Max?
- The Ford C-Max has a rated top speed of 192 km/h.
- What are the dimensions of the Ford C-Max?
- The Ford C-Max is 4,380 mm long, 1,830 mm wide and 1,630 mm tall.
- How much does the Ford C-Max weigh?
- The Ford C-Max has a kerb weight of about 1,292 kg.
- How many seats does the Ford C-Max have?
- The Ford C-Max has 5 seats.