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2016 Ford C-Max problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 Ford C-Max has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 56owner complaints
- 7crash reports
- 1fire report
- 21%fail the UK MOT
56 complaints, against an average of 114 for the other 5 Ford C-Max model years.
Every Ford C-Max model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2016 Ford C-Max?
The components named most often in the 56 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 Ford C-Max owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 56 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Fault codes 2016 Ford C-Max owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2016 Ford C-Max been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 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.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Gear Position Indication (PRNDL) 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.
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.
Structure: Body Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Risk: Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Is the 2016 Ford C-Max recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAX-Car Powertain Control Module (PCM) Software Update
Risk: Affected vehicles may develop a crack in the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
Fix: Update software to prevent a cracked DPF. Test and replace DPFs that are already cracked.
UK DVSAVehicle could suffer clutch pressure plate fracture
Risk: A number of vehicles fitted with a 1.0 1.5 or 1.6 Ecoboost engine and 6-speed manual transmission could suffer clutch pressure plate fracture. This results in clutch smell reduced vehicle speed and performance. In the unlikely event of clutch pressure plate fracture a noise (thud / bang) could be heard from the vicinity of the transmission in extreme cases resulting in clutch / transmission fragments being released and striking under hood components creating a risk of smoke and fire from the under hood area.
Fix: To prevent the repeated heating /cooling events a new calibration has been developed for vehicles fitted with Engine Stop Start feature. The software with the additional feature sets the Instrument panel Wrench light and de-rates the engine performance if prolonged clutch slip is detected. The software feature includes a drive cycle strategy for latching the wrench light and engine performance de-rate if the customer should experience repeated clutch slip events. For vehicles that do not have Engine Stop Start feature an alternative clutch kit has been released.
UK DVSAClutch pressure plate may fracture
Risk: Affected vehicles fitted with a 1.0 1.5 or 1.6 Ecoboost engine and 6-speed manual transmission could suffer clutch pressure plate fracture. This results in clutch smell reduced vehicle speed and performance. In the unlikely event of clutch pressure plate fracture a noise (thud / bang) could be heard from the vicinity of the transmission in extreme cases resulting in clutch / transmission fragments being released and striking under hood components creating a risk of smoke and fire from the under hood area.
Fix: To prevent the repeated heating /cooling events a new calibration has been developed for vehicles fitted with Engine Stop Start feature. The software with the additional feature sets the Instrument panel Wrench light and de-rates the engine performance if prolonged clutch slip is detected. The software feature includes a drive cycle strategy for latching the wrench light and engine performance de-rate if the customer should experience repeated clutch slip events. For vehicles that do not have Engine Stop Start feature an alternative clutch kit has been released.
UK DVSACasting defect may cause alloy wheel(s) to crack
Risk: A small batch of alloy wheels may have a casting defect that may initiate a fatigue crack and result in wheel failure.
Fix: Check wheels on affected vehicles for a specific batch code. Replace those wheels which have the identified batch code.
UK DVSAOil sump may crack due to the engine overheating
Risk: The engine control module calibration may not adequately detect an overheat condition in certain 2.0L Duratorq Diesel engines. In extreme cases an overheated engine can result in a breach of the oil sump leading to loss of the engine oil.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and download revised software for the control module calibration that improves overheat detection and provides an instrument cluster warning indicator to the driver and engine de-rate strategy.
UK DVSASide and/or knee airbag may fail to deploy in a collision
Risk: The airbag initiator may be defective and may prevent the side airbag(s) and/or knee airbag deploying in the event of an accident. In a collision the airbags not deploying could put the occupants at further risk.
Fix: Recall the 1943 vehicles that are likely to be affected to check and where necessary replace the side and knee protection airbags complete with initiators.
EU Safety GateThe diesel particulate filter (DPF) may be cracked on 2.0 l EcoBlue Diesel and 1.5 l EcoBlue vehicles.This could cause the vehicles to fail the legally required roadworthiness test, as exhaust emissions of soot may be above the authorised limit.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe engine control unit does not correctly detect overheating, which can allow the engine to overheat, leading to a leak of engine oil.Leaking oil can drop onto the road and create a risk of injuries to other road traffic participants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe clutch pressure plate may break.This may result in reduced vehicle performance.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 07/12/2018
EU Safety GateThe clutch pressure plate may break.If this happens while the vehicle is in motion, propulsion may be lost.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe alloy wheels may have a casting defect which could lead to a premature fatigue crack.This could result in an unexpected alloy wheel failure which could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe airbag inflator may be defective which may prevent the side airbag(s) and/or knee airbag deploying in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2016 Ford C-Max fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2016, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2016 Ford C-Max owners report?
12 of the 56 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that the rearview camera is malfunctioning, cuts out intermittently, and displays an error message stating that the camera is unavailable. The contact received a safety recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the replacement parts required to complete the repair are not yet available. The contact has reached out to the local dealer and notified the manufacturer of the failure, noting that the manufacturer has exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the recall remedy. The failure…
Rear view camera recall was last year on October 2025 I am facing serious safety issues with the camera not working properly or sometimes entirely not at all the screen turns blue and does not display anything it’s very dangerous
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. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part was not yet available. The…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that while charging the hybrid battery, the battery stopped charging after 15-16 minutes. The contact stated that the battery could only be charged for 15-16 minutes at a time. The contact stated that there was a red triangle warning light illuminated on the charger but there was no warning light illuminated on the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the mileage range of the vehicle per charge was decreasing continuously. The vehicle was taken to dealer several times to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure…
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. The vehicle traveled 26 feet from its original stationed position. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer has not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 37,200.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, prompting her to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission had previously been replaced 3 years prior. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the…
Was driving it to a shop to do a transmission fluid exchange and got a big Stop Safely Now warning on the dash with an AdvanceTrac warning as well. Car stopped dead on a freeway off ramp - was very fortunate to get an immediate SoCal Freeway Service tow off the ramp in Los Angeles to a safe place, and after AAA told me I might wait 4 hours for a tow to my preferred Ford dealer, I got the car restarted and got it to a another dealer a couple miles away. Inspection showed a P0B37 error code with chafing of the high voltage battery harness. The dealer originally quoted me $1200 to fix it, but…
In the course of routine maintenance, it has been brought to my attention that Stock Ford lug nuts have "Swelled" and can not be removed using normal methods, making on the road tire replacement impossible. Ford states this is a known issue with defective Ford lug nuts.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was locked and failed to open. The contact used the key to enter the vehicle. The contact read the Owner’s Manual and utilized the option provided to start the vehicle. The default power steering message was displayed with an additional message to See Dealer. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start however, after an hour, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle had been jumped started several times. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where the mechanic was unable to duplicate the…
Component Failure The ABS system failed with only 14,500 miles on the odometer. Symptom The brake pedal became soft, Allowing more brake pedal travel than normal. Taken to Ford dealer Symptom described to service Representative and was told after several hrs that the brakes were normal. I told them that the brake pedal was always taut and the current behavior could become a danger to others and myself. It's after I provided my own OBD11 scan report ( Using a BlueDriver scan tool ) that indicated there is an Anti-Lock Brake module Code Failure That convinced them and Was told to leave the…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD C-MAX. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S TOW YARD AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. *TT *TR
2016 Ford C-Max: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 Ford C-Max reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford C-Max; the most common categories were electrical system (16, 28.6%), back over prevention (11, 19.6%), power train (7, 12.5%). There are 3 safety recalls. 7 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 7 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford C-Max?
Across 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (28.6% of complaints), back over prevention (19.6% of complaints), power train (12.5% of complaints), engine (7.1% of complaints), steering (5.4% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 Ford C-Max have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Ford C-Max; the most recent (campaign 25V695000, 2025-10-13) concerns Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does the backup camera not work on my 2016 Ford C-Max?
5 of the 56 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford C-Max (8.9%) describe the rearview or backup camera failing or showing a blank screen. A related recall exists: campaign 25V695000 (back over prevention: sensing system: camera). The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. One owner wrote: "The backup camera doesn't regularly function, ranging from 15% to 75% of the time. A tire man with prior experience in a Ford dealership recommended checking for an electronics update to the system." (NHTSA complaint 11556335, November 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own C-Max
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2016 only; combines NHTSA's entries for C-MAX, CMAX ENERGI and CMAX HEV. How these reports are made.