If you still looking for a hybrid, and if your experience hasn't soured you on a Ford, the C Max hybrid to get is a 2017 or 18. They can be had with Apple play and Android Auto and have a power passenger seat as an option as well as blind side warning system. Plus slight changes were made to the software and the EPA estimate was one or two miles higher. If a sedan is your choice, the Ford Fusion hybrid is an excellent choice and it was made till 2021. Plus there was the option of emergency collision braking as a part of a safety package and its not uncommon for people to report 50 mpg in the right circumstances. New and used hybrid batteries are easier to find for the Fusion vs the C Max.
@@oldguy2082 “right circumstances”, I have 2@2017 CMAX. One with 144k-miles with 51.9MPG mostly highway commute. The other gets much better than that as a mostly city driver. If you aren’t getting 50MPG+ in Ford PHEV, You are not driving it properly. I would think the Fusion is even better highway considering the aerodynamics.
@@oldguy2082 Not to mention I live in Canada. Generally you get 15% less fuel economy in winter. If I lived somewhere warm all the time, I would easily be over 55MPG and perhaps close to 60
So happy I found your channel! I have my very own Maxie, too! He’s a Ruby Red 2016 model. He’s been very reliable and averages just over 42MPG. We’re now at 120k miles. Other than oil, filters and fluid changes, a couple of light bulbs, new brakes and tires my ownership has been pretty trouble free. Hopefully he has many more miles and years ahead.
I have a 2013 Cmax Energi. It currently has 325,000 miles and is still going. The only thing I've had fail was the auxiliary cabin heater, and i was able to fix that myself with a salvage part. Everything else had been regular maintenance.
Interesting. We have a 2014 SEL with 149k miles with no major problems so far. Never heard of the loose hatch door screws and checked mine just in case...sure enough they were not really tight and I tightened them some more. We had a lot of the other small issues like front blinker bulbs, hatch door stuck (electric cable contact loose), Splash shields coming off, blown tire once and lots of nails 😐, swollen lug nuts, overheating in the desert because of broken front shutter grille, 2 or 3 recalls...that's all I remember right now😄
Sounds like you had a lot of the same minor stuff… thanks for sharing your hatch bolts were loose too! To be fair, I treated mine more like a truck than a car because of my work, so it was abused pretty hard but things like transmission and steering rack before 100k are unacceptable.
I think your max has been abused in its lifetime, they are well built reliable cars, my 2013 has never had these issues, same for most of your replies.
Maxie definitely had a tough life! And unfortunately I had to use pep boys terrible service because of my rental agreement… had I owned it, the car would’ve received much better maintenance
@@celection4334 I’ve had 4 of them, 2 Hybrids, 2 PHEV. None have had the problems described in this video. 12V batteries, brakes, tires, and cleaning of the PHEV battery air intake grid. Regular maintenance, That’s it. Someone kicked the crap outta this car.
Your high voltage battery air intake is clogged. It’s in the passenger side rear wheel well under the arch. Clean it out no problems in the heat. They get very clogged
@@petrolectric just a vacuum cleaner. It brings outside air in to cool batteries, gets very clogged. It’s a tight metal grid. Just put a vacuum up to it save yourself a huge headache. Every single one of them will get clogged. Ford says nothing about it.
@@kevinstehn3223 Take off rear passenger side wheel, and remove the wheel well liner. Its a grid about 6x3 up and to the left as you look in the wheel well.
Great video. I have had a Cmax and when I've hit over 120000, I experienced the following. Boot struts failure, 130,000, Clutch failure, Gearbox failure. Timing belt is the first one from original and I kick the back out of this car with no issue which i was actually amazed by and also general wear tear replacements like bulbs and wipers etc. My 2016 model is currently facing NO issues at 111000 Woohoo. Ohh shizzals. Ginxed it , haven't i
Great info! I think mine had so many issues because I’m going up and down mountains every day… and that car is certainly not built for that haha, if it was in the city more, I think I would’ve had better luck. Was just too much strain on a car with low power. Good luck with your cmax!
@carsnubs yeah I can imagine mountain driving being a strain for these type of cars with air issues. I am not a fan of auto and I need it to be a high engine diesel to deliver enough torque. I hope you find your next mechanical horse soon hopefully with no issues.
@Aa Ba - I am curious...based on where you may live, by saying "boot struts failure" do you mean "boot" as in the back of the car? Also, if so, the rear has shock absorbers, not struts. You also said you had a "Clutch failure," but the C-Max does not have a clutch, it has a torque converter. Also, when you say "gearbox failure," the transaxle in the C-Max does not have gears, it is a CVT, or Continuously Variable Transmission.
I drove my 2015 C-Max to over 232,000 miles before the transmission went. Some of the 2013-2015 models had an issue with the transmission, but it was resolved in 2016. Other than that, the only money I put into it was general maintenance, and when it got to about 200,000 miles, the blower motor needed replaced. That's it. And no, it never overheated. I live in Kansas and drove it in plenty of 100°-plus heat waves, and it handled great and kept me cool. It's odd that you made that assessment and live near the Pacific where the temperatures are mild. You never said it actually overheated on you. Regardless, now I'm shopping for another car, and I might buy a 2017 C-Max with 73,000 miles on it. Also, it was very much a comfortable ride on the highway for road trips. I disagree about it being only a city car. I drove part-time for Uber and Lyft in mine, and passengers always commented how it was much more spacious than it looked from the outside, and very comfortable. Its drivetrain and hybrid system are built on Toyota technology. It's a very reliable car. I'm sorry you had troubles with it.
@@robinhartzell2380 it overheated many many times on me… every time I went to Las Vegas and Arizona (especially in mountain areas) it overheated. And in California it overheated when I was in the mountains which was many times for work - pushes the car much harder and wouldn’t recommend this if you’re in driving in them alot. I think it would’ve helped a lot if the front grill was slotted so some air could actually get in the engine bay. Stupid they block it all off. But glad to hear you had good luck with yours!
I have a 2015 with 103k miles on it, not a single problem. I got it used in 2017, with 39k miles on it, for $14,500. I've put one set of new tires on it and the rest has been just oil changes and tire rotations. I love my Maximus
Nice! Glad to hear… seems like most people avoided most of the issues I had. I was really tough on the car, but if you drive them as a normal daily commuter they seem to hold up well
I bought a Avis C-Max rental from a Ford dealer that bought it at an auction. It was a year old in 2017, had 18K. It has 71,000 miles on it now. It was 28K new and I paid 19K for it. It’s a fully loaded model with backup camera. The car has good pickup and plenty of storage capacity. I had to replace the backup breaks and the USB charger in the front went out twice. I get 41 mpg. In the two severe winter months the mpg goes down to 32 mpg. This car drives a lot better than the Toyota Prius it replaced.
247k on my 2015 Cmax SEL. No major problems... the transmission started slipping after 50k, but I finished paying for for it and I installed a tuner- and problem solved. Still running good today.
Wow! I’ve heard a lot of people saying they’ve had good luck with their CMAX, I think mine just couldn’t handle the hills/mountains here and prematurely demised
Installed a tuner? Like 93 octane tune? Lol! Tell me more 😂 I have a 2013 cmax SEL and 2013 fusion hybrid SE. Cmax is the backup car I would put on turo. It has only 112k miles and the fusion has double that. Fusion has been a tank.
Mine is a 2014 with 77k miles on it, and the CVT is now making the "whine of death". Unacceptable. Ford/ Microsoft discontinued the SYNC diagnostic service, which was nice, and the backup camera flipped upside down a while back. The only repair being to replace it for $700. Up until these problems, it has been a nice vehicle.
I had to replace the steering rack in my 2014 C Max. The problem was not mechanical. The chip in it would no longer communicate with the main computer but it meant replacing the entire rack!
I own a 2013 C-Max, apart from tyres and brake linings have done 79000 miles with no problems, age 80 I won't be replacing as it should see me out. Thank you Ford,. PS, it has put up with a lot of hard driving, by me.
I own a 2016 SEL trim unit and mine has been really good, only repairs have been a purge valve for the heap system and now with the vehicle near 155k, the power lift gate doesn't go all the way up and the backup camera sometimes doesn't work both of these are recent. And I had to replace the original 12volt battery last week. Mileage has started to gradually gone down, the hybrid battery is slowly losing capacity as it travels less on ev mode, but that's to be expected. But at 155k, it still has the original brakes and doesn't use any oil between changes at 5k intervals. Just regular maintenance and fuel and still averages 37mpg overall at this milage. If they every came out with another new one, I'd purchase it again.
Great to hear! Matches up with most of the comments having good luck with there’s. Had this been a car I owned, it would’ve been taken to better mechanics and hopefully could’ve avoided some of these issues
I put lots of freeway miles on my cmax, sacramento to salt lake city every few weeks. Besides being very reliable, it is super comfortable. I frequently cross the Bonneville salt flats in the summer with no issues with heat. I also climb a couple of mountain passes in summer and winter. I love this car.
@@patrickhenigin4805 wow yeah those are tough conditions! Maybe because it’s more rare, mine was going up mountains every day multiple times a day and think it was just too much for it
Judging by the majority of comments, most people have had good luck as well! I put it thru a lot with high heat and mountain driving… it was extra hard on it. Flat city driving think would’ve faired much better
Ford c max and ford focus are built on same platform. Have a 16 focus 5 speed manual with 302k miles just normal wear items . Thought about a c max hybrid ...Maybe not a good move....Plus focus parts are super easy to find and cheap . 5 speed manual transmission model is reliable . Get about 40 mpg highway... Upgraded suspension with focus st thicker rear sway bar plus bilstiens struts, shocks aftermarket motor mounts upgraded brakes and rotors better tires . Yes runs better handles great.. It is slow but that's how it is..
@@halaheleu7013 I think you made the right move with Focus over CMAX - the CMAX only got 40mpg… they actually got in trouble early on for misleading mpg numbers. When the Prius was getting 50+, Ford just couldn’t get major mileage out of the platform.
me too, 155k miles not a single issue. The car is factory new condition, lifetime mileage is 48.6 mpg. 2 sets of tires and a couple 12v batteries, when I last had it serviced at 100k the dealer asked where we had the brakes replaced because they have no wear, they are factory. Most reliable car I've ever had. If you drive it like a hybrid you don't really wear the brakes. The car is ugly.
@@petrolectric My two hybrids, 2013- 39MPG, 71000 miles lifetime mostly highway. Changed gearing slightly for 2015-41MPG lifetime mostly highway, 86000 miles. 2017 PHEV 52MPG life mostly highway 140000 miles. 2017- 86MPG mostly city, 35000 miles. Still own the two PHEV. If you don’t hammer them you can get good mileage. City driving is always better than highway
@@petrolectric I've done lots of research and reliability seems to be a hit or miss. I don't understand why. My mom had a new late 1980s Ford Taurus Wagon (I don't remember the exact year) and it was a total lemon. She was a single mom at the time she had it, with kids, and Ford dealership wouldn't help her at all. It was in the shop more than she could drive it. She ended up getting a Chevy Chevette out of all things (lol), and she loved it. It was really reliable, got good gas mileage and did just fine in the snow. And it actually got about the same gas mileage as this Ford CMax.
@@Lincolnator721yeah unfortunately Ford has been notorious for making junk cars. Trucks have been Ford’s bread and butter for decades, everything else usually takes a sideline /:
@@Lincolnator721 I’ve heard good things about the volt. If you’re looking for hybrids, can’t go wrong with a Camry or Corolla as well. I’ve heard issues with the Hondas, but Toyotas are rock solid. If you want a little more space, a RAV4 or Lexus NX. Stay away from the Ford Escape Hybrid, those are terrible
I own a 2016 SEL edition; approaching just short of 160k. Milage had declined over time , now averages 36 mpg, down from 40+ when the car was new. Other than tires, the Michelin tires wear about 50k, on my third set now, the backup camera has failed. So, i think that the rental usage has shorted the life of the vehicle. I done nothing but regular maintenance. I.e., light bulbs, air cleaner/cabin air filter, and finally the OEM 12v battery failed this year after 152k miles. Still have the OEM brake pads on the vehicle and the outer tie rods will need replacement soon. More comfortable than the Prius of the same year and less expensive.
I got my brake booster replaced, it was 1200 dollars, not a car killer. The clunks at low speed is a 40 dollars fix easily done by amateurs. Use some thread locker on your rear hatch. $10.
Good to know how much the fix cost. No one would touch it but ford dealers and in SoCal they are weeks and or months wait to even get an appointment. Ford is a huge disaster currently at least in LA. A whole lot easier for me to turn the rental in and move on…. Especially since it was at the point something major was happening every few thousand miles.
Yeah, I have one 134k with no problems except for routine maintenance. 12V replaced once after 7 years, transmission drain and fill at 120k per service schedule. My car has a backup camera and you can kick under the bumper to open the hatch. I guess you don't have the technology package in yours. I've done multiple three hour trips with no problem, very comfortable and quiet compared to my friend's car. I don't know what happened to your car but I have none of those issues.
@@petrolectricif you have many days of 100F heat that can't be great for the battery either. I can understand why you'd want to get rid of it rather than repair. Without the battery to smooth out the RPM is probably running rough. Next car is likely to be a Bolt (if the C-MAX lasts and gas really is $4.40/gal) or a Toyota hybrid here. I also think the ID Buzz could be a neat vehicle but it has yet to come to US and I don't think I want to pay premium price tag for a brand new model.
@@johnathanstevens8436 for sure, I have a Mazda CX-5 now and LOVE it but yes worse MPG (about 25ish). And I have a Ford Maverick Hybrid on order of it ever shows up! 40 mpg truck would be amazing
My 2009 Mercedes B200 Turbo is very similar in size. I love its size and practicality. Mine is full of dings, scratches, and hail damage. Unfortunately, they don't sell them in the U.S.. So when it dies, I will probably get a ten year old Ford C-Max.
Ours has over 121,000 miles with no major problems. I just changed the camera for $100 and purge valve for $25. I still have a lot of break pads. It has been the best car I have owned. Much better than my Toyota and Honda.
I will say I never needed brake pads! Which is crazy, they last so much monger ina hybrid. I think if I was able to use a better mechanic option than pep boys, old Maxie would’ve held up better
Just traded my ford focus st w/165k miles for a 13 cmax never needed to replace my brake pads and I'm the original owner. Ford has some black magic in their pads or something lol
@@caveman7608 sounds like the transition from electric to gas engine… have you ever driven a hybrid before? It should be fairly smooth but you will hear the engine kick on. If it’s rough and shakes when it happens, there may be an issue somewhere
@@petrolectric no never drove one. I felt the growl yes. It was vibrating some. Does the transition noise last during the whole time of acceleration cause it was growling during the whole time I was pushing the petal
@@caveman7608 I mean I think you’re just hearing the engine like any other gas car haha. You can set the center display to show you a Live Photo of where power is coming from and maybe that will help you…
Yeah. It's normal. When I bought mine, the salesman (who is also a good friend) said, "whatever you do, DON'T pay attention to the engine sound." Just because your foot is steady on the gas, sometimes it accelerates to charge the battery. But it's all good. I'm used to it at this point. My car is a PHEV, and I get 62.1 avg mpg.
2016 energi 74k recently replaced the factory installed battery at ford for $149 w/6yr warranty. Mixed driving all up and down California. If you take care of your car it will last.
So to recap, the oil has been changed around every 15500 kilometers, which is not terribly bad, but I think the safest limit is to change the oil every 10k kilometers thats a bit over 6k miles. Otherwise there can be severe carbon build up, and oil clogs in the engine.The timing belt also bathes in oil, inside the engine and is prone to wear and tear and it releases small particles that clog the mesh oil filter which is also located inside the engine. Additionally the carbon build-up must be taimed with regular intake valve cleanups. The Ford (ecoboost) gasoline engines run really hot and they tend to overheat, so one must be vigilant with the thermostat, coolant tubes, coolant level and coolant fluid quality. Cylinder heads are also prone to crack due to overheating still in the 2015 model. Many gaskets may fail due to the excessive heat the engine generates. I think Ford does not use "CVT" transmission in the 2015 model, the transmission is dual-clutch automatic called "PowerShift" (also called DCT), which is really bad sometimes. One needs to change the transmission fluid every 50k kilometers that is a little bit over 30k miles. Failing to do so will break the gearbox that can be easily damaged also with "dynamic" driving habits. Ford does not mention anything about gearbox oil changes in their internal bulletins to the dealerships. So overall I would never buy a Ford with any ecoboost engine, old or new. I would also avoid any PowerShift gearboxes, that unfortunately rules the automatic gearboxes out. In Europe there are some delightful options in the C-Max/C-Max Grand models (pre 2015) that have a really realiable 2.0 liter PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) diesel engine without adblue or eolys urea solutions for NOx emissions control. The transmission has to be manual though, Ford does not offer any automatic gearbox with reasonable maintenance costs. Good things about this car are: minor electrical gremlins, good driving dynamics, pretty good seating arrangements, boot (trunk) space, good safety rating, ok sound insulation. I think there is plenty to like, but man Ford messed up with the auto-gearboxes and ecoboost engines.
Good info! I can verify the U.S. spec Ford C-Max has a CVT (technically an eCVT). Can’t speak to Euro models, I’m sure they’re different than we got in the states
The clucking noise is probably the struts and shocks worn out, and as for the loose bolts use some threadlocker on the tailgate bolts. Simple. I have owned two of these cars and am very pleased with them. I have also driven my CMax across the USA several times with no issues. I think you are being over critical.
Had I been able to take it to proper service professionals, I think it would’ve made it further… but Pep Boys is total trash. Seems like most in the comments here had good luck with theirs!
I have 2013 ford c max hybrid that over 152,000 miles and still counting. My car is good/decent condition other than dead battery that I had to replace after failing start jumping few times with other car’s battery. It only need repair/repair fairly rarely and usually pass state inspection without any problems so I am lucky. I make sure that car is taken care well and keep updated. I am third owner of this car so I am glad that first and second owners take care of it very well. I own it for about 5 years. And no need loan as I paid in cash fully. Very affordable. I am grateful for that. I only cover two major, costly repair/replace so far (brake and battery). And I do take care of minor one as well. It is still within my budget as I planned to sell it once it is out of my budget or other one major repairs appear sooner than I prefer certain of when. Plus, this car is my first car. I learned about car lots from my father. I have feelings that it can lasted for other 50,000 mile as I drive so gently and take care well and properly. When I buy it, it was at 101,000 mileage, I am quite traveler with 10,000 miles each year roughly plus my family live quite far. Between 900 to 1200 miles round way. I am enjoying drive through forest and mountain! My mpg is 45-60 depending on location and speed and handling. So I do not worry about gasoline cost that much except during Covid which is quite bluntly.
Glad you’ve had good luck with yours! Seems most people had reliable cars, I pushed mine too hard and made it do things it was not meant for, so it broke more.
That is very interesting that I found European cars have more quality and lots option than north america cars. We had 2012 1.6 diesel ford c max with manuel transmission. We never had problem that is around 100k km. It has also horizontal automatic parking.
I currently have a 2014 C Max with over 131K on it. The only thing it needed was a headlight assembly, as there was a manufacturing defect with it. Other than that, not a single thing other than tires. It has proven to be a great car. You must extremely hard on it. A friend has one also, and it has been problem free also.
Oh yeah I put my C-Max thru things it wasn’t made to do! Loaded up with heavy cargo, up and down mountains 100+ miles a day… I think it’s a good little commuter car on flat and cool weather areas, but it doesn’t like hills & heat! Glad to hear yours has been reliable
I have that sound and have replaced the struts twice and has not fixed the noise. replaced the control arm, sway bar links, cv axles, still has the noise.
Let me/us know what you buy, or rent ! i have a 2016 cmax, 116K miles, wheres the wood to knock on, no problems, a new set of tires, and i need the front strut assembly replaced (I am only replacing the passenger side) - that is the noise you hear going over bumps, see others comments, it is a common problem at 100k miles. i have been shopping for a new car over a month now and am yet to find a car to replace my cmax. it needs a good grand in maintenance to keep it going. i got a back up camera - what trim do you have? you wont find an interior in a new car like what you now, yours rides quiet with engine only mode, i feel you on the tires, its always my passenger back too, cali dealers are jacked up, same day service in texas, good luck
Hey Joe thank you! I figured it was the struts making the noise but because of my rental maintenance agreement, they wouldn’t do anything about it… which was weird because they’d always approve the fixes - as a shop, wouldn’t you just add everything possible to get paid more? Anyways,y C-Max was an SEL trim, which I believe was the top line that year - had everything but the backup camera and sunroof. I didn’t mind no backup camera, since the rear sensors are just as good in my opinion. And I bought a slightly used Mazda CX-5 (review on my channel). I absolutely love it! Less fuel economy of course, but 10x the car the C-Max is and feels like a much higher end car than it is. I’m 5k miles in on it and not one issue. Ford has been dropping the ball on me. So I gave up on them - had a Maverick order in and dealer screwed it up. So onto Japan for reliable dailies now!
I have a 2013 cmax sel. Its ride quality is garbage! Awful suspension. And the turning radius for such a small car is abysmal! U-turns are scary 😂😂 the brakes aren't too good either. Cloth seats would've been better because that vinyl is so stiff. My 2013 fusion hybrid se is so much better in every way. My cmac needed a coolant gasket replaced or whatever for $1000 in fhe first week i owned it at 87k miles. It now has 112k and so many creaks and rattles. Shitty build quality. My fusion hybrid which is the same year went 225k miles almost on everything original! Just had to replace speed sensors. Way better gas mileage in the fusion too and no creaks! So quiet. Wonderful suspension too. And i can do u-turns easy! Some drunk hit my fusion at my apartment complex overnight and it's totalled. Four months later it's almost fixed. Been driving my cmax for Uber and it's pure torture lmao!
The turning radius is a joke! Haha I wanted to include a test in this video and totlaly forgot… so many u turns that didn’t make the turn before the curb, in fact I hit a curb and blew out a tire because of it once thinking I cleared it! By far the widest turning radius car I’ve ever driven!
@@petrolectricyes! Ha! I have owned almost 25 cars over the years. A little bit of everything. Even an old f150. The cmax has the WORST turning radius ever! I had a 2019 Cadillac escalade rental car once from enterprise and I bet THAT thing could turn tighter 😂😂 I do doordash as a side gig in the cmax and someone stole it during an alcohol delivery. Left the car on (push button start) in someone's driveway and the keyfob on me. They real quick hopped in and took off! Too bad police got it back hahaha jk. I'm actually relieved because as much as it's a pain to drive the gas mileage is still good and until I get my fusion hybrid back it works. I can't believe the maintenance on yours! Holy crap that's awful. They do go through tires like crazy! The fusion isn't as bad with tires I noticed. Mine has the power lift gate with the foot wave thing and every time with Uber airport rides someone tries to open and close manually and that pisses me off. Lol. God help me
@@mikejohn3265 it's not a terrible car considering you can pick one up cheap, however I think there are better hybrids out there. The fusion hybrid is better. I have a 2005 Prius now that I adore. You do get a lot more road noise in the Prius than the ford hybrids. Considerably more. The cmax for whatever reason can't seem to get 40mpgs even unlike the fusion which is much bigger. I've driven a Hyundai ioniq hybrid which was enjoyable besides the uncomfortable seats but it's a Hyundai. Enough said!
"Have you driven a Ford lately?" Ford's famous slogan in the 1984. No, sorry - I can't drive my Ford at all, lately. My Ford's transmission went out. LOL.
@@QuietStorm-f5v haha right? But you can say that about any car with a CVT regardless of manufacturer… thankfully lots of brands are now going away from the CVT for that reason
@@petrolectric True. It's not all bad, fortunately. I read about many 2005-2007 Ford Five Hundred's with over 250k miles on the original CVT. Nowadays we have to worry about the DCT.
Hey I have a 2013 C Max with 95,000 miles only problem is 12vt battery charging system and dead batteries off and on. Short trips did not allow 12vt battery to charge back up. New set of tires only because of age of the last set. Oil changes, filter changes, wipers, rear wheel bearings, We owned 2 the other Energi had 165,000 with no issues other than maintenance when it was sold. These are solid cars if they are not beat on like for a taxi. I probably would not buy another Ford. The only reason I like these cars is the seating position and head room.
Yeah most of the reactions I’ve had from owners is that they generally had a good experience. Admittedly, I was much harder on mine than the average person would be - put it through things it was not made to do so I’m sure that is why I had many more problems.
The engine noise is a broken engine mount. Any competent mechanic knows that sound. The other issues, it is a 7 year old car with almost 150k miles. Of course it needs work. You should be praising how well it has lasted. My 2015 I bought new has had zero problem except replacing the auxiliary battery (12 v) every t years or so.
Yeah exactly competent mechanic haha as which Pep Boys does not qualify - had I been able to see someone better, I would’ve. But was locked into them by contract - my personal car gets way better maintenance. Had it been seen by better mechanics, I think it would’ve fared much better
@@jessefernandez850 if it was well maintained, judging by most of the replies here it should work out better than mine! Depends on price I guess - hopefully with that many miles it’s under $5k?
😂 what have you had serviced in terms of suspension? I had 4 shops look at my suspension and brake system for drastic decline in ride quality and all gave me the ole "everything's good, couldn't replicate the creaking vibration oscillating...blah blah!" Mind you, this was before I hit 40k miles on my 2013 SEL. Currently just over 44k and ironing out the kinks on coilovers as I wanted the damping adjustability. Big question, did you meet any mechanic or tech that had even remotely decent knowledge about the C-max? I've opted to do as much as possible myself with maintenance because I can't trust shops to correctly and efficiently resolve issues. I kinda wish I didn't watch this though haha, I don't look forward to the next 100k miles
I’d say my ride quality severely deteriorated after 100k miles. I was forced to go to approved shops as it was a rental (mostly pep boys which is garbage) and yes they said the same thing, it’s fine. There’s no way anyone could ride in that and hear nonstop clunking and say everything is fine. But if you read the other comments on this, most people have had mostly problem free experiences with their cmax. I’d suggest researching a shop that is an expert on hybrids in your area. There’s one here in Santa Monica who is fantastic called “Car Nerds” - they’re all super knowledgeable about hybrids and maybe even worth calling them up if they might know good shops in your city.
@@petrolectric I will look into your recommendation for sure, thank you! Just like you said, I've read posts both by people with issue after issue as well as those who have these bulletproof badassery edition gems. I am among the former and can verify mine takes the sass to the MAX haha! I definitely am feeling like I'm in a little over my head with putting on these coilovers. But finally found a performance shop who knows what they're doing and has pointed me in a good direction. Today I think will be the day I finally can have some conversation about my particular use and what they would recommend. Which is fantastic since I'm pretty sure I've worn through my 3rd set of sway bar end links. Since December. I'm so jealous of the person who stated they had just replaced some suspension components at over 200k or something. Maybe I'll post a walk around video once I'm done with a few more things. Our US version doesn't get a lot of love regarding modifications hahaha.
The ride control is total dogshit. You bounce around like your driving on the moon! 😂😂 My 2013 fusion hybrid feels like a damn s class in comparison to my cmax LMAO
We Had been looking to purchase a used one of these but now we are shying away from that! Way too much possible maintenance issues and at our age (mid seventies) we don't need that! Curious as to what kind of car you are going to get now?
Hey Edward! I purchased a slightly used Mazda CX-5 and LOVE IT! Not as good of gas mileage but such a great car, worth checking out. Also made a review of it on my channel.
We've had one rear wheel bearing go bad in the 165k miles we've owned it. And, Petrolectric, this car is not an in-town cruiser only. We've driven many ~1000mi trips. Other than the wheel bearing, we've had ZERO other problems.
@@Josh-d1t9w interesting… are you in an area where it gets over 100 degrees or with mountains? Those specifically were Maxie’s worst nightmare and when it broke
People step on the gas like is nothing is happening when you do that. Everyone is speeding and then wondering what happened? Treat your car gently. Don't force your engine and don't brake hard. I have a ford c max 2013 with 120k all good
I didn’t own the car as I stated and this was the last day I had it before going off to the auction… I was forced to use pepboys who told me the struts were fine so there’s nothing else I could do
I have ford c max 2012 diesel it’s always going so well I do regular service and never hade problem with and I have to say that is lovely to drive it. for my opinion as I see in your video The car is not your so maybe you don’t drive carefully and as I see it’s very dirty inside it’s like you have never clean it
We only got the gasoline hybrid CMAX in the United States. I’m sure the diesel is much more reliable, very few diesel cars options here - they are not popular in the US.
I am Owner Operator, Truck driver. My Truck is 2019 Freightliner Cascadia. However, my Truck hit the 509000 miles. I got so bed story with Americans official dealers. Also I own 2013 Ford Cmax. I have no issue with my Cmax 108000 miles. But I want to say an American Mechanics are most have no skills.
@@petrolectric They just don't care. They did the job like in Russia and just don't care. They did not value my money and my time. It made me sad. I ran refuge from the Soviet Union to the USA. I am so sad because the mechanics I had experienced contact with them they did not do the quality repair of my Truck and for those mistakes, I lost all my money
@@rubberduckyconvoy2723 totally understand, same problem in USA. I need my car for work to make money and the longer it takes the less money I can make. All shops are very slow where I live - that’s if you can even get them to work on it on the first place
Guess it depends on what you’re using it for… if it’s flat city driving you might be ok (lots of people in the comments have had good luck with there’s). But if you’re gonna be driving up a lot of hills and loading it up with a lot of cargo like I did, it’s just too much for the car to handle and will break A LOT
You did not take care of that car what so ever. The interior was destroyed on how dirty it is. I'm sure if maintenance was done properly a lot of these issues wouldn't have happened.
Treated it like a rental, which it was! Rental company only let me use Pep Boys (which is garbage) unless it was soemthing major then it had to go to the dealer which would take weeks/months. Yes had it been my personal car, it would’ve been better maintained. But none of the major issues would’ve been prevented by general maintenance
I would agree on 2016 & newer CMAX, but earlier models had a bearing issue known by Ford, hence why they extended the transmission warranty to 100k miles. Cheaper to do that then actually fix the problem it seems.
@@R8ndy kind of true I guess, if I actually owned this it would have for sure gone to better service option than $h!t Pep Boys. Unfortunately that was my only contracted option
I have a 2014 C-max Energi SEL. His name is Brutus because he really is a Brute! Recently however I discovered, I need to get shocks and struts! So currently shopping around for a set. Any suggestions? I'm not trying to get rid of my car either. I literally just paid him off a couple of months ago! (Greatest feeling ever!) The shocks and struts are bad so they're wearing out my tires faster, has anyone heard of this? It's called cupping I think. Well any suggestions on what I should do would be great, because they're saying I need to get tires before I do the shocks and struts first.
@@SloppySecondz that’s gonna be an expensive bill but I think it’s best to do it all at the same time. Best to get it over with and hopefully you’re sorted for a while. Glad it’s been reliable up until this point
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If you still looking for a hybrid, and if your experience hasn't soured you on a Ford, the C Max hybrid to get is a 2017 or 18. They can be had with Apple play and Android Auto and have a power passenger seat as an option as well as blind side warning system. Plus slight changes were made to the software and the EPA estimate was one or two miles higher.
If a sedan is your choice, the Ford Fusion hybrid is an excellent choice and it was made till 2021. Plus there was the option of emergency collision braking as a part of a safety package and its not uncommon for people to report 50 mpg in the right circumstances.
New and used hybrid batteries are easier to find for the Fusion vs the C Max.
@@oldguy2082 “right circumstances”, I have 2@2017 CMAX. One with 144k-miles with 51.9MPG mostly highway commute. The other gets much better than that as a mostly city driver. If you aren’t getting 50MPG+ in Ford PHEV, You are not driving it properly. I would think the Fusion is even better highway considering the aerodynamics.
@@oldguy2082 Not to mention I live in Canada. Generally you get 15% less fuel economy in winter. If I lived somewhere warm all the time, I would easily be over 55MPG and perhaps close to 60
So happy I found your channel! I have my very own Maxie, too! He’s a Ruby Red 2016 model. He’s been very reliable and averages just over 42MPG. We’re now at 120k miles. Other than oil, filters and fluid changes, a couple of light bulbs, new brakes and tires my ownership has been pretty trouble free. Hopefully he has many more miles and years ahead.
Love it! Seems everyone had a better experience with there’s than mine - cheers to the next 120k miles 🍻
I have a 2013 Cmax Energi. It currently has 325,000 miles and is still going. The only thing I've had fail was the auxiliary cabin heater, and i was able to fix that myself with a salvage part. Everything else had been regular maintenance.
Great to hear, very impressive!
Interesting. We have a 2014 SEL with 149k miles with no major problems so far. Never heard of the loose hatch door screws and checked mine just in case...sure enough they were not really tight and I tightened them some more. We had a lot of the other small issues like front blinker bulbs, hatch door stuck (electric cable contact loose), Splash shields coming off, blown tire once and lots of nails 😐, swollen lug nuts, overheating in the desert because of broken front shutter grille, 2 or 3 recalls...that's all I remember right now😄
Sounds like you had a lot of the same minor stuff… thanks for sharing your hatch bolts were loose too! To be fair, I treated mine more like a truck than a car because of my work, so it was abused pretty hard but things like transmission and steering rack before 100k are unacceptable.
I think your max has been abused in its lifetime, they are well built reliable cars, my 2013 has never had these issues, same for most of your replies.
Maxie definitely had a tough life! And unfortunately I had to use pep boys terrible service because of my rental agreement… had I owned it, the car would’ve received much better maintenance
@@celection4334 I’ve had 4 of them, 2 Hybrids, 2 PHEV. None have had the problems described in this video. 12V batteries, brakes, tires, and cleaning of the PHEV battery air intake grid. Regular maintenance, That’s it. Someone kicked the crap outta this car.
Your high voltage battery air intake is clogged. It’s in the passenger side rear wheel well under the arch. Clean it out no problems in the heat. They get very clogged
Oh interesting never heard about that! I no longer have the car, but how do you clean it out? Curious now
@@petrolectric just a vacuum cleaner. It brings outside air in to cool batteries, gets very clogged. It’s a tight metal grid. Just put a vacuum up to it save yourself a huge headache. Every single one of them will get clogged. Ford says nothing about it.
@@gcanada3005 can it be cleaned from the outside of the car, or do you need to take panels off inside?
@@kevinstehn3223 Take off rear passenger side wheel, and remove the wheel well liner. Its a grid about 6x3 up and to the left as you look in the wheel well.
@@tmjac thank you for this info. Really appreciate it
Great video. I have had a Cmax and when I've hit over 120000, I experienced the following.
Boot struts failure,
130,000, Clutch failure, Gearbox failure. Timing belt is the first one from original and I kick the back out of this car with no issue which i was actually amazed by and also general wear tear replacements like bulbs and wipers etc.
My 2016 model is currently facing NO issues at 111000 Woohoo. Ohh shizzals. Ginxed it , haven't i
Great info! I think mine had so many issues because I’m going up and down mountains every day… and that car is certainly not built for that haha, if it was in the city more, I think I would’ve had better luck. Was just too much strain on a car with low power. Good luck with your cmax!
@carsnubs yeah I can imagine mountain driving being a strain for these type of cars with air issues. I am not a fan of auto and I need it to be a high engine diesel to deliver enough torque. I hope you find your next mechanical horse soon hopefully with no issues.
@@user..Aa..Bb.. my new daily is a Mazda CX-5 - love it so far! Posted a video about it on my channel
@carsnubs yeah I'll have a look. I have had a few in my time. Mazda's are good cars and the newer ones are a better.
@Aa Ba - I am curious...based on where you may live, by saying "boot struts failure" do you mean "boot" as in the back of the car? Also, if so, the rear has shock absorbers, not struts. You also said you had a "Clutch failure," but the C-Max does not have a clutch, it has a torque converter. Also, when you say "gearbox failure," the transaxle in the C-Max does not have gears, it is a CVT, or Continuously Variable Transmission.
I drove my 2015 C-Max to over 232,000 miles before the transmission went. Some of the 2013-2015 models had an issue with the transmission, but it was resolved in 2016. Other than that, the only money I put into it was general maintenance, and when it got to about 200,000 miles, the blower motor needed replaced. That's it. And no, it never overheated. I live in Kansas and drove it in plenty of 100°-plus heat waves, and it handled great and kept me cool. It's odd that you made that assessment and live near the Pacific where the temperatures are mild. You never said it actually overheated on you. Regardless, now I'm shopping for another car, and I might buy a 2017 C-Max with 73,000 miles on it. Also, it was very much a comfortable ride on the highway for road trips. I disagree about it being only a city car. I drove part-time for Uber and Lyft in mine, and passengers always commented how it was much more spacious than it looked from the outside, and very comfortable. Its drivetrain and hybrid system are built on Toyota technology. It's a very reliable car. I'm sorry you had troubles with it.
@@robinhartzell2380 it overheated many many times on me… every time I went to Las Vegas and Arizona (especially in mountain areas) it overheated. And in California it overheated when I was in the mountains which was many times for work - pushes the car much harder and wouldn’t recommend this if you’re in driving in them alot. I think it would’ve helped a lot if the front grill was slotted so some air could actually get in the engine bay. Stupid they block it all off. But glad to hear you had good luck with yours!
I have a 2015 with 103k miles on it, not a single problem. I got it used in 2017, with 39k miles on it, for $14,500. I've put one set of new tires on it and the rest has been just oil changes and tire rotations. I love my Maximus
Nice! Glad to hear… seems like most people avoided most of the issues I had. I was really tough on the car, but if you drive them as a normal daily commuter they seem to hold up well
@@petrolectric yeah I definitely don't drive it too hard or in rough conditions. Good luck with your new car
@@depmodealex yep that’s all they need. Never had any issues with any of the 4 I’ve owned
280,000 miles on my 2014 still going strong. A million mile car.
@@joegug4751 hope it makes it to a million!
They have some of these as yellow cabs here in New York and they still running, no overheating
Yeah I never had overheating problems in the city as it’s on electric a lot. High temps over 100 and mountains overheated every time.
I bought a Avis C-Max rental from a Ford dealer that bought it at an auction. It was a year old in 2017, had 18K. It has 71,000 miles on it now. It was 28K new and I paid 19K for it. It’s a fully loaded model with backup camera. The car has good pickup and plenty of storage capacity. I had to replace the backup breaks and the USB charger in the front went out twice. I get 41 mpg. In the two severe winter months the mpg goes down to 32 mpg. This car drives a lot better than the Toyota Prius it replaced.
@@Jay-j6m2l very nice hope it stays reliable for you
247k on my 2015 Cmax SEL. No major problems... the transmission started slipping after 50k, but I finished paying for for it and I installed a tuner- and problem solved. Still running good today.
Wow! I’ve heard a lot of people saying they’ve had good luck with their CMAX, I think mine just couldn’t handle the hills/mountains here and prematurely demised
Installed a tuner? Like 93 octane tune? Lol! Tell me more 😂 I have a 2013 cmax SEL and 2013 fusion hybrid SE. Cmax is the backup car I would put on turo. It has only 112k miles and the fusion has double that. Fusion has been a tank.
Tuner on your hybrid?
Mine is a 2014 with 77k miles on it, and the CVT is now making the "whine of death". Unacceptable. Ford/ Microsoft discontinued the SYNC diagnostic service, which was nice, and the backup camera flipped upside down a while back. The only repair being to replace it for $700. Up until these problems, it has been a nice vehicle.
Cvt "whine of death", mine has that at 110k how much did it cost to fix the whine?
I had to replace the steering rack in my 2014 C Max. The problem was not mechanical. The chip in it would no longer communicate with the main computer but it meant replacing the entire rack!
Was a fun adventure getting it to the shop when the steering wheel wouldn’t work haha
I honestly loved it when I worked I had a 2013 and it had a engine and transmission malfunction but the other years are a lot better
Yeah agree! When it worked, I loved it!
I own a 2013 C-Max, apart from tyres and brake linings have done 79000 miles with no problems, age 80 I won't be replacing as it should see me out. Thank you Ford,. PS, it has put up with a lot of hard driving, by me.
Hope it stays that way for ya!
I wish you good health and much longer life then your cmax
I don't know what's with all these people changing brake pads. Mine has 100k miles and brakes are 75%
I own a 2016 SEL trim unit and mine has been really good, only repairs have been a purge valve for the heap system and now with the vehicle near 155k, the power lift gate doesn't go all the way up and the backup camera sometimes doesn't work both of these are recent. And I had to replace the original 12volt battery last week.
Mileage has started to gradually gone down, the hybrid battery is slowly losing capacity as it travels less on ev mode, but that's to be expected. But at 155k, it still has the original brakes and doesn't use any oil between changes at 5k intervals. Just regular maintenance and fuel and still averages 37mpg overall at this milage. If they every came out with another new one, I'd purchase it again.
Great to hear! Matches up with most of the comments having good luck with there’s. Had this been a car I owned, it would’ve been taken to better mechanics and hopefully could’ve avoided some of these issues
I put lots of freeway miles on my cmax, sacramento to salt lake city every few weeks. Besides being very reliable, it is super comfortable.
I frequently cross the Bonneville salt flats in the summer with no issues with heat. I also climb a couple of mountain passes in summer and winter.
I love this car.
@@patrickhenigin4805 wow yeah those are tough conditions! Maybe because it’s more rare, mine was going up mountains every day multiple times a day and think it was just too much for it
I got a 2013 and don't have any of these issues... and mine has 198,000 miles
Judging by the majority of comments, most people have had good luck as well! I put it thru a lot with high heat and mountain driving… it was extra hard on it. Flat city driving think would’ve faired much better
Ford c max and ford focus are built on same platform. Have a 16 focus 5 speed manual with 302k miles just normal wear items . Thought about a c max hybrid ...Maybe not a good move....Plus focus parts are super easy to find and cheap . 5 speed manual transmission model is reliable . Get about 40 mpg highway... Upgraded suspension with focus st thicker rear sway bar plus bilstiens struts, shocks aftermarket motor mounts upgraded brakes and rotors better tires . Yes runs better handles great.. It is slow but that's how it is..
@@halaheleu7013 I think you made the right move with Focus over CMAX - the CMAX only got 40mpg… they actually got in trouble early on for misleading mpg numbers. When the Prius was getting 50+, Ford just couldn’t get major mileage out of the platform.
me too, 155k miles not a single issue. The car is factory new condition, lifetime mileage is 48.6 mpg. 2 sets of tires and a couple 12v batteries, when I last had it serviced at 100k the dealer asked where we had the brakes replaced because they have no wear, they are factory. Most reliable car I've ever had. If you drive it like a hybrid you don't really wear the brakes. The car is ugly.
@@petrolectric My two hybrids, 2013- 39MPG, 71000 miles lifetime mostly highway. Changed gearing slightly for 2015-41MPG lifetime mostly highway, 86000 miles. 2017 PHEV 52MPG life mostly highway 140000 miles. 2017- 86MPG mostly city, 35000 miles. Still own the two PHEV. If you don’t hammer them you can get good mileage. City driving is always better than highway
Huh, strange - I saw a Ford CMax with over 500k miles. Makes me wonder how reliable they are overall.
Wow! No way mine would’ve made it that long but I’ve heard a lot of people have good luck in the comments
@@petrolectric I've done lots of research and reliability seems to be a hit or miss. I don't understand why. My mom had a new late 1980s Ford Taurus Wagon (I don't remember the exact year) and it was a total lemon. She was a single mom at the time she had it, with kids, and Ford dealership wouldn't help her at all. It was in the shop more than she could drive it. She ended up getting a Chevy Chevette out of all things (lol), and she loved it. It was really reliable, got good gas mileage and did just fine in the snow. And it actually got about the same gas mileage as this Ford CMax.
@@Lincolnator721yeah unfortunately Ford has been notorious for making junk cars. Trucks have been Ford’s bread and butter for decades, everything else usually takes a sideline /:
@petrolectric I'm seriously considering the Chevy Volt. However, the lack of interior space is kind of a deal-breaker
@@Lincolnator721 I’ve heard good things about the volt. If you’re looking for hybrids, can’t go wrong with a Camry or Corolla as well. I’ve heard issues with the Hondas, but Toyotas are rock solid. If you want a little more space, a RAV4 or Lexus NX. Stay away from the Ford Escape Hybrid, those are terrible
Grate video thanks bro
@@jessefernandez850 thanks for watching!
I own a 2016 SEL edition; approaching just short of 160k. Milage had declined over time , now averages 36 mpg, down from 40+ when the car was new.
Other than tires, the Michelin tires wear about 50k, on my third set now, the backup camera has failed.
So, i think that the rental usage has shorted the life of the vehicle. I done nothing but regular maintenance. I.e., light bulbs, air cleaner/cabin air filter, and finally the OEM 12v battery failed this year after 152k miles. Still have the OEM brake pads on the vehicle and the outer tie rods will need replacement soon.
More comfortable than the Prius of the same year and less expensive.
@@oldguy2082 it’s truly astounding how long the brakes last! Hope you can stretch more trouble free miles out of yours.
I got my brake booster replaced, it was 1200 dollars, not a car killer. The clunks at low speed is a 40 dollars fix easily done by amateurs. Use some thread locker on your rear hatch. $10.
Good to know how much the fix cost. No one would touch it but ford dealers and in SoCal they are weeks and or months wait to even get an appointment. Ford is a huge disaster currently at least in LA. A whole lot easier for me to turn the rental in and move on…. Especially since it was at the point something major was happening every few thousand miles.
what was the clunk? been trying to find for 2 years.
Yeah, I have one 134k with no problems except for routine maintenance. 12V replaced once after 7 years, transmission drain and fill at 120k per service schedule. My car has a backup camera and you can kick under the bumper to open the hatch. I guess you don't have the technology package in yours.
I've done multiple three hour trips with no problem, very comfortable and quiet compared to my friend's car. I don't know what happened to your car but I have none of those issues.
Sounds like you have a good one! Curious if you do a lot of city driving or mountains/hills like I did?
@@petrolectric mostly around town or rural driving, mostly flat or mild hills.
@@johnathanstevens8436 cool yeah maxie struggling going up the mountains think it was really hard on it
@@petrolectricif you have many days of 100F heat that can't be great for the battery either. I can understand why you'd want to get rid of it rather than repair. Without the battery to smooth out the RPM is probably running rough. Next car is likely to be a Bolt (if the C-MAX lasts and gas really is $4.40/gal) or a Toyota hybrid here. I also think the ID Buzz could be a neat vehicle but it has yet to come to US and I don't think I want to pay premium price tag for a brand new model.
@@johnathanstevens8436 for sure, I have a Mazda CX-5 now and LOVE it but yes worse MPG (about 25ish). And I have a Ford Maverick Hybrid on order of it ever shows up! 40 mpg truck would be amazing
My 2009 Mercedes B200 Turbo is very similar in size. I love its size and practicality. Mine is full of dings, scratches, and hail damage. Unfortunately, they don't sell them in the U.S.. So when it dies, I will probably get a ten year old Ford C-Max.
@@annahopp we only got the B-Class as an EV only here and I think only in California - very few sold.
Ours has over 121,000 miles with no major problems. I just changed the camera for $100 and purge valve for $25. I still have a lot of break pads. It has been the best car I have owned. Much better than my Toyota and Honda.
I will say I never needed brake pads! Which is crazy, they last so much monger ina hybrid. I think if I was able to use a better mechanic option than pep boys, old Maxie would’ve held up better
Just traded my ford focus st w/165k miles for a 13 cmax never needed to replace my brake pads and I'm the original owner. Ford has some black magic in their pads or something lol
@@adriancuevas1587 WOW! I know the hybrids can go past 100k pretty easy on pads but an ICE? That’s wild! I had to replace my Mazda pads at 40k
I just test drove a 2014 one is it normal to have a growl in the engine area at takeoff? Or when adding moderate speed increase
@@caveman7608 sounds like the transition from electric to gas engine… have you ever driven a hybrid before? It should be fairly smooth but you will hear the engine kick on. If it’s rough and shakes when it happens, there may be an issue somewhere
@@petrolectric no never drove one. I felt the growl yes. It was vibrating some. Does the transition noise last during the whole time of acceleration cause it was growling during the whole time I was pushing the petal
@@caveman7608 I mean I think you’re just hearing the engine like any other gas car haha. You can set the center display to show you a Live Photo of where power is coming from and maybe that will help you…
Yeah. It's normal. When I bought mine, the salesman (who is also a good friend) said, "whatever you do, DON'T pay attention to the engine sound." Just because your foot is steady on the gas, sometimes it accelerates to charge the battery. But it's all good. I'm used to it at this point.
My car is a PHEV, and I get 62.1 avg mpg.
@@rixmale I went with a Kia forte instead
2016 energi 74k recently replaced the factory installed battery at ford for $149 w/6yr warranty. Mixed driving all up and down California. If you take care of your car it will last.
Best of luck with it! I put that many miles on in two years… what kind of mpg do you get with the plugin?
Which battery?
@@rixmale the small one ☝🏼
So to recap, the oil has been changed around every 15500 kilometers, which is not terribly bad, but I think the safest limit is to change the oil every 10k kilometers thats a bit over 6k miles. Otherwise there can be severe carbon build up, and oil clogs in the engine.The timing belt also bathes in oil, inside the engine and is prone to wear and tear and it releases small particles that clog the mesh oil filter which is also located inside the engine. Additionally the carbon build-up must be taimed with regular intake valve cleanups. The Ford (ecoboost) gasoline engines run really hot and they tend to overheat, so one must be vigilant with the thermostat, coolant tubes, coolant level and coolant fluid quality. Cylinder heads are also prone to crack due to overheating still in the 2015 model. Many gaskets may fail due to the excessive heat the engine generates. I think Ford does not use "CVT" transmission in the 2015 model, the transmission is dual-clutch automatic called "PowerShift" (also called DCT), which is really bad sometimes. One needs to change the transmission fluid every 50k kilometers that is a little bit over 30k miles. Failing to do so will break the gearbox that can be easily damaged also with "dynamic" driving habits. Ford does not mention anything about gearbox oil changes in their internal bulletins to the dealerships.
So overall I would never buy a Ford with any ecoboost engine, old or new. I would also avoid any PowerShift gearboxes, that unfortunately rules the automatic gearboxes out. In Europe there are some delightful options in the C-Max/C-Max Grand models (pre 2015) that have a really realiable 2.0 liter PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) diesel engine without adblue or eolys urea solutions for NOx emissions control. The transmission has to be manual though, Ford does not offer any automatic gearbox with reasonable maintenance costs. Good things about this car are: minor electrical gremlins, good driving dynamics, pretty good seating arrangements, boot (trunk) space, good safety rating, ok sound insulation. I think there is plenty to like, but man Ford messed up with the auto-gearboxes and ecoboost engines.
Good info! I can verify the U.S. spec Ford C-Max has a CVT (technically an eCVT). Can’t speak to Euro models, I’m sure they’re different than we got in the states
@@petrolectricokay that was new info about the transmission but not unexpected as you mention. Good review about the car BTW.
@@TheDrearyveil appreciate you watching! Lots of new videos coming soon
The clucking noise is probably the struts and shocks worn out, and as for the loose bolts use some threadlocker on the tailgate bolts. Simple. I have owned two of these cars and am very pleased with them. I have also driven my CMax across the USA several times with no issues. I think you are being over critical.
Had I been able to take it to proper service professionals, I think it would’ve made it further… but Pep Boys is total trash. Seems like most in the comments here had good luck with theirs!
I have 2013 ford c max hybrid that over 152,000 miles and still counting. My car is good/decent condition other than dead battery that I had to replace after failing start jumping few times with other car’s battery. It only need repair/repair fairly rarely and usually pass state inspection without any problems so I am lucky. I make sure that car is taken care well and keep updated. I am third owner of this car so I am glad that first and second owners take care of it very well. I own it for about 5 years. And no need loan as I paid in cash fully. Very affordable. I am grateful for that. I only cover two major, costly repair/replace so far (brake and battery). And I do take care of minor one as well. It is still within my budget as I planned to sell it once it is out of my budget or other one major repairs appear sooner than I prefer certain of when. Plus, this car is my first car. I learned about car lots from my father. I have feelings that it can lasted for other 50,000 mile as I drive so gently and take care well and properly. When I buy it, it was at 101,000 mileage, I am quite traveler with 10,000 miles each year roughly plus my family live quite far. Between 900 to 1200 miles round way. I am enjoying drive through forest and mountain! My mpg is 45-60 depending on location and speed and handling. So I do not worry about gasoline cost that much except during Covid which is quite bluntly.
Glad you’ve had good luck with yours! Seems most people had reliable cars, I pushed mine too hard and made it do things it was not meant for, so it broke more.
A good washing and never mind
That is very interesting that I found European cars have more quality and lots option than north america cars. We had 2012 1.6 diesel ford c max with manuel transmission. We never had problem that is around 100k km. It has also horizontal automatic parking.
I mean any diesel is generally gonna Be more reliable. Unfortunately diesel cars just aren’t a thing in the U.S. :/
I just brought a 2013 cmax 63k miles can y’all tell me y’all experience so I know what I’m in for??
Read thru the comments on this video lots of good feedback!
Other than replacing my windshield and brakes, my 2015 c max is running great with no issues 120k miles
Interesting you needed brake pads! So many others never had to change them… mine was on original pads all four corners at 145k miles
My cmax is just over 100k. Brakes are still 75%
I currently have a 2014 C Max with over 131K on it. The only thing it needed was a headlight assembly, as there was a manufacturing defect with it. Other than that, not a single thing other than tires. It has proven to be a great car. You must extremely hard on it. A friend has one also, and it has been problem free also.
Oh yeah I put my C-Max thru things it wasn’t made to do! Loaded up with heavy cargo, up and down mountains 100+ miles a day… I think it’s a good little commuter car on flat and cool weather areas, but it doesn’t like hills & heat! Glad to hear yours has been reliable
Our car sounds just like this. Fudge.
The clunking noise? Probably time for new struts - hope you sort it out! Keep me updated
Just bought mine with only 196k miles for $4990. I'm gonna be in trouble if I have the same luck..
@@oftenwrongphong seems most who’ve commented here had better luck than me… hope it works out!
I have one 2014 Energi 6:11 oZERO problems in 105,000 miles. The noise is the struts nothing more!
Glad to hear so many other people without issues! Hope it stays that way :)
I have that sound and have replaced the struts twice and has not fixed the noise. replaced the control arm, sway bar links, cv axles, still has the noise.
Mine is under 100k miles and it’s transmission seems to be dying
@@Dookieryan check with your ford dealer! May be able to get it replaced free like I did
Mine broke at 71000 miles and was not abused. Worst car I ever had
@@alphaomega6 finally someone else who had a bad experience! Sorry that happened but seems overall most people here got pretty lucky compared to us
Let me/us know what you buy, or rent ! i have a 2016 cmax, 116K miles, wheres the wood to knock on, no problems, a new set of tires, and i need the front strut assembly replaced (I am only replacing the passenger side) - that is the noise you hear going over bumps, see others comments, it is a common problem at 100k miles. i have been shopping for a new car over a month now and am yet to find a car to replace my cmax. it needs a good grand in maintenance to keep it going. i got a back up camera - what trim do you have? you wont find an interior in a new car like what you now, yours rides quiet with engine only mode, i feel you on the tires, its always my passenger back too, cali dealers are jacked up, same day service in texas, good luck
Hey Joe thank you! I figured it was the struts making the noise but because of my rental maintenance agreement, they wouldn’t do anything about it… which was weird because they’d always approve the fixes - as a shop, wouldn’t you just add everything possible to get paid more? Anyways,y C-Max was an SEL trim, which I believe was the top line that year - had everything but the backup camera and sunroof. I didn’t mind no backup camera, since the rear sensors are just as good in my opinion. And I bought a slightly used Mazda CX-5 (review on my channel). I absolutely love it! Less fuel economy of course, but 10x the car the C-Max is and feels like a much higher end car than it is. I’m 5k miles in on it and not one issue. Ford has been dropping the ball on me. So I gave up on them - had a Maverick order in and dealer screwed it up. So onto Japan for reliable dailies now!
I have a 2013 cmax sel. Its ride quality is garbage! Awful suspension. And the turning radius for such a small car is abysmal! U-turns are scary 😂😂 the brakes aren't too good either. Cloth seats would've been better because that vinyl is so stiff. My 2013 fusion hybrid se is so much better in every way. My cmac needed a coolant gasket replaced or whatever for $1000 in fhe first week i owned it at 87k miles. It now has 112k and so many creaks and rattles. Shitty build quality. My fusion hybrid which is the same year went 225k miles almost on everything original! Just had to replace speed sensors. Way better gas mileage in the fusion too and no creaks! So quiet. Wonderful suspension too. And i can do u-turns easy! Some drunk hit my fusion at my apartment complex overnight and it's totalled. Four months later it's almost fixed. Been driving my cmax for Uber and it's pure torture lmao!
The turning radius is a joke! Haha I wanted to include a test in this video and totlaly forgot… so many u turns that didn’t make the turn before the curb, in fact I hit a curb and blew out a tire because of it once thinking I cleared it! By far the widest turning radius car I’ve ever driven!
@@petrolectricyes! Ha! I have owned almost 25 cars over the years. A little bit of everything. Even an old f150. The cmax has the WORST turning radius ever! I had a 2019 Cadillac escalade rental car once from enterprise and I bet THAT thing could turn tighter 😂😂
I do doordash as a side gig in the cmax and someone stole it during an alcohol delivery. Left the car on (push button start) in someone's driveway and the keyfob on me. They real quick hopped in and took off! Too bad police got it back hahaha jk. I'm actually relieved because as much as it's a pain to drive the gas mileage is still good and until I get my fusion hybrid back it works. I can't believe the maintenance on yours! Holy crap that's awful. They do go through tires like crazy! The fusion isn't as bad with tires I noticed. Mine has the power lift gate with the foot wave thing and every time with Uber airport rides someone tries to open and close manually and that pisses me off. Lol. God help me
This is what we are looking for. Thanks
@@mikejohn3265 it's not a terrible car considering you can pick one up cheap, however I think there are better hybrids out there. The fusion hybrid is better. I have a 2005 Prius now that I adore. You do get a lot more road noise in the Prius than the ford hybrids. Considerably more. The cmax for whatever reason can't seem to get 40mpgs even unlike the fusion which is much bigger. I've driven a Hyundai ioniq hybrid which was enjoyable besides the uncomfortable seats but it's a Hyundai. Enough said!
"Have you driven a Ford lately?" Ford's famous slogan in the 1984. No, sorry - I can't drive my Ford at all, lately. My Ford's transmission went out. LOL.
@@QuietStorm-f5v haha right? But you can say that about any car with a CVT regardless of manufacturer… thankfully lots of brands are now going away from the CVT for that reason
@@petrolectric True. It's not all bad, fortunately. I read about many 2005-2007 Ford Five Hundred's with over 250k miles on the original CVT. Nowadays we have to worry about the DCT.
Always remember that Ford improved the product quality at Jaguar. 😂
Hey I have a 2013 C Max with 95,000 miles only problem is 12vt battery charging system and dead batteries off and on. Short trips did not allow 12vt battery to charge back up. New set of tires only because of age of the last set. Oil changes, filter changes, wipers, rear wheel bearings, We owned 2 the other Energi had 165,000 with no issues other than maintenance when it was sold. These are solid cars if they are not beat on like for a taxi. I probably would not buy another Ford. The only reason I like these cars is the seating position and head room.
Yeah most of the reactions I’ve had from owners is that they generally had a good experience. Admittedly, I was much harder on mine than the average person would be - put it through things it was not made to do so I’m sure that is why I had many more problems.
The engine noise is a broken engine mount. Any competent mechanic knows that sound. The other issues, it is a 7 year old car with almost 150k miles. Of course it needs work. You should be praising how well it has lasted.
My 2015 I bought new has had zero problem except replacing the auxiliary battery (12 v) every t years or so.
Yeah exactly competent mechanic haha as which Pep Boys does not qualify - had I been able to see someone better, I would’ve. But was locked into them by contract - my personal car gets way better maintenance. Had it been seen by better mechanics, I think it would’ve fared much better
Would you recommend a 2015 with 154,000 miles?
@@jessefernandez850 if it was well maintained, judging by most of the replies here it should work out better than mine! Depends on price I guess - hopefully with that many miles it’s under $5k?
My radio never works 😭😭😭
That’s the only thing that worked for me! Haha someone else in the comments had radio issues too though
Replace your rear hatch struts
And you won’t have that back plastic hatch handle piece break
Oh interesting that would help… I’ve seen a few cmaxs with taped handles and a ton of gen 2 Prius! Good to know
😂 what have you had serviced in terms of suspension? I had 4 shops look at my suspension and brake system for drastic decline in ride quality and all gave me the ole "everything's good, couldn't replicate the creaking vibration oscillating...blah blah!" Mind you, this was before I hit 40k miles on my 2013 SEL. Currently just over 44k and ironing out the kinks on coilovers as I wanted the damping adjustability.
Big question, did you meet any mechanic or tech that had even remotely decent knowledge about the C-max? I've opted to do as much as possible myself with maintenance because I can't trust shops to correctly and efficiently resolve issues.
I kinda wish I didn't watch this though haha, I don't look forward to the next 100k miles
I’d say my ride quality severely deteriorated after 100k miles. I was forced to go to approved shops as it was a rental (mostly pep boys which is garbage) and yes they said the same thing, it’s fine. There’s no way anyone could ride in that and hear nonstop clunking and say everything is fine. But if you read the other comments on this, most people have had mostly problem free experiences with their cmax. I’d suggest researching a shop that is an expert on hybrids in your area. There’s one here in Santa Monica who is fantastic called “Car Nerds” - they’re all super knowledgeable about hybrids and maybe even worth calling them up if they might know good shops in your city.
@@petrolectric I will look into your recommendation for sure, thank you! Just like you said, I've read posts both by people with issue after issue as well as those who have these bulletproof badassery edition gems. I am among the former and can verify mine takes the sass to the MAX haha! I definitely am feeling like I'm in a little over my head with putting on these coilovers. But finally found a performance shop who knows what they're doing and has pointed me in a good direction. Today I think will be the day I finally can have some conversation about my particular use and what they would recommend. Which is fantastic since I'm pretty sure I've worn through my 3rd set of sway bar end links. Since December. I'm so jealous of the person who stated they had just replaced some suspension components at over 200k or something. Maybe I'll post a walk around video once I'm done with a few more things. Our US version doesn't get a lot of love regarding modifications hahaha.
@@HafroSamurai please do post and let me know when you do!
The ride control is total dogshit. You bounce around like your driving on the moon! 😂😂 My 2013 fusion hybrid feels like a damn s class in comparison to my cmax LMAO
We Had been looking to purchase a used one of these but now we are shying away from that! Way too much possible maintenance issues and at our age (mid seventies) we don't need that! Curious as to what kind of car you are going to get now?
Hey Edward! I purchased a slightly used Mazda CX-5 and LOVE IT! Not as good of gas mileage but such a great car, worth checking out. Also made a review of it on my channel.
@ 3:38 struts need to be replaced
That’s what I kept telling crappy pep boys, but they insisted nothing was wrong 🙄
We've had one rear wheel bearing go bad in the 165k miles we've owned it. And, Petrolectric, this car is not an in-town cruiser only. We've driven many ~1000mi trips. Other than the wheel bearing, we've had ZERO other problems.
@@Josh-d1t9w interesting… are you in an area where it gets over 100 degrees or with mountains? Those specifically were Maxie’s worst nightmare and when it broke
Loc-Tite, meet Mr. Can't Tighten a Bolt
@@generalsupreemo9776 I should pitch them as a sponsor 😉
Just like mine, yours chews through tires.
They have an incredible appetite for rubber. Thanks for watching!
People step on the gas like is nothing is happening when you do that.
Everyone is speeding and then wondering what happened? Treat your car gently. Don't force your engine and don't brake hard. I have a ford c max 2013 with 120k all good
I have a 2013 se with 172k
Changed torq strut and fluid changes
Great car overall
Seems you were harsh on this car
Nice! Yeah I think if I had the option for a higher quality shop to maintain… would’ve been a better car
Your struts are done. Why don't you know this? It's so obvious.
I didn’t own the car as I stated and this was the last day I had it before going off to the auction… I was forced to use pepboys who told me the struts were fine so there’s nothing else I could do
I have ford c max 2012 diesel it’s always going so well I do regular service and never hade problem with and I have to say that is lovely to drive it. for my opinion as I see in your video The car is not your so maybe you don’t drive carefully and as I see it’s very dirty inside it’s like you have never clean it
We only got the gasoline hybrid CMAX in the United States. I’m sure the diesel is much more reliable, very few diesel cars options here - they are not popular in the US.
I am Owner Operator, Truck driver. My Truck is 2019 Freightliner Cascadia. However, my Truck hit the 509000 miles. I got so bed story with Americans official dealers.
Also I own 2013 Ford Cmax. I have no issue with my Cmax 108000 miles.
But I want to say an American Mechanics are most have no skills.
Haha or just too lazy to do the job most of the time
@@petrolectric They just don't care. They did the job like in Russia and just don't care. They did not value my money and my time.
It made me sad. I ran refuge from the Soviet Union to the USA. I am so sad because the mechanics I had experienced contact with them they did not do the quality repair of my Truck and for those mistakes, I lost all my money
@@rubberduckyconvoy2723 totally understand, same problem in USA. I need my car for work to make money and the longer it takes the less money I can make. All shops are very slow where I live - that’s if you can even get them to work on it on the first place
Yea dnt think im gonna buy this car was gonna be it at 319 kms
Guess it depends on what you’re using it for… if it’s flat city driving you might be ok (lots of people in the comments have had good luck with there’s). But if you’re gonna be driving up a lot of hills and loading it up with a lot of cargo like I did, it’s just too much for the car to handle and will break A LOT
Don't be a bum and get a new car.
You did not take care of that car what so ever. The interior was destroyed on how dirty it is. I'm sure if maintenance was done properly a lot of these issues wouldn't have happened.
Treated it like a rental, which it was! Rental company only let me use Pep Boys (which is garbage) unless it was soemthing major then it had to go to the dealer which would take weeks/months. Yes had it been my personal car, it would’ve been better maintained. But none of the major issues would’ve been prevented by general maintenance
It has a eCVT transmission. Which has no belt and pullys. Change fluid every 50k and it will last forever.
I would agree on 2016 & newer CMAX, but earlier models had a bearing issue known by Ford, hence why they extended the transmission warranty to 100k miles. Cheaper to do that then actually fix the problem it seems.
This guy looks like he doesn't give two poops about his free car. When you don't pay for your property, you drive it like it's a POS.
@@R8ndy kind of true I guess, if I actually owned this it would have for sure gone to better service option than $h!t Pep Boys. Unfortunately that was my only contracted option
Man he dogged out this car. 😆
Your struts are bad.
Among other things lol glad to be rid of that POS
I have a 2014 C-max Energi SEL. His name is Brutus because he really is a Brute! Recently however I discovered, I need to get shocks and struts! So currently shopping around for a set. Any suggestions? I'm not trying to get rid of my car either. I literally just paid him off a couple of months ago! (Greatest feeling ever!) The shocks and struts are bad so they're wearing out my tires faster, has anyone heard of this? It's called cupping I think. Well any suggestions on what I should do would be great, because they're saying I need to get tires before I do the shocks and struts first.
@@SloppySecondz that’s gonna be an expensive bill but I think it’s best to do it all at the same time. Best to get it over with and hopefully you’re sorted for a while. Glad it’s been reliable up until this point