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2017 Ford C-MAX

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid

Midsize Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints2 crash · 2 fire reported 25

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 40 mpg

2018 2017 2016

The 2017 Ford C-MAX is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and hybrid large hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the C-MAX Hybrid FWD, is EPA-rated at 40 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 25 complaints, most often about the vehicle speed control. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Ford C-Max — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Ford C-Max · Photo: M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl + 68 kW DCPM	41	38	39 (54 MPGe blended)	20 mi electric	35	2.5 h	$1,700
C-MAX Hybrid FWD	Hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl + 280V Li-Ion	42	38	40	—	—	—	$1,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38506, 38495.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid	8–9 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30/TZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay Elite
C-MAX Hybrid FWD	8 / 10	LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors	5
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

188 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

Optional: Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Parking assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: SE FHEV, SE PHEV, TITANIUM FHEV, TITANIUM PHEV). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	174.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	72.0 in
Height	63.8 in
Wheelbase	104.3 in
Track, front	60.6 in
Track, rear	60.2 in
Curb weight	3,607–3,858 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: Energi 4-door Hatchback, Hybrid 4-door Hatchback. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Power Train

22S43

2,925,968 vehicles 73% reported repaired

Problem 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.

NHTSA campaign 22V413000 reported Jun 10, 2022 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific C-MAX

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Ford publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Ford’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Ford C-MAX, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

25complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

14 per 10,000 built · Ford reported 17,905 C-MAX built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Unspecified 6

Vehicle Speed Control 4

Electrical System 3

Fuel/Propulsion System 3

Steering 3

Power Train 3

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel detached from the steering column. The contact stated that the steering wheel had loosened. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a detached steering wheel bolt.

Steering at 43,896 miles Aug 13, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11680455

Lug nuts are deforming. Costco techs require 3 sockets to obtain proper torque. Two piece construction is problematic

Wheels Sep 29, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11547291

The vehicle accelerate on its own accord, despite no foot or pressure to the accelerator, even going uphill and including after braking. For example, ona flat road, I stepped on the brakes and began to decelerate, I released the brake and the vehicle immediately began to accelerate forward at a high speed.

Fuel/Propulsion System Dec 22, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11498618

At night I noticed the indicator light came on for tire pressure drove to the next gas station to check it was flat tire I looked every where for the spare tire no luck.called dealer told me where to look. Then he checked something and said it came with a air pump under the passenger seat.

Tires Jul 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11676305

The contact owns a 2017 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift as intended and made an abnormal humming sound while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission was replaced; however, the failure recurred.

Power Train at 70,000 miles Jul 26, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11604691

Car accelerated by itself in Drive. I'd to either apply brake or put the car in Neutral to stop it. When shifted back to D, it auto accelerated. After I got home, shut it off and after 10 min. it started working normally

Engine Apr 25, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11585231

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Ford itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, as claimed, not verified — about 5.6 per 100,000 built. Every C-MAX model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
5 HB FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%
5 HB FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	14%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 131

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-03-25

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 130 service bulletins, 1 other

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other.

25N17 Other
2026-03-25 · Back Over Prevention — Rearview System Braking
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
SSM 54601 Service bulletin
2026-02-24 · Electrical System
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
TSB 25-2570 Service bulletin
2025-11-26 · Electrical System
This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink related performance Travel Link not present
SSM 54366 Service bulletin
2025-11-12 · Power Train
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
SSM 53040 Service bulletin
2024-10-10 · Unknown Or Other
While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
TSB 24-2165 Service bulletin
2024-05-27 · Unknown Or Other
This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance relat
SSM 52476 Service bulletin
2024-04-24 · Equipment
All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool.
SAN-Vol1 I1 Service bulletin
2023-06-08 · Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
The Service Awareness Newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be presently available in a TSB, SSM, GSB, or other electronic communication. This article includes information on warranty, technical service tips and other service information.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0011 P0011 on Ford →	Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0012 P0012 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0014 P0014 on Ford →	The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0015 P0015 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0016 P0016 on Ford →	The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0017 P0017 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0018 P0018 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0019 P0019 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0021 P0021 on Ford →	Camshaft timing on bank 2 is more advanced than commanded.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0022 P0022 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0024 P0024 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins
P0025 P0025 on Ford →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	6 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.57%

failed emissions

353 initial inspections of 346 vehicles.

Measure	The 2017 C-MAX	Every 2017 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.57%	3.7%	353
Failed the safety inspection	2.3%	2.1%	353
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.28%	0.25%	353
Miles driven a year	9,893	10,048	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	91,581	93,238	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

C-MAX by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2018 A 1 10 40 mpg 2017 this page A 1 25 40 mpg 2016 B 3 56 39 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 C-MAX

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Ford C-MAX have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Ford C-MAX. The most serious on file is 22V413000, covering Power Train. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Ford C-MAX?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Ford C-MAX 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (92/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Ford C-MAX?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Ford C-MAX, the best EPA combined figure is 40 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Ford C-MAX?

Transport Canada measured it at 174.0 in long, 72.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.8 in tall, on a 104.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,607–3,858 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2017 Ford C-MAX?

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford C-MAX, most often about unspecified, vehicle speed control, electrical system. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2017 Ford C-MAX?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Ford C-MAX runs 8 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30/TZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, LEV-III SULEV30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Ford C-MAX?

The manufacturer has filed 131 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford C-MAX, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-03-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2017 Ford C-MAX do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Ford C-MAX failed the emissions check on 0.57% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	2 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	2 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	25	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	131	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	10 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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