2013 Ford C-MAX Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

39Steering complaints

21%Of all 186 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM50 · 26.9%

STEERING39 · 21%

POWER TRAIN37 · 19.9%

Unspecified / other26 · 14%

ENGINE16 · 8.6%

Share of the 186 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Ford C-MAX overview page.

What owners report

“BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY TO DRIVE TO A SPOT ON THE CUL DE SAC. STARTED TO PULL UP TO THE CURB AND COULD NOT TURN…”NHTSA complaint 11343238 — filed 08/04/2020

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX. THE CONTACT STATED AT START-UP, THE STEERING CEASED WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE…”NHTSA complaint 11327859 — filed 06/08/2020

“MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES ON IT. I GOT IN MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE AND A RED MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING, "SERVICE POWER STEERING SYSTEM"…”NHTSA complaint 11324890 — filed 05/17/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Ford C-MAX have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2013 Ford C-MAX: 39 of 186 complaints on file (21%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Ford C-MAX have in total?

186 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 2 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.