The Ford C-Max is a full-size car built from 2013 to 2018. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the C-Max is
The Ford C-Max is a full-size car that Ford built from 2013 to 2018 — 6 model years. It has been offered with Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Ford range: Taurus, Crown Victoria, Five Hundred.
Where the C-Max is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 12 C-Maxs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1FA | 2013-2017 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Ford VIN decide which of these 1 lines your C-Max belongs to. What every character in a C-Max VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Ford C-Max adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Ford C-Max tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment C-Max owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Ford C-Max have? Power & range
The Ford C-Max is offered with 2 powertrains — 2L 4-cyl Hybrid, 2L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Ford C-Max, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2.0L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| Plug-in hybrid | 2.0L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular Gas and Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The C-Max by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Ford C-Max. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | C-Max | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 29 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 12 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,503/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 254 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Ford C-Max?
The C-Max is a full-size car, built from 2013 to 2018. Engines offered: Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid.
Where is the Ford C-Max made?
Across 12 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Ford C-Max warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the C-Max reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific C-Max?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Ford
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 1981–2026 | 462 | 72 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Bronco | 1981–2026 | 146 | 27 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Ford Mustang | 1981–2026 | 240 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Explorer | 1991–2026 | 212 | 39 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Escape | 2001–2026 | 226 | 41 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Ford Ranger | 1982–2026 | 278 | 58 mpg | 3.5/5 |