Model year 2016 · Midsize Cars, Large Cars

2016 Ford C-MAX: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2016 Ford C-MAX at 38–39 mpg combined across 2 versions. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 56 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

38–39

NHTSA overall rating

4/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as C-MAX ENERGI.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2016 Ford C-MAX recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 3 safety recalls for the 2016 Ford C-MAX, newest first.

Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera

NHTSA 25V695000 Reported Oct 13, 2025

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SA9)
Units affected: 1,448,655 (estimate)
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Power train: Shift linkage/cable/rod and 1 more component

NHTSA 22V413000 Reported Jun 10, 2022

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 22S43)
Components: Power train: Shift linkage/cable/rod; Power train: Automatic transmission: Gear position indication (prndl)
Units affected: 2,925,968 (estimate)
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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Structure: Body

NHTSA 17V052000 Reported Jan 24, 2017

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 17S03)
Units affected: 17 (estimate)
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Focus and C-Max vehicles. The floor pan may have improperly welded left-hand apron joints.
Risk: Improperly welded apron joints may reduce the front-end structural integrity of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the apron joints, repairing the vehicle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S03.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2016 Ford C-MAX fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2016 Ford C-MAX EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Electric range	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid	2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gas and Electricity / Electricity	40/36/38 mpg 88 MPGe on electricity	20 mi	$1,750	129
C-MAX Hybrid FWD	2.0L 4-cyl hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	41/36/39 mpg	—	$1,700	230

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2016 Ford C-MAX crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2016 Ford C-MAX NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2016 Ford CMAX Energi 5 HB FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	14.7%	No
2016 Ford CMAX Hybrid 5 HB FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	14.3%	No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2016 Ford C-MAX owner complaints

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford C-MAX, most recently on Oct 15, 2026. 7 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 7 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2016 Ford C-MAX complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Electrical system	14
Unknown or other	9
Back over prevention	6
Power train	6
Engine	4
Steering	3
Back over prevention: Rearview system braking	2
Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera	2
Back over prevention: Warnings	2
Service brakes	2

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Ford C-MAX model years

Ford C-MAX by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2018 C-MAX	40 mpg	1	10	4/5
2017 C-MAX	39–40 mpg	1	25	4/5
2015 C-MAX	38–39 mpg	6	72	4/5

All Ford C-MAX years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2016 Ford models

2016 Ford Edge 2016 Ford Escape 2016 Ford Expedition 2016 Ford Explorer 2016 Ford F150 2016 Ford Fiesta 2016 Ford Flex 2016 Ford Focus 2016 Ford Fusion 2016 Ford Mustang 2016 Ford Taurus 2016 Ford Transit Connect 2016 Ford Transit T150 Wagon

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Ford.