Steering Failed Problems of Ford C-max

Electric steering rack failed causing no power steering. Symptoms started with intermittent locking. Luckily the vehicle was at the dealership to replace faulty high energy battery pack still under warranty. Reprogramming did not correct the issue. It appears Ford had a recall for higher production models using the same rack but not for C-max which had low production. Major safety hazard to lose steering capability.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford C-max 🔎.

I started the car and the power steering was not functioning. I could barely move the steering wheel. The power steering message appeared and steering wheel remained impossible to turn. I tried to drive it in my driveway, but the power steering would not reset itself. I turned car off and then it reset. It happened several times over a few months. Took it to dealer and they indicated the steering gear failed their test. The electronic steering guide had to be replaced at the cost of $2200 for a car with 70,000 miles. Searched online complaints and other cmax owners have reported a similar problem. Contacted the Ford executive office and they helped cover some of the cost. This problem should be recalled since it impacts the safety of driver while operating the car. I am lucky it did not open while I was driving on the highway.

While driving, got message indicating a steering issue. Tried restarting the car and there was no power steering. Had to have the vehicle towed to a dealership. Was told it is a steering gear that failed and that the whole component of which the steering gear is a part of needs to be replaced.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford C-max 🔎.

Driving on I-40, about 150 miles from my destination on July 31, 2016, the "service power steering soon" light came on in the car. I finished the drive home with no problem and turned the car off to unload it. When I re-started it, the car reported a complete steering failure, and the power steering assist simply quit. I looked online and saw that this has been a consistent problem with the Ford steering system in the C-max and other models. I arranged to have the issue examined & repaired at my local Ford dealer. I drove the car there, with extensive effort required to turn the wheel. The dealer determined that the steering unit had failed, with approximately 35,000 miles on the vehicle. My cost was approximately $1880, and I do have the receipt. Ford refused to acknowledge this as a manufacturer's defect and I was forced to pay the full amount. I believe this known defect creates an unsafe situation. 1. Ford should be held responsible to fix this defect as it is far more common that acceptable, and 2. They should change what happens to a car when the problem is detected. Had I not had a lot of strength, I could have gotten into an accident trying to get it in for repair. The system worked just fine for 150 miles, so there was no real issue stopping the steering assist. . . Until I turned it off and then the car disabled its steering. Ford should not be allowed to let the car continue to drive after the car self-disables its power steering. It was only self-disabled after I shut it off, so it was actually still safely driveable, but the car's computer apparently decided to create the dangerous situation by shutting off the epas system completely, yet leave the car drivable. Please investigate this failure and compel Ford to address the steering unit failure issue and reimburse those of us who have been forced to pay for the repair.