On my 2013 cmax energi over the last several months, power steering intermittently stops working, which makes hit hard to turn the steering wheel. "power steering requires service" warning comes on. It generlly occurs just after starting the car. After re-starting several times, power steering will typically kick back in. Dealer indicated need to replace steering column. Parts cost is around $2000 and labor $1000.

- Alameda, CA, USA

Received warning "power steering requires service" while driving. Shortly after, we pulled over and turned off the engine for several minutes. Upon restarting the car the power steering was gone--almost impossible to turn the steering wheel and the message said "power steering fault". our local dealer said this was not covered by warranty or recall. Research shows multiple recalls on 2013 Ford vehicles for this problem, but not for the cmax energi (perhaps because it's not a very popular car and there weren't enough sold to trigger the recall threshold).

- Newton, MA, USA

We began to have difficulty steering our well-maintained Ford C-max just after starting when backing up in our driveway at around 63,000 miles. We reported it to Ford and they said it just was that the electrical signal takes awhile to get to the steering. Before 70,000 miles the 'check steering' light went on. Before we could get it to the dealer, the power steering failed completely. Fortunately this happened while we were backing out of our driveway. We have read that this problem happens frequently and there was a recall of other 2013 Ford models for this same issue. The dealer says the repair will cost us approximately $3,500. We believe the Ford C-max should have been included in the recall.

- Kula, HI, USA

Driving on highway when the steering wheel assist fault alert light showed up and the car start getting very hard to control. Took it to the auto shop and they found code C102D. They recommended replace the steering wheel rack. $2325.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

The power steering was occasionally failing but after reading the manual I saw that Ford suggest de powering the car and restarting it. After wrenching my back from driving with the power steering not working I started doing that. Then the power steering shut down completely. When I went in they wanted to charge me over $2000 to replace the steering rack. After doing some research I found that Ford had recalled similar models of that year range for a similar issue but hadn't recalled the cmax. The steering was nearly impossible to drive without the power steering and my car wasn't even at 100,000 miles. I also had been taking the car in regularly to the dealership for checks and repairs and no one indicated this might be a concern.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

Power steering computer module went out while backing out of parking spot. Luckily no cars were parked next to me and nobody was walking in the lot as I lost control of the steering. This car has 40,000 miles on it. This also happened after driving less than 100 miles after having the transmission and front axle replaced.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

Out of nowhere, the car pops up a message to service power steering. After turning the car off and on again, the message disappears. I drove 1 day with the steering as normal, and then the next day the electric assisted power steering stops and it is extremely difficult to steer. It's almost like the car decides each time you start it if there is a steering problem and then gives or doesnt give electric power steering at your start of trip. Its frustrating that other models of Ford with this same steering system have recalls, but this lower sales quantity C-max gets ignored.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

Before 50,000 miles steering went from intermittently having no power to continuously having no power. Usually power steering is absent at start-up. Vehicle displays "service power steering" message. Obd2/can throws a pscm - power steering control module U3000 cm control module code. Steering would occasionally not work under warranty - asked at Ford if there were steering recalls and told there were none. I did not escalate because turning off the car one or more times would reset. Now that the car is outside of warranty, no action I can take, (such as restarting the car or clearing the error code) will reset the steering. Steering effort is much higher than any non-power steering car or old truck I have ever driven. The failed pscm (power steering control module) does not appear to exist as a stand-alone part. Ford tells me ~$700-$800 if steering column, or $2300 if rack and pinion need replaced. Hours spent searching for the part to do my own repairs has not given me a single part number that relates to the specific problem. This all seems to be part of Ford trouble prone and hugely expensive epas (electronic power assisted steering) system. Epas has had recalls in more popular Ford models, such as recall 15S18 beginning July 20, 2015. I suspect low production quantity cars such as the hybrid C-max likely have a similar failure rate, but it isn't noticeable due to the much lower quantity produced. Ford refuses to acknowledge the same flawed system on multiple models deserves the same fix. While I never lost power steering while driving, it would be catastrophic for small/weak drivers or those wha have never driven a vehicle without power steering. I've driven both cars without power steering and with failed power steering, but I have never had to use the level of effort it takes to steer the epas system whene it shuts down.

- Macomb, MI, USA

When I started my car to return home from work, the "steering warning" light came on. I put the car in reverse and when I tried to back out, I realized that my wheel was next to impossible to turn. I turned the car off and restarted it with the same response. I called for a tow to a dealership and after they had the car overnight and into the next afternoon, was told it would cost $1,400 to replace the steering pump and to balance and realign my tires. The repair is not under warranty as it is 4 years old and has just over 52,000 miles. There was no indication my steering was about to go. My car is regularly serviced and made no noises or had any troubles prior to this instant failure.

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

Unable to drive care due to sudden loss of power steering (happened when parked for just a few minutes -- went in building to pick up son from daycare, came out and no power steering when I restarted car). This has apparently been a problem on other Ford models of the same year and there are recalls for those, but not for the C-max. Unsure if this could happen while driving, but it could be catastrophic if it did. Car has 52000 miles and has been dealer maintained.

- Dallas, TX, USA

43,500 miles the power steering has failed; it began a few thousand miles ago, where it would intermittently not work after starting the car, but then within a few minutes it would begin working. Now it happens more frequently for longer. Dealer service has reviewed and has determined the (est.) $2000 parts need replacing.

- Redmond, WA, USA

The contact owned a 2013 Ford C-max. While driving 60 mph, the service advance track indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle crashed into a divider. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The contact sustained injuries to the left knee and lower back, and burns to the forearm. The passenger sustained a sprained left ankle and wrist, and burns to the right side of the body. Medical attention was required. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

Steering has been hard to control. Problem started when switching lanes - we noticed a wobble when going from one lane to another. Turning the wheel at low speeds you can clearly hear grinding / slipping in the steering components. Feedback to the wheels has been increasingly more jerky. Today, power steering completely went out. This appears to be a problem many are having with many complaints on this website and others. Ford should cover this issue as a recall because losing steering control on the highway would be extremely dangerous to owners of the 2014 C-max as well as others on the road.

- Prairie Grove, AR, USA

2013 cmax should be included in the 2014 cmax steering box recall. Same issue is happenig... loss of power steering, hard to control at times, car wobbles when switching lanes.

- Prairie Grove, AR, USA

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.

- Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA

Power steering failed while driving on a 70mph highway. No warning or indication. The steering just cut out. I was travelling with my 2 year old son in the back when I basically lost all control over the car. It was near impossible to navigate to the side of the road. I had to stop the vehicle in the middle of a busy highway. A gentleman had to stop and help me get the car to the shoulder. The car is three years old and we were told the power steering is shot. We will have to have it replaced and it will cost $1,700.

- Falling Waters, WV, USA

Driving on the interstate freeway at night. A light warning of power steering problem came on. Exited and went to a truck stop. Restarted car but the power steering didn't work. Very difficult to steer. Had to have car towed. There was no apparent cause.

- Mercer Island, WA, USA