NHTSA Complaint #11066525 — 2013 FORD C-MAX HYBRID

REAR HATCHBACK LATCH FAILS TO RELEASE. DRIVER CAN HEAR THE LATCH MOTOR ACTIVATING WHILE DRIVING AND DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD RESULT IN EJECTING CARGO WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CLOSING THE HATCHBACK, IT FAILS TO RE-OPEN, STUCK AGAIN, AND THE PROCESS STARTS ALL OVER. DEALERSHIP SAYS MOTOR AND LATCH SYSTEM FOR THE HATCH-BACK IS FAULTY AND NEEDS REPLACING, AND ISSUED ME A RENTAL CAR FOR 3-5 DAYS. THEY SAID IT WASN'T SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE IT. LUCKILY I HAPPEN TO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HOWEVER BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I'M REPORTING IT. I'VE HAD LATCH PROBLEMS WITH THE SIDE DOORS IN THE PAST, HOWEVER THOSE WERE FIXED AFTER A RECALL. SIDE DOORS HAVE SOME LATCHING ISSUES THAT CONTINUE BUT HAVE NOT OPENED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE HATCHBACK.