Ford to Pay Owners on C-Max Fuel Economy Flub

Claiming a commitment to "fuel economy leadership," Ford lowered the MPG estimate of the 2013 C-MAX Hybrid following complaints that the car did not live up to the 47 MPG that Ford claimed. The company is also making a few design changes in the 2014 C-MAX Hybrid to improve fuel economy, and offering rebate checks to customers of the 2013 model. Finally, Ford is vowing to change how it tests fuel economy in the C-MAX line.

The issue began when Ford claimed 47 MPG across the board for both the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and 2013 C-MAX Hybrid. At the time Ford touted this as a gain over the similarly sized Prius V which had a lower MPG rating. This sounded fabulous until customers, and journalists, in the field couldn't replicate the fuel economy claims. Eventually the EPA looked into the matter, and this is where things ended up.

The hardware changes to the 2014 C-MAX Hybrid include: Gearing changes that result in a more efficient transmission drive ratio; New hood seal, front and rear tire deflectors, A-pillar moldings and the addition of rear lift gate deflectors to improve vehicle aerodynamics; and New engine oil with reduced friction

These changes are expected to improve fuel economy, especially at highway speeds. “Ford is absolutely committed to being a leader in the hybrid market and to top fuel efficiency across our lineup,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, global product development. “We are taking actions with our popular C-MAX Hybrid so that customers are even more satisfied with the vehicle’s on-road fuel efficiency performance.”

While driver habits obviously affect fuel economy results for a given drive, Ford claims that hybrid vehicles amplify those differences. Relatively small differences in driver behavior and driving conditions can have a significant effect on the degree to which a hybrid’s gasoline engine is used for propulsion, which affects fuel efficiency.

What had happened previously is that Ford simply reused the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid fuel economy test results to certify the C-MAX Hybrid fuel economy. This was legitimate because both had the same drive train and were in the same weight class. However, some differences contributed to the C-MAX Hybrid giving lower fuel economy in actual practice. Car makers routinely self-certify fuel economy while the EPA only rarely certifies fuel economy ratings themselves.

As a good-will gesture to C-MAX Hybrid owners, Ford Motor Company is sending a reimbursement check to cover the difference in fuel expenses based on actual fuel economy versus what the customer should have enjoyed. This amounts to a $550 check for C-MAX Hybrid owners, and a $350 check to lessee's.