Photo: M 93, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: M 93, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Alessandro Antonelli, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Monospace compact au comportement routier apprécié et au coffre de 550 litres, mais évalué 4 étoiles seulement à l'Euro NCAP en 2003. Sur les 1.6 TDCi, L'argus signale des problèmes de turbo, d'injecteurs, de vanne EGR et de filtre à particules ; les prix très bas (autour de 3 000 €) laissent peu de marge pour une grosse réparation. Un historique d'entretien complet est indispensable.
- Reliability
- 4.0/5
- Indicative prices
- €2,500 – €3,350
- Monthly cost
- €228
- Euro NCAP
- 4/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: 1.6 TDCi 110.
1.6 TDCi 110
✓ RecommendedDiesel · Manual · 110 hp · 4.9 L/100 km · 129 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 4
Diesel 1.6 TDCi de 109 ch et 240 Nm, boîte manuelle, 4,9 l/100 km et 129 g/km de CO2 (fiche L'argus). Entre 120 000 et 160 000 km, CarVerif y voit le meilleur rapport prix-fiabilité ; turbo et FAP à surveiller.
1.6 TDCi 90
Diesel · Manual · 90 hp · Crit'Air 4
Version 90 ch du 1.6 TDCi, citée dans les avis Fiches-auto (durite de turbo fendue, boîte défectueuse sur une voiture neuve).
1.8 TDCi 115
Diesel · Manual · 115 hp · Crit'Air 4
Diesel 1.8 TDCi de 115 ch en boîte manuelle à 5 rapports, jugé économique (5,2 l/100 km) par un propriétaire Fiches-auto, mais des avis très partagés sur sa fiabilité.
Engine: Ford 1.8 TDCi
Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first
2.0 TDCi 136
Diesel · Manual · 136 hp · Crit'Air 4
Diesel 2.0 TDCi de 136 ch (boîte manuelle à 6 rapports) apprécié pour ses reprises dans les avis ; L'argus note des risques de fuite de conduites de carburant sur le 2.0 TDCi.
Engine: Ford 2.0 TDCi (Duratorq, base PSA DW10)
Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first
1.8 120
Petrol · Manual · 120 hp · Crit'Air 3
Essence 1.8 16v de 120 ch. Un propriétaire Fiches-auto la juge très fiable (194 000 km, 100 000 km en 7 ans sans souci majeur) : un seul avis.
Market prices
€2,500 – €3,350
Indicative range: 2004 à 2009, médianes par année de 16 annonces en ligne relevées par AutoUncle (années d'au moins 3 annonces).
Collected on 29 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Prices stable since the 28 October 2026 survey.
Valuation by year
Median of online listings per model year (years with at least 3 listings), collected on 29 October 2026.
| Year | Median value | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | €2,500 | 4 |
| 2007 | €3,095 | 6 |
| 2009 | €3,350 | 6 |
Importing this model
Prices abroad
Yearly medians of each country's listings (AutoScout24, in euros; United Kingdom: cinch dealer, in pounds), over years with at least 3 listings. Useful to judge an import (add transport, inspection and registration).
| Country | Range | Median | Gap vs France | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | €2,500 – €3,350 (2004 to 2009) | €2,994 | — | — |
| Germany | €1,070 – €3,245 (2004 to 2009) | €2,200 | -27 % | 149 |
| Belgium | €2,250 – €4,490 (2005 to 2009) | €2,400 | — | 15 |
| Spain | €3,850 – €5,500 (2008 to 2009) | €5,000 | — | 9 |
| Italy | €1,900 – €3,000 (2006 to 2009) | €2,500 | — | 92 |
Median gap shown only when the country's estimate covers the same years as the French one. Add transport, roadworthiness test and registration.
You are importing the car to:
Import penalty (malus) in France
- Emissions of the versions in this guide: 129 g CO₂/km (check the value on the car's registration certificate).
- The CO₂ malus follows the scale of the year the vehicle was first registered, in France or abroad (WLTP or NEDC scale depending on its registration certificate).
- For an imported used car, it is reduced by a flat-rate discount based on its age in months (scheme in force since 1 March 2025). The weight malus also applies on first registration in France.
- Production ended in 2010: a car first registered before 1 January 2015 has no malus.
Source: BOFiP (French tax doctrine), CO₂ and weight malus · CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
Paperwork and procedures
- Importing a used car from another EU country: the step-by-step process
- Importing a car from an EU country: all the documents to gather
- Carte grise for an imported car: cost, taxes and the official simulator
- CO2 malus and weight malus: imported used car in France
- Importing a used car from outside the European Union: the steps
- Buying a used car in Germany and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Belgium and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Spain and bringing it back to France
- Buying a used car in Italy and bringing it back to France
Importing and registering in Belgium: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in Switzerland: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing a car into Switzerland: customs, tax and registration
Importing and registering in Luxembourg: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Importing and registering in the United Kingdom: paperwork and procedures
The French malus does not apply: registration taxes, roadworthiness test and documents depend on the country. Our guide details them, with official sources.
Check an imported car's history
HistoVec only covers the vehicle's life in France. For a car coming from abroad, a VIN-based report helps spot inconsistent mileage or a reported accident.
Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link
Known faults
Turbo du 1.6 TDCi
Severity 2/3 · CostlyCarVerif présente les pannes de turbo du 1.6 TDCi 110 comme le problème le plus critique, souvent dues à l'encrassement de la conduite d'huile, dès 95 000 km, avec une réparation de 1 500 à 2 000 €. L'argus indique de son côté que le turbo du 1.6 TDCi pose problème (de 2004 à 2007).
- Versions
- 1.6 TDCi 110, 1.6 TDCi 90
- Onset
- from 95,000 km
- Repair
- €1,500 to €2,000
Filtre à particules colmaté (diesel)
Severity 2/3 · CostlyL'argus signale que le FAP du 1.6 TDCi risque de se colmater et de devoir être remplacé. CarWise confirme que le blocage du FAP est la panne la plus courante des C-Max diesel, surtout en usage urbain où les régénérations n'ont pas lieu (voyants et mode dégradé).
- Versions
- 1.6 TDCi 110, 1.6 TDCi 90, 1.8 TDCi 115, 2.0 TDCi 136
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Ford C-Max”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Recalls published in France (RappelConso)
- 6 May 2021 — Les boulons d’ancrage sur les ceintures de sécurité peuvent ne pas avoir été serrés avec le couple correct. Official notice
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €132 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €58 |
| Maintenance | €24 |
| Depreciation | €14 |
| Total per month | €228 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
- Insurance: brand average, as no average is published for this model.
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (diesel)€132
1.6 TDCi 110 version: combined consumption of 4.9 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.347 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
4.9 × 1.15 × 2.347 € × 10 = €132
Diesel price: French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€58
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€24
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€14
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the average drop in valuation per year of age (yearly medians of listings), per month.
Inspection checklist
Ford C-Max I — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Faire un diagnostic OBD sur un diesel : défauts de FAP, de vanne EGR ou de turbo en mémoire.
- Écouter le turbo (sifflement) et vérifier l'absence de fumée à l'accélération ; demander si le moteur est laissé tourner quelques instants avant la coupure.
- Essayer l'embrayage et le volant moteur : vibrations, bruits au ralenti, broutement. CarVerif signale une usure vers 70 000 km.
- Contrôler la direction assistée : un défaut a été détecté sur certains modèles produits en 2008 (Fiches-auto).
- Demander les factures d'entretien, de distribution et d'injecteurs.
- Vérifier la corrosion des bas de caisse et l'état de la peinture, souvent critiqués dans les avis.
Questions to ask the seller
- Le turbo, le FAP, la vanne EGR ou les injecteurs ont-ils déjà été remplacés, à quel kilométrage ?
- L'embrayage et le volant moteur ont-ils été changés ?
- Le C-Max sert-il surtout en ville, et dispose-t-on de l'historique d'entretien complet ?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Ford C-Max
II · 2010–2019
- Price
- €5,500 – €13,300
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Renault Scénic
II · 2003–2009
- Price
- €1,750 – €3,644
- Reliability
- 2/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opel Meriva
A · 2003–2010
- Price
- €3,000 – €3,500
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: IFCAR, Public domain
Volkswagen Golf
V · 2003–2008
- Price
- €3,350 – €4,500
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Ford C-Max I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Le Ford C-Max I est-il sûr ?
Euro NCAP lui a attribué 4 étoiles en sécurité adulte en 2003 (4 pour les enfants, 2 pour les piétons).
Quel est le volume du coffre du Ford C-Max I ?
550 litres selon la fiche technique L'argus (1.6 TDCi 110).
Quel moteur choisir sur un C-Max I d'occasion ?
Le 1.6 TDCi 110 est le plus documenté et sobre (4,9 l/100 km), mais son turbo et son FAP sont à contrôler. Un propriétaire juge l'essence 1.8 120 ch très fiable, sur un seul avis.
Found a listing?
Soon, we will analyse your Ford C-Max listing: price, mileage, watch points.
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