FORD Maverick Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used FORD Maverick options? We analyzed 5 model years (2022–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the FORD Maverick has 596 owner complaints and 83 safety recalls across model years 2022–2026. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2023 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- FORD
- Model
- Maverick
- Model years analyzed
- 2022–2026 (5 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 596
- Safety recall campaigns
- 83
- Crash-related complaints
- 35
- Fire-related complaints
- 10
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2023 (265 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (13 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
FORD Maverick: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe FORD MAVERICK has 596 NHTSA complaints and 83 recalls on record. 35 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 596 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 83 federal recall campaigns
- 35 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
83 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:BULBS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:DASHBOARD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2022–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 596 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
596 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Abnormal wear to the brake pads, has always been a slight noise in the wheel from brand new. Now at 10,500 miles being told the brake pads and rotors are shot. I consider this to be extremely abnormal for a well cared for vehicle with very low mileage.
This Maverick truck has developed a Strong shake upon acceleration. Noticeable lower speeds at acceleration or load. Front passenger side. The tires have been rebalanced, rotated, and even purchased new after irregular front passenger tire wear. 50K Continental tires worn out at 24K. No bent rims, no warped tires. No suspension tie rod play or flex with vehicle suspended. No motor mount play. The axles' dust shields are in-tack, but the wobble is from the passenger side axle. Under warranty but premature wear at 25,000 miles. Feel vibration with wheels spinning and place a stick of lumber as resistance. feel vibration.
Twice in the last two months the vehicle completely lost the ability to accelerate while driving. While the vehicle was in motion, the accelerator lost all tension and you could put your foot the floor without the vehicle moving. The vehicle still had all other power, including power steering, stereo, lights and power breaks. The first incident occurred last month at low speed in a residential area. The vehicle was able to coast to the sidewalk in front of house. A few minutes later the vehicle started up without issue and was able to be driven home. Afterwards, the vehicle was taken to a local repair show who checked the battery and alternator, but they did not find any issue. Earlier today, the vehicle was being driven at 45-50 miles per hour on a two lane highway without a shoulder. The vehicle started to decelerate while the driver, my daughter, pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The vehicle would not respond and she was luckily able to pull into the driveway of a home. The vehicle did not produce any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to this loss in acceleration. I arrived 4-5 minutes later and the vehicle was able to be driven to home afterwards. We will be taking in to a dealership for a more thorough look at any issues. We would be willing to have the vehicle inspected. This is an astonishing issue to have on a vehicle less than two years old. The loss of power on a freeway could be incredibly dangerous we both the driver of this truck and to other drivers. We live in a hilly area and a safe place to pull off to the side cannot be always guaranteed. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?
Radio sound will not work
When I turn left or right my steering-wheel, slowly at intersections, I hear a loud "click" sound inside my truck's cabin, so loud that I cannot realize where the sound comes out from. My steering performance is smooth, and I cannot feel anything wrong or any shaking, with the steering column. Just ONE loud click sound, every time when I turn slowly. This has been happening since October 2024. Thank you!
Windshield cracked while parked in the sun.
Read 14 more owner reports
Windshield cracked while parking in the sun.
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Maverick. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V340000 (Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact had no other means of transportation. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed neither the recall remedy nor a loaner vehicle was available. The contact was referred to another dealer. The contact called Crossroads Ford of Sumter (950 N Main St, Sumter, SC 29150), who confirmed no loaner vehicle was available. The manufacturer was contacted but was unable to confirm whether the dealers had loaner vehicles available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I have a Maverick (24 AWD XLT) and this issue has occurred twice. It happened on my vehicle the first time as I was trying to turn left, up an incline, with oncoming traffic - loss of acceleration. There was simultaneously a service light and power train malfunction message that went to my ford app. The vehicle had 5k miles on it. I took it immediate to the dealer. After testing they said the connection at the accelerator was loose (pigtail) and replaced. I just had the same failure occur yesterday (~22k miles) on my way home from work, except I lost acceleration on an inclined on-ramp trying to merge onto the highway. I had just slowed on the ramp to let a semi pass, and am thankful I didn’t try to get ahead of it. It wouldn’t have ended well. Still, I could see traffic jamming behind me, and folks were struggling to get on the highway because of my significantly reduced speed. Losing control of acceleration at a point where it is critical is very dangerous. I’ve never experienced a vehicle failure that felt like it risked my life. For this to occur twice in key moments of acceleration, with less than 25k miles is unsettling. Online there are many similar reports, not sure how this isn’t a recall yet.
This is a supplemental filing to my existing NHTSA complaint #11715308. I am requesting that the Office of Defects Investigation open a formal Preliminary Evaluation into the 2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid braking system. Since my original complaint, the following has occurred: Ford Motor Company denied my claim on April 2, 2026 through a three-sentence letter from a paralegal at Erskine Law PC in Michigan. The denial addressed none of the evidence submitted including repair orders, fault codes from Ford's own OASIS system, a recorded call proving warranty claim suppression, and a notarized sworn statement. The vehicle now has 107,982 miles. The ABS defect remains unrepaired after four attempts and over 50 days out of service. Active fault codes C052E and U0418 were confirmed in Ford's OASIS system when the vehicle was returned unrepaired on January 28, 2026. Ford has already issued Recall 25V787000 for brake booster ECU overheating causing loss of brake power assist in Maverick vehicles, demonstrating prior corporate knowledge of braking defects in this model line. There are currently 149 brake-related complaints in the NHTSA database for the 2024 Ford Maverick with no open ODI investigation. On [XXX], the braking defect caused a collision (APD Crash Report [XXX], no driver error assigned). I have a notarized sworn statement linking the collision to the unrepaired defect. I have concurrent active complaints with the NM Department of Justice (XXX), BBB AUTO LINE (XXX), FTC (#XXX), CFPB (#XXX), and Ford's internal SpeakUp ethics program (#XXX). I am formally requesting ODI review of the 2024 Maverick Hybrid braking system given the volume of complaints, the existing recall on related models, and Ford's documented refusal to repair my vehicle despite confirmed fault codes in their own diagnostic system. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Upon acceleration, the front end vibrates heavily. light pedal depression it isn't quite as noticeable. But medium pressure to gas peddle & it feels like the whole underneath of the engine/ maybe front axle is about to fall apart. the harder the acceleration, the more intense the shaking/vibrating is.
I am reporting a recurring safety-critical failure. On two separate occasions, the vehicle has experienced a total electrical and mechanical shutdown while in operation. During these events, the 12V power system fails completely, turning off all instrumentation and, most critically, the electronic power brake assist. This results in a 'hard pedal' condition where the vehicle is nearly impossible to stop without extreme physical force. The first instance occurred at road speeds, forcing an emergency maneuver into a turning lane to avoid traffic. The second instance occurred while reversing, causing the vehicle to lose all braking and propulsion and roll into a busy road resulting in a near-miss collision. The vehicle is currently unsafe to drive as the shutdowns are intermittent and occur without warning.
CV axles failed around 42,000 miles. Purchased new tires due to one being worn. After new tires the front end was shaking on acceleration onto the highway. Vibration stopped once the vehicle got up to speed. The tires were rebalanced but that didn't help. The mechanic found the problem to be the CV axles. Once both were replaced the vibration finally stopped.
I was driving my vehicle that was warmed up,about 5 miles from my house. I set the cruise control on 50 mph- the vehicle climbed an incline at 50, after the decline started the vehicle down shifted trying to keep 50 mph, but was still over by 3-5 mph. The road flattened out and The next thing i noticed was i was doing 42mph and the transmission was in neutral. I shifted back to drive and didnt use cruise control again that day 3/13/26. I have not notice anything else going on with transmission and have reused cruise control again without an issue. I called the dealer and they have not heard of this or have any technical service bulletins regarding this issues. I was quoted a diagnostic charge if i bring it in. I travel on some busier road and use cruise control often
I was driving and the vehicle stopped like it was in neutral. I started rolling backwards into a vehicle. He honked and I slammed on breaks. I put flashers on. Waited a bit. Turned off and on and it started. I drove home and called service dept
Windshield washer system failure, recurring problem. Last repaired 18 November 2025. Dealer did not replace the failed components. instead used compressed air to clear the clogged nozzles. As a federal regulated safety system, they should have quarantined the failed components for analysis by Ford engineering. NHTSA complaint number 11700184 was generated. If I can't clear the dirt from my windshield, not only is my safety compromised, but also all who I may encounter in an automobile accident. Not to mention innocent pedestrians.
Front cv axle failure causing severe vibration with acceleration Ford has not fixed yet 40k miles started
breaking welds on door jams. same as the 20-21 ford escapes that have recall. 52000 miles on my maverick
My turbocharger went out 3 times with in a month the dealership is trying there best to fix it but every time they do something with that same system goes wrong. At first it was nothing to bad but lack of power and sounding rough and it was like that the second time the system went out how ever on the 3rd time I was on the highway and when it went out it disabled my crew’s control system and when I bought it back they now say it’s is an electrical concern.
RITICAL BRAKING FAILURE & DEALER NEGLIGENCE: The vehicle exhibits a violent shudder and loss of deceleration during the hand-off between regenerative and friction braking. This defect was first reported to the dealer (Rich Ford) at 35,399 miles (RO #[XXX]) within the Bumper-to-Bumper warranty but was not repaired. THE INCIDENT: On [Insert Date], the braking system failed to decelerate the vehicle during a traffic slowdown. The pedal vibrated violently, and the vehicle did not stop. I was forced to swerve across two lanes of traffic onto the shoulder to avoid a high-speed rear-end collision. DEALER NEGLIGENCE: The vehicle was in dealer possession from Jan 12–28, 2026 (16 days). Odometer records prove they only test-drove it for 7 miles. They failed to apply known TSB 23-2209 (Hybrid Shudder) and released the vehicle to me despite active internal ABS Pump Control Codes (C052E and U0418) recorded in the vehicle logs on Jan 22, 2026. REPORTING IRREGULARITY: The dealer coded this latest safety attempt as "Routine Maintenance/Flush" rather than a safety repair, effectively hiding the defect history from the manufacturer and my warranty provider to avoid Lemon Law liability. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Showing 20 of 596 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact FORD Maverick
These pages show model-year patterns across 5 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used FORD Maverick, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The FORD Maverick has 596 complaints on record across 5 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The FORD Maverick has 83 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 35 of the FORD Maverick's 596 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all FORD Maverick vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two FORD Maverick vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The FORD Maverick has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used FORD Maverick.
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FORD Maverick reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the FORD Maverick reliable?
Poor. The FORD Maverick has 596 NHTSA owner complaints and 83 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which FORD Maverick years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2023 (265 complaints), 2022 (150 complaints), 2025 (96 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common FORD Maverick problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (171 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (162 complaints); ENGINE (112 complaints).
Does the FORD Maverick have recalls?
Yes — 83 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the FORD Maverick. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.