Ford Maverick Used Buyer's Guide: Problems and Recalls (2022-Present)
Ford · Maverick · 1st gen · 2022–now
The Maverick Hybrid gets 37 mpg in a pickup that costs less than most compact SUVs, which is why used ones sell fast. It also has a long recall list, and several recalls were reissued because the first repair was done wrong. Here's what to check on a used 2022-2025 Maverick.
Mirko8 min read
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The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup with a 4.5-foot bed, a unibody built on the same platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport, and an optional hybrid rated at 37 mpg combined. With gas at $4.43 a gallon, that makes it one of the most sought-after used trucks in the country.
Its record is mixed. The core hardware is shared with Ford's high-volume crossovers, but the 2022-2025 Maverick appears in more than 40 NHTSA recall campaigns, several of them second or third attempts at the same fix. The primary risks for a used buyer are the 2.5L hybrid engine-failure recall on 2022-2023 trucks, a series of 12-volt battery and power-loss recalls, and simply confirming that every recall was completed, and completed correctly.
Generation Overview
Production began in September 2021 at Ford's Hermosillo plant in Mexico, for the 2022 model year, according to Wikipedia's production history. Two powertrains are offered:
| Powertrain | Output | Drive | EPA mpg (city/hwy/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L hybrid, eCVT (2022-2024) | 191 hp | FWD | 42 / 33 / 37 |
| 2.5L hybrid, eCVT (2025) | 191 hp | FWD | 42 / 35 / 38 |
| 2.5L hybrid, eCVT (2025) | 191 hp | AWD | 40 / 34 / 37 |
| 2.0L EcoBoost turbo, 8-speed (2022) | 250 hp | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L EcoBoost turbo, 8-speed (2022) | 250 hp | AWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov.
Key changes by year:
- 2022: Launch. Hybrid FWD, or EcoBoost with FWD or AWD. Trims: XL, XLT, Lariat.
- 2023: Tremor off-road package added for EcoBoost AWD trucks.
- 2024: Minor updates. Same powertrain lineup.
- 2025: Mid-cycle refresh with new front styling and a 13.2-inch touchscreen. The hybrid became available with AWD, and the EcoBoost became AWD-only. The sport-focused Lobo trim was added.
Standard towing is 2,000 pounds. The 4K Tow Package raises that to 4,000 pounds on EcoBoost AWD trucks, and on hybrid AWD trucks from 2025. If you plan to tow more than 2,000 pounds with a 2022-2024 Maverick, you need an EcoBoost AWD truck with that package.
Ford sold 74,370 Mavericks in the US in 2022, 94,058 in 2023 and 131,142 in 2024, so there are plenty of used ones to choose from.
Known Issues
The issues below come from NHTSA's recall database and owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recalls are free to fix at any Ford dealer, no matter who owns the truck. You can check any Maverick's VIN at NHTSA.
2.5L Hybrid Engine Failure and Fire Risk (2022-2023 Hybrid)
What it is: If the 2.5L hybrid engine fails internally, oil and fuel vapor can be released into the engine compartment and ignite on hot engine or exhaust parts. Recall 23V380 covers about 125,000 vehicles across the Maverick, Escape and Lincoln Corsair. It replaced an earlier recall, 22V484, and was itself followed by 25V345 for trucks that were repaired incorrectly.
Remedy: On the Maverick, dealers update the powertrain control module software. If a connecting rod bearing failure is detected, they replace the engine long block, free of charge.
Who it affects: 2022-2023 Maverick Hybrid.
Severity: High. A fire risk, and an engine replacement if the failure has started.
What to watch for: Confirm with a Ford dealer that 23V380, and 25V345 if the VIN is listed, are complete. Listen for knocking or unusual engine noise, and walk away from a test drive that shows reduced power or smoke.
Hybrid Loss of Drive Power (2022-2024 Hybrid)
What it is: Software in the hybrid powertrain control module can shift the truck into neutral unexpectedly, cutting drive power. Recall 24V330 fixes it with a software update, and 25V133 covers trucks where that update was done incorrectly. Loss of power is also one of the most common themes in owner complaints: roughly 30 of the 264 complaints filed for the 2023 Maverick describe losing power or dropping into neutral.
Who it affects: 2022-2024 Maverick Hybrid.
Severity: High while unrepaired. A loss of drive power in traffic increases crash risk.
What to watch for: Both recalls completed. On the test drive, watch for powertrain warnings, a sudden loss of acceleration or an unexpected shift to neutral.
12-Volt Battery and Power Loss (2022-2023)
What it is: The body and powertrain control modules may not detect when the 12-volt battery is running low, and the battery itself can degrade and fail suddenly. Either can cause a loss of electrical accessories, including the hazard lights, or a loss of drive power. This has taken five recalls to address: 24V267 (about 457,000 vehicles including the Bronco Sport), 24V590, 25V127 and 25V158 for incorrect earlier repairs, and 25V019, under which dealers inspect and, if needed, replace the 12-volt battery.
Who it affects: 2022-2023 Maverick, hybrid and EcoBoost.
Severity: High while unrepaired.
What to watch for: All applicable recalls completed, including 25V019. A 12-volt battery warning, slow cranking on EcoBoost trucks, or electrical glitches on the test drive.
Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joints (2022-2026)
What it is: Recall 26V340, filed in May 2026, covers about 4,650 Mavericks and Bronco Sports whose front ball joints may have been installed or repaired incorrectly at the factory. A detached control arm can cause a loss of control. Ford advises owners not to drive affected vehicles until the repair is done. Owner letters went out on September 2, 2026, so many affected trucks are still unrepaired.
Who it affects: A small number of 2022-2026 Mavericks.
Severity: High for affected trucks.
What to watch for: Run the VIN. If it's listed and open, don't drive it until a dealer has inspected it. Clunking from the front suspension over bumps is a warning sign on any Maverick.
Lighting and Camera Software (2022-2024)
What it is: A cluster of lower-severity recalls: rear turn signals that don't warn the driver when a bulb fails (23V848, reissued as 25V094), a body control module that can switch off the tail lights (24V293, reissued as 25V095), a rearview camera image that can freeze in reverse on trucks with the Connected Touch Radio (24V684), and an instrument cluster on 2022-2023 hybrids that may not light warning lamps or gauges (24V140, reissued as 25V123).
Who it affects: Most 2022-2024 Mavericks, depending on build.
Severity: Low to medium individually. The pattern matters more: several first repairs were done incorrectly and had to be recalled again.
What to watch for: Check every recall on the VIN, not only the ones the seller mentions. Test the tail lights, turn signals and backup camera.
Sub-Variant Issues
2024 fuel tank leak: Recall 24V185 replaces fuel tanks with an open seam that can leak, on about 200 trucks. A small population, but a fire risk.
2025 refresh: The refreshed truck has its own early recalls. They cover a park module that may not lock into park (25V863, fixed over the air or by a dealer), moonroof glass that may not be bonded correctly (26V157), an EGR valve failure on some EcoBoost engines that can cause a loss of drive power (26V122), cylinder head plugs that can leak oil (25V828), an electric brake booster module that can overheat and disable stability control (25V787), and an instrument panel cover that may separate when the airbag deploys (25V884). None is widespread, but a 2025 is a first-year refresh, so check the VIN.
Engine block heaters: Trucks with the optional block heater have their own recalls for heaters that can crack or overheat, 25V685 on 2022-2024 and 25V343 and 26V239 on 2025. Relevant mainly in cold climates.
Hybrid vs. EcoBoost: The hybrid is the fuel-economy pick and carries most of the powertrain recalls on 2022-2024 trucks. The EcoBoost gives up about 11 mpg combined but is the only way to get 4,000-pound towing before 2025. Ford covers hybrid-specific components, including the battery, for 8 years or 100,000 miles, so most used Maverick Hybrids are still inside that coverage.
What NHTSA complaints show
As of September 2026, owners had filed 150 complaints with NHTSA for the 2022 Maverick, 264 for the 2023 and 72 for the 2024. On the 2023, power train and electrical issues lead the list, followed by the engine. Complaint counts aren't verified and aren't adjusted for sales, and more 2023s were sold than 2022s, but the 2023 draws the most complaints of any year so far.
Your Car Is Not This Article
This page covers what's documented about the generation. The Maverick you're looking at has its own history: which recalls were done, which were redone, how it was driven and whether it towed. A Squeezed report pulls the exact risk profile for your specific year, trim and powertrain, including open recalls. Run a report before you make an offer.
For more on whether a hybrid pays back at today's gas prices, see our hybrid payback analysis, and for what to check on any used hybrid's battery, see our hybrid battery guide.
Sources
- NHTSA, Recalls database and complaints data for the 2022-2025 Ford Maverick (retrieved September 30, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Energy and EPA, fueleconomy.gov (EPA ratings, 2022 and 2025 Maverick)
- Wikipedia, Ford Maverick (2022) (production, powertrain output, towing and US sales)
FAQ
What are the most common problems with the Ford Maverick (2022-Present)?
The most serious are a 2.5L hybrid engine-failure recall with a fire risk on 2022-2023 hybrids, hybrid software that can shift the truck into neutral on 2022-2024 hybrids, and 12-volt battery recalls on 2022-2023 trucks that can cause a loss of power. Several lighting and camera recalls had to be reissued after incorrect repairs.
Is the Ford Maverick (2022-Present) reliable?
Its main hardware is shared with Ford's high-volume crossovers, but it appears in more than 40 NHTSA recall campaigns across 2022-2025, including power-loss and engine-failure recalls on the hybrid. A Maverick with every recall completed is a much safer buy than one with open or incorrectly repaired recalls, so check the VIN before you buy.
Are there Ford Maverick (2022-Present) years to avoid?
The 2023 has the most NHTSA complaints so far, and 2022-2023 hybrids carry the engine-failure and 12-volt battery recalls. No year is a blanket avoid if its recalls are complete. The 2025 is the first year of a refresh and has its own early recalls, so check its VIN too.