2023 Ford Maverick Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#3 most-complained of 4 Maverick years
The 2023 Ford Maverick ranks 3rd out of 4 model years with a Complaint Index of 33 and a "Good" verdict, well below the 2022's index of 100. It has 81 complaints, 21 recalls, and 1 do-not-drive recall, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 81
- Recalls
- 21
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 22.5 city / 29 hwy
Top 2023 Ford Maverick problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain19 (23%)
- Electrical System15 (19%)
- Other13 (16%)
- Structure & Body13 (16%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (12%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras9 (11%)
- Engine8 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (7%)
- Brakes5 (6%)
- Steering5 (6%)
What owners report
- Rear seats reportedly fold forward or collapse under braking or in rear-end collisions, sometimes failing to latch properly.
- Some owners describe brake system failure messages appearing repeatedly along with loss of power steering and throttle response.
- Windshields reportedly groan and shift on uneven roads, which Ford described as normal.
- Owners report frost forming on the inside of the windshield in cold weather, obscuring visibility.
- Some owners report the trailer brake controller failing to activate electric trailer brakes on trucks with the tow package.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy for the driver and passenger in one reported 30 MPH collision.
2023 Ford Maverick recalls
21 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V340000May 27, 2026Suspension, Wheels & Tires4,653 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V104000Feb 20, 2026Electrical System4,381,878 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driverâs ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Other59,006 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
2023 Ford Maverick fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2023 compared with other Maverick years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Ford Maverick a good year?
- Among the 4 model years with data, 2023 ranks 3rd worst with a Complaint Index of 33 and a "Good" verdict, better than the 2022 (index 100, "Avoid") but slightly worse than the 2025 (index 0, "Best").
- What are the most common problems on the 2023 Ford Maverick?
- NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain leads with 19 complaints (23% share), followed by Electrical System with 15 complaints (19%) and Structure & Body with 13 complaints (16%).
- Does the 2023 Ford Maverick have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 21 recalls for the 2023 Maverick, including 1 do-not-drive recall covering front lower control arm ball joints that may have been incorrectly installed or repaired.
- How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2023 Ford Maverick?
- NHTSA lists 81 complaints for the 2023 Maverick, including 5 crashes and 2 injuries, with no reported fires or deaths.