Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 80/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Ford Maverick Reliability Report

The 2026 Ford Maverick rates excellent for reliability, with no owner complaints yet and two federal recalls covering structure and power train.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

0per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,300–$2,600

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity70/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity100/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Rates excellent with no owner complaints on file, though two recalls touch structure and power train and the clean record is still early.

Should You Buy the 2026 Ford Maverick?

Reliability is excellent for this model year. It sits above average among 2026 trucks and ranks first of the five Maverick years we score. Owners have filed no complaints so far. That mostly reflects how little time the truck has had on the road, so treat the clean record as an early sign, not proof.

Federal recall records list two recalls, one in structure and one in power train. The records we have do not say what the defects are or how they affect driving, so there is no symptom to describe. With no owner complaints, there are no reported breakdowns or repair mileages either.

Before you buy, ask the seller for proof that both recalls were completed, and have a dealer check the VIN for open recalls. The 2025 Maverick is also rated good for reliability. It has 31 complaints and 6 recalls, and it ranks lower. A 2025 truck has a longer track record, but it carries more recall history to verify.

See also the 2025 Ford Maverick for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+Low recall count
+Below-average complaint rate for Truck

Cons

No recurring complaint themes yet.

Compare 2026 Ford Maverick With

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Reliability: 74/100

Good

2026 Ford Ranger

Reliability: 83/100

Excellent

2026 Toyota Tacoma

Reliability: 82/100

Excellent

2026 Chevrolet Colorado

Reliability: 88/100

Excellent

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

2 manufacturer recalls issued

Recall Overview

recalls on record

The 2026 Ford Maverick carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 0.9

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2026 Ford Maverick Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2026 Ford Maverick. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V8840002025-12-18

STRUCTURE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The instrument panel cover may separate when the air bag deploy.

Consequence

An instrument panel cover separation can cause pieces of the cover to strike occupants, increasing the risk injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the instrument panel cover, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed January 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated February 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SE7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 19, 2025.

25V8630002025-12-12

POWER TRAIN

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence

A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The park module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 26, 2026.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Ford Maverick? Check its history first

Every 2026 Ford Maverick has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Ford Maverick NHTSA Safety Ratings

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 16.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

HEV Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 16.9%

Safety Technologies

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Ford MaverickRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

2026 Ford Maverick Example Repair Prices

National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.

Common repair costs and price estimates
Repair	Estimated Cost
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Relearn	$49 – $72
Power Steering System Leak Inspection	$61 – $90
Emission System Diagnosis & Testing	$61 – $90
EGR Pressure Feedback Sensor Replacement	$117 – $151
Starter Replacement	$627 – $707
Windshield Wiper Motor Replacement	$228 – $274
Tie Rod Replacement	$129 – $152
Strut Bearing Replacement	$279 – $380
Hood Latch Replacement	$156 – $179
Fuel Level Sending Unit Replacement	$1,951 – $2,112

Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

23–26 MPG

Fuel cost: $2,300–$2,600/yr

Fuel only

21–23 city / 27–32 hwy MPG

Hybrid

36–38 MPG

Fuel cost: $1,600–$1,650/yr

Fuel only

39–42 city / 32–35 hwy MPG

Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Maverick FWD 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic 8-spd	23	32	26	$2,300
Maverick AWD 2.0L 4-cyl	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	Automatic 8-spd	22	30	25	$2,400
Maverick Lobo AWD 2.0L 4-cyl	4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	21	30	24	$2,500
Maverick Tremor AWD 2.0L 4-cyl	4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	21	27	23	$2,600

Hybrid trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Maverick HEV AWD 2.5L 4-cyl	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	40	34	37	$1,600
Maverick HEV FWD 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	42	35	38	$1,600
Maverick Lariat HEV AWD 2.5L 4-cyl	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	39	32	36	$1,650

Best & Worst Ford Maverick Years

Best Ford Maverick Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Ford Maverick Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Ford Maverick reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2022	54/100	Mixed
2023	60/100	Good
2024	71/100	Good
2025	77/100	Good
2026	80/100	Excellent

Ford Maverick Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	80/100	+3	Excellent	2	0
2025	77/100	+6	Good	6	31
2024	71/100	+11	Good	14	139
2023	60/100	+6	Good	20	308
2022	54/100	—	Mixed	27	572

2026 Ford Maverick Reliability by Powertrain

The 2026 Ford Maverick is available with 2powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.

Reliability comparison across powertrain options
Powertrain	Recalls	Crash Rating
Gas	2	N/T
HEV	0	N/T
Total	2

NHTSA tracks complaints by vehicle configuration when that detail is available. Model-level reports that do not identify a specific powertrain are included in Total but not assigned to a row. A plus sign indicates a confirmed minimum; — means no complaints could be attributed to that specific powertrain. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.

* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Ford Maverick reliable?

Yes, by our data it is rated excellent and ranks first among the five Maverick years we score. It is also above average against other 2026 trucks. No owner complaints have been filed, but the model year is new, so that record is still short.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Ford Maverick?

None so far, because owners have filed no complaints. The only known issues are two federal recalls, one in structure and one in power train. The data does not describe the defects, so check the VIN for details and repair status.

Does the 2026 Ford Maverick have any recalls?

Yes. Federal recall records list two recalls for this model year. One covers structure and the other covers power train. The records we have give no further detail, so ask a dealer to run the VIN and confirm each recall has been repaired.

Is the 2026 Ford Maverick more reliable than the 2025 model?

It rates higher. The 2026 is rated excellent, while the 2025 is rated good. The 2025 has 31 owner complaints and 6 recalls, against none and 2 for the 2026. The 2026 has had less time on the road to collect complaints.

Should I buy a 2026 Ford Maverick or wait for more reliability data?

The current data supports buying, since the rating is excellent and no complaints are on file. The record is short, though. Confirm both recalls were completed, and compare the truck with a 2025 if you want a longer track record.

Don’t buy a 2026 Ford Maverick without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Ford Maverick

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Ford Maverick does best on how many systems draw complaints (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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