Last updated: 2026-04-20

RELIABILITY SCORE: 80/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Ford Maverick Reliability Report

Name: 2026 Ford Maverick
Brand: Ford

The 2026 Ford Maverick scores 80/100 ("Excellent") with a complaint rate below the segment average. Data shows a dependable ownership experience across 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

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

Strong reliability record — a solid choice for buyers.

Should You Buy the 2026 Ford Maverick?

The 2026 Ford Maverick earns an Excellent 80/100 reliability score.

At 0 per 10,000 vehicles sold, its complaint rate sits below the Truck segment average, and most owners report a trouble-free ownership experience.

A solid choice for buyers prioritizing dependability, new or used.

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

Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.

Best Ford Maverick Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

The best Ford Maverick year is 2026 with a reliability score of 80/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2025 (77/100) and 2024 (71/100).

Top Pick

Excellent

2026

(Current Model)

2Recalls

0Complaints

Good

2025

6Recalls

31Complaints

Good

2024

14Recalls

139Complaints

Ford Maverick Years to Avoid

The worst Ford Maverick year is 2022 with a score of 54/100, primarily due to power train (155) issues. Also avoid 2023 (60/100).

Mixed

2022

27Recalls

572Complaints

Good

2023

20Recalls

308Complaints

See full Ford Maverick years-to-avoid analysis

Ford Maverick Reliability Score Trend

Ford Maverick reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 76/100 compared to 57/100 for older years.

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, the 2026 Ford Maverick is considered highly reliable with a score of 80/100 ("Excellent"). It has 2 recalls and a complaint rate below the segment average, placing it among the more dependable vehicles in its class.

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

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Ford Maverick. Based on available data, the main item to verify is recall completion.

How many recalls does the 2026 Ford Maverick have?

The 2026 Ford Maverick has 2 recalls on record. Recalls are safety or compliance fixes issued by the manufacturer and repaired at no cost at authorized dealerships.

Is the 2026 Ford Maverick expensive to maintain?

Maintenance cost estimates aren't available yet for the 2026 Ford Maverick. With very low complaint volume so far, there's no signal of above-average upkeep — but it's early.

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

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Look Up a VIN →

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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