2023 Ford Maverick problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
53% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 Ford Maverick are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 70% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 51%).
Looking at a specific Maverick?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2023 Ford Maverick have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 176 of 331 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Maverick concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (53%), and the largest group is filed under power train (133). For comparison, the 2022 scores 50%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
Cleaner alternatives
Other midsize pickups with no elevated signal
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
Three of 176 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Ford Maverick?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2023 Ford Maverick involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 21 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Fix: 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…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an…
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will update the powertrain control module…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-267. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Risk: An undetected low battery charge can result in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-330. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S16.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick, 2020-2022 Escape, and 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may cause the vehicle to shift into neutral unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S33.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2022-2023 Maverick, and 2021-2023 Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as quickly as possible if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke. Dealers will replace the engine long-block in 2023…
15 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Before you buy a 2023 Ford Maverick
- Ask the seller whether the transmission has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed.
- Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many transmission faults hide once the car is warm.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the transmission.
- 21 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
- Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2023 Ford Maverick
Does the 2023 Ford Maverick have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 176 of 331 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Maverick concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (53%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Ford Maverick?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2023 Ford Maverick involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 21 in total: 25V685000 (equipment: electrical: engine block heater), 25V345000 (engine), 25V158000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Maverick years are better?
Among the Ford Maverick years we track, the 2022 (50%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (53%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2023 Ford Maverick?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Ford Maverick has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.