Ford Maverick: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford Maverick problems by model year, from 960 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2023 (53%, 176 drivetrain complaints) and 2022 (50%, 292 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 2 Ford Maverick years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
No Ford Maverick year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2022 (50%).
By raw volume, the 2022 drew the most drivetrain complaints (292 of 468 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford Maverick year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Maverick | high | 50% | 292 | 616 | 2/2 | 28 |
| 2023 Maverick | high | 53% | 176 | 344 | 1/2 | 21 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford Maverick years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford Maverick engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Ford Maverick involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 31 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2021 | 21V976000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V484000 | engine and engine cooling | 2022 |
| May 2023 | 23V380000 | engine | 2022–2023 |
| May 2024 | 24V330000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V127000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2022 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V133000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2022–2023 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V158000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2022–2023 |
| May 2025 | 25V345000 | engine | 2022–2023 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V685000 | equipment: electrical: engine block heater | 2022–2023 |
22 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2021 | 21V979000 | seat belts: rear/other: anchorage | 2022 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V193000 | electrical system: integrated trailer brake control | 2022 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V594000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2022 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V730000 | exterior lighting: brake lights | 2022 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V160000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2023 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V848000 | exterior lighting: turn signal: bulbs | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V140000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022–2023 |
| Mar 2024 | 24V223000 | tires | 2023 |
| Apr 2024 | 24V267000 | electrical system: body control module/bcm | 2022–2023 |
| Apr 2024 | 24V293000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2022–2023 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V590000 | electrical system: body control module/bcm | 2022 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V594000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2023 |
| Sep 2024 | 24V684000 | back over prevention: software | 2022–2023 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V019000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V094000 | exterior lighting: turn signal | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V095000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V123000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V124000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2022 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V132000 | electrical system: integrated trailer brake control | 2022 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2022–2023 |
| Feb 2026 | 26V104000 | electrical system: integrated trailer brake control | 2022–2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V340000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint | 2022–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford Maverick
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford Maverick
What are the worst years for the Ford Maverick?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford Maverick years are the 2023 (53% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2022 (50% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 2 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford Maverick?
No Ford Maverick year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2022 (50%).
Does the Ford Maverick have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 2 scored years, 468 of 912 relevant NHTSA complaints (51%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2022 and 2023.
Is the Ford Maverick reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 2 Ford Maverick years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 51% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford Maverick?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford Maverick years we track, out of 31 in total: 25V158000 (Mar 2025, 2022–2023), 25V345000 (May 2025, 2022–2023), 25V685000 (Oct 2025, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.