2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)11125.9%
- Electrical8219.1%
- Engine7717.9%
- Driver assistance6715.6%
- Brakes327.5%
- Fuel system163.7%
- Visibility81.9%
- Suspension81.9%
- Exterior lighting71.6%
- Steering61.4%
- Other / unspecified40.9%
- Tires & wheels40.9%
- Body & structure40.9%
- Airbags10.2%
- Seat belts10.2%
- Interior & seats10.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
At around 27K miles the two front CV axles began to fail. I brought it to the Ford dealership and they confirmed that both needed to be replaced. It was a $1600 repair. There have been a lot of complaints from Ford Maverick owners who have had CV axle failures at very low miles on their vehicles. These parts typically last 100K to 150K miles and it's not unusual for them to last the lifetime of the vehicle. There is no reason both front CV axles should be failing with 27K miles on a vehicle. This should be covered by a recall.
Significant disruptive vibration upon acceleration at high speeds due to premature failure of front CV Axles. Confirmed failure of both axles by manufacturer at approximately 61,000 miles.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
12 volt electrical system no power. Dealer changed battery cable wiring harness. Received vehicle back. One week later vehicle exhibited no 12 volt power. Informed that it could be the Thinkware dash cam. Which was purchased from Ford and Ford dealer installed. Now informed that it could be the dash cam itself. The dash cam was installed via the OBD port which is always powered. This will drain the 12 volt battery unless vehicle is driven for extended periods. Ford is aware of the issue but no remedy for over 3 weeks. I have told the Ford dealer to have the dash cam installed so that when the ignition is on the dash cam is also powered on and off when the ignition switch is turned off. Using this method negates the parking mode on the dash cam. Another issue is when the drivers side door is opened the interior lights do not activate. Ford notified. Problem not resolved. Low 12 volt battery issue?
12-Volt battery gets extremely hot and gives off invisible fumes. Model number is BAGM-H14. Vehicle was towed to dealership for diagnostic evaluation. Also, dashboard shows various warning messages. Battery could not be charged, plus does not maintain charge.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Eninge started knocking, flashed warnings to pull over immediately. I did and had the vehicle towed to Westway Ford in Irving. Their investigation showed the engine needs a full rebuild and they are claiming it is not covered under warranty. They shared pictures & a written repair estimate. Doing an analysis of the pictures they took and their description of what happened, combined with what I experienced and observed, this appears to be a textbook case of the behavior and outcome of the mechanical failure described in recall 23S27.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was a fuel odor on the exterior and interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a fractured fuel seal. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer declined to provide a free diagnostic test. The contact referenced the notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V380000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 45,300.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The truck was being towed behind a motor home, while making a normal left turn from a complete stop the truck began swing wildly from side to side (death wobble). After stopping I found a dash warning "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" and "Drive Mode Not Available". At that time the truck steering was very difficult to turn, the truck was not drivable. This is the second time this has happened. In June 2024 the exact same thing happened. Ford replaced the steering assembly (twice, the first part was defective) under warranty. I believe this to be a safety hazard. I tow the truck behind the motor home in order to have reliable transportation when I arrive to a destination and also to provide a safe way to get help if some incident occurs while on the road (motor home break down) or for an emergency at the destination. Both steering assist incidents occurred when I was in a remote area with no cell service or internet service. Had there been any kind of medical emergency it could have had unwelcome results.
AUTOMATIC REVVING INCIDENT 1 DATE: November 25, 2025 TIME: about 4:05pm LOCATION: [XXX] WEATHER: Slight rain, around 37º F VEHICLE STATUS: In Park, heat dial turned on. DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE: Turned key to on position while in park. ICE engine immediately turned on and revved all the way, as if the accelerator pedal was pressed down all the way. Pedal was NOT under floor mats. Immediately turned key to off position, let sit for a moment. Turned key to on position again and issue seemed to be resolved. No check engine lights or other codes were showing on the dash cluster. AUTOMATIC REVVING INCIDENT 2 & 3 DATE: December 2, 2025 TIME: about 4:05pm LOCATION: [XXX] WEATHER: Clear, around 27º F VEHICLE STATUS: In drive, heat dial turned on. DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE: Turned key to on position while in park. Heat was on. Immediately turned dial to “D,” and engine proceeded to again rev all the way up. However, this time, full power was transferred to wheels, causing vehicle to attempt to lunge forward. Luckily, I was on an icy patch of the road, and the tires spun instead of gaining traction. I immediately slammed the brakes and turned the car off. Waited about 2 minutes and then turned key to on position, and the exact same thing happened again. No check engine lights or other codes were showing on the dash cluster. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The Ford Maverick has a known issue with "grabby brakes." I recently took my vehicle in for service and was advised the vehicle had an outstanding service bulletin to solve this problem. The repair given by Ford is ineffectual. There is a potential problems, even at low speeds, for sudden braking and collisions. This is ongoing at every stop and experienced by other Maverick owners.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the pedal vibrated and pulsated, but the vehicle did not immediately stop, causing the braking distance to be extended. Additionally, the contact stated that the warning message "Pre Collision Activated" was erroneously displayed while driving with no other vehicles or large objects nearby. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Receiving daily Battery Saver Mode notices telling me some remote features including lock/unlock may temporarily be unavailable. Not to use my AC and go for longer rides, which I have done with no change. My interior lights are not coming on. My radio powers off and on while driving. Constant clicking and noises come from the vehicle when turned off. Difficulties starting the vehicle at times. Feel power losses when driving and accelerating, feel like I could be rear ended when this happens. In doing some online research, I am clearly not alone in this issue, when I contacted Ford and the dealership they both acted as if this is not a current issue and I would have to it inspected by a Ford dealership with no guarantee that the inspection would be covered. I found a recall 24S24 that sounds like my exact issue, yet they say it's not been authorized for my vehicle.
The car have a Big vibration when speed up over 45 MPH
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Recall 24S51 from Ford says that 87,000 Maverick trucks have had the wiper motor fail due to moisture getting into the housing due to a sealant problem with the supplier. The recalled VINs can have a free inspection and replacement. I believe my VIN is also impacted by this problem because 37 months and 31,000 miles into my car, my wipers failed. I was driving in light rain and the wipers would only go up about 6" from their resting position before returning to the resting position, then repeat the same thing. Thankfully the rain wasn't so heavy that I had to stop and could continue driving home (very carefully!). We've had a very dry winter, so I haven't used my wipers in months. The prior week before the failure, we had a big snow/rain storm spanning two days with about 1.5" of moisture coming down. Hence, I think this storm precipitated, literally, my issue. I took my Maverick to the Ford dealership for a hitch recall, asking about this wiper motor recall problem at the same time. I picked up my truck today and after it's been sitting in the sun, my wipers work again. It sure seems that when moisture is getting into the housing, the wipers fail, then the sun dries it out, then the wipers work. Note, my truck is not garaged. I believe my VIN should be part of the 24S51 or 24-594 recall. Since in my almost 60 years of driving, I've never had a failure of a windshield wiper motor in this way, it seems to be a very rare thing to occur. With a recall of this part in other Mavericks similar to mine, I think mine is actually affected as well.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V594000 (VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the part was on backorder. The contact had not experienced the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
At approximately 37,000 miles, the CV axles on my 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid required replacement due to premature wear. Now, at around 62,200 miles, the vehicle is experiencing excessive vibration and shaking during acceleration, particularly noticeable at moderate to high speeds. This issue appears to be related to the powertrain or suspension system and may indicate a recurring or unresolved problem with the CV axles or associated components. The vibrations are severe enough to affect vehicle control, especially during lane changes or merging onto highways. When accelerating to merge into highway traffic, the vehicle shakes and vibrates so profusely that it feels like the car is going to shake apart. This makes it difficult to accelerate normally and safely, putting both the driver and surrounding vehicles at risk. The shaking could lead to loss of traction or steering instability, increasing the likelihood of an accident. This issue has been widely reported by other Ford Maverick owners and has been a frequently discussed problem in forums and owner communities for over a year. Despite its prevalence, there appears to be no long-term fix other than replacing the CV axle assembly with the same OEM part, which may be the root cause of the problem. That is why I feel it is important to bring this to your attention — it is a known issue with no real correction, and it continues to affect vehicle safety. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the onset of the problem. The component is available for inspection upon request.
On acceleration from a stand still or in motion, the vehicle will start to shake/wobble pretty violently. It will go away when letting go of the gas. Seems to be coming from the front end wheels. Going under the car and checking all connecting points, the CV axle has a lot of play. You can move it around.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Receiving daily Battery Saver Mode notices telling me some remote features including lock/unlock may temporarily be unavailable. Not to use my AC and go for longer rides, which I have done with no change. My interior lights are not coming on. My radio powers off and on while driving. Constant clicking and noises come from the vehicle when turned off. Difficulties starting the vehicle at times. Feel power losses when driving and accelerating, feel like I could be rear ended when this happens. In doing some online research, I am clearly not alone in this issue, when I contacted Ford and the dealership they both acted as if this is not a current issue and I would have to it inspected by a Ford dealership with no guarantee that the inspection would be covered. I found a recall 24S24 that sounds like my exact issue, yet they say it's not been authorized for my vehicle.
Total 12v battery drain/failure which is a known problem with the Ford Maverick Hybrid, could not even put hazards on to avoid getting hit on the side of the road. Ford tests battery and says battery is good, but the problem is the Maverick Hybrid is not adequately charging the battery when it is driven.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The truck was being towed behind a motor home, while making a normal left turn from a complete stop the truck began swing wildly from side to side (death wobble). After stopping I found a dash warning "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" and "Drive Mode Not Available". At that time the truck steering was very difficult to turn, the truck was not drivable. This is the second time this has happened. In June 2024 the exact same thing happened. Ford replaced the steering assembly (twice, the first part was defective) under warranty. I believe this to be a safety hazard. I tow the truck behind the motor home in order to have reliable transportation when I arrive to a destination and also to provide a safe way to get help if some incident occurs while on the road (motor home break down) or for an emergency at the destination. Both steering assist incidents occurred when I was in a remote area with no cell service or internet service. Had there been any kind of medical emergency it could have had unwelcome results.
This vehicle has chronic clicking when turning , when taken to a mechnanic i was informed the CV Axles both were torn and that it was a common issue for the 22 ford mavericks and they issue replacements for free. However when it comes to this they don’t cover it. The issue is still present and left untreated could be a dangerous issue.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
This vehicle has chronic clicking when turning , when taken to a mechnanic i was informed the CV Axles both were torn and that it was a common issue for the 22 ford mavericks and they issue replacements for free. However when it comes to this they don’t cover it. The issue is still present and left untreated could be a dangerous issue.
On acceleration from a stand still or in motion, the vehicle will start to shake/wobble pretty violently. It will go away when letting go of the gas. Seems to be coming from the front end wheels. Going under the car and checking all connecting points, the CV axle has a lot of play. You can move it around.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
Left rear tire blew out was in left lane was hard to get off the road all tires have inflation issue continental 225/65 r 17
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: ProContact TX, Tire Size: 225/65/R17, DOT Number: 1P50FBC3K. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, she heard an abnormal bang or popping sound. The contact stated that the low tire pressure warning light for the rear driver's side tire was displayed. The contact stated that his wife stated that the tire pressure fell to zero pressure in seconds. The contact stated that his wife was able to exit the highway and called the contact. The contact arrived and changed the tire and had not observed any damages to the tire, and there were no signs of a blowout. The contact stated that prior to the tire failure he had noticed that all four tires had a single indent on the sidewall the width of a pencil starting at the rim and running to where the sidewall the tread was joined. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or tire dealer. The tire was not diagnosed. The vehicle manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate vehicle and tire failure mileages were 15,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that the interior passenger’s side floorboard was wet. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
My driver side door hinge has a broken spot weld and has come unattached from the door and it goes inside and blocks the power window from coming down when the door is closed. Ford has had these breaking hinge problems since 2019. I took it to the Ford dealership for them to look at the problem and they want me to pay for it. I have attached pictures. As of October 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a potential defect in the front door weld of the 2020 and 2021 Ford Escape and its hybrid variant. This defect could cause the door to open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving, which is a significant safety risk. Some owners have reported a popping noise followed by the door opening, while others have reported their doors not opening at all after a creaking noise. Some owners have also reported being unable to close the vehicle after the door opens. If the issue requires a recall, it could affect up to 346,071 vehicles.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owned a 2023 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, another vehicle driving at approximately 20 MPH crashed into the front passenger side. The vehicle came to a stop at a ditch after the crash. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. There was no property damage. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a rotator cuff tear and a pinched nerve. It is unknown if the other three people in the other vehicle sustained any injuries. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 37,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driver seat belt does not securely latch into the buckle, just falls out after seat belt is inserted. Vehicle was brought to Vista Ford in Woodland Hills, California and inspected by service advisor. They are too busy today and scheduled an appointment for later in the week to come back. Meanwhile I am driving without a functioning seatbelt.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Cracked seam on the crossmember supporting the driver seat. While investigating a squeaking seat. I discovered a hairline crack in the metal that is under the cloth driver seat. Upon further investigation, I discovered that when pressure is applied to the seat, a bigger crack appears where a cross member is joined under the seat. This is causing the seat to flex more than usual putting more friction on the plastic mounts causing the squeaking sound.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .