2023 Ford Maverick Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH and making a left turn into an intersection, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and shut off in the middle of the intersection. During the failure, the power steering and power brakes became inoperable, and the vehicle almost crashed into a utility pole and fire hydrant before stopping. Additionally, a second vehicle almost crashed into the rear of the vehicle after the vehicle lost power. The contact stated that immediately after the failure, the vehicle was restarted and operated normally. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 43,900.

NHTSA ID

11775055

Incident

Nov 1, 2026

Mileage

43,900 mi

Battery drained after replacement. Suspected software issues.

NHTSA ID

11763877

Incident

Sep 8, 2026

During acceleration from 40-60 miles per hour, there was a pronounced vibration/shudder through the front end of the vehicle. After taking it to the dealership, they advised both front axles would need to be replaced. The catastrophic failure of an axle is likely to cause a car crash. The problem has been identified by Ford Motor Company and also confirmed by the Ford Dealership where I got it fixed. Ford Motor Company issued Customer Satisfaction Program 25N09 On September 17, 2025. My vehicle is a 2023 model year, but produced at the same plant and in the same time frame as the the ones mentioned in 25N09. There were no warning lamps or messages about the problem. The only indication was the heavy vibration a few thousand miles prior to getting it looked at.

NHTSA ID

11736287

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

The throttle body component of the vehicle failed at approximately 40,000 miles. While this is an engine component that experiences normal wear and tear, throttle body valves fail anywhere between 75,000 and 100,000 miles. I have owned previous vehicles, each crossing the 100,000-mile mark, with no replacement or concern with the throttle body. My concern with this vehicle's throttle body relates to the outdoor weather conditions when the vehicle reported an issue. The outside air temperature was 3 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate winds and a wind chill of approximately -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Researching online, this appears to be a recurrent issue among other owners of this particular vehicle. When started, the vehicle appeared to misfire, potentially entering limp mode. An amber wrench light illuminated, indicating to have the vehicle serviced, and the engine light illuminated, indicating a problem with the emissions system. Additionally, the vehicle pushed a notification to my smartphone that stated the following: "The engine control system has detected the electronic throttle body is not responding as commanded and requires service." The vehicle was turned off and sat for 15 minutes. When the vehicle was restarted, the wrench light turned off, but the engine light remained on, not flashing. The vehicle operated normally, with no misfire. The failure of the throttle body in adversely cold conditions may cause the engine to stall or misfire, decreasing driver control and increasing the potential of a crash. It is of concern that this component seems to have failed early compared to other vehicles currently on the market. I believe the weather to be a contributing factor. The servicing dealership has confirmed that the throttle body must be replaced and has the appropriate part on back order. As this vehicle was not involved in an accident, no police reports or insurance claims have been filed. I plan on reaching out to the manufacturer to address these concerns.

NHTSA ID

11713754

Incident

Jan 24, 2026

While driving on the highway at normal speed in normal conditions, I suddenly lost ABS, traction control, downhill assist, hold assist, AdvanceTrac, Cruise control, and a severe reduction of power. The engine went into limp mode and would not rev past 3k RPM. This made driving on the highway very dangerous as I could not keep up speed and risked getting rear-ended. The wrench icon came on, as well as ABS and traction control. Cruise control would not work. Messages appeared stating "Service engine soon", "Service AdvanceTrac", "Downhill assist issue", "Hold assist issue", and a few more I can't recall. Sometimes they go away on its own and the vehicle works fine, sometimes restarting the vehicle clears the issue. The issues will appear randomly, sometimes very soon after starting the car and driving, sometimes 100 miles later.

NHTSA ID

11671480

Incident

Jul 6, 2025

Two problems 1. Auto Start/Stop feature 2. Pre-Collision Assist (1) Auto Start/Stop feature- unpredictable.. 1. My engine turns off at busy intersection for red light with a vehicle coming in fast from behind, I hit gas to move forward . My truck revs hard from starting with foot on gas and darts forward. Almost went into cross traffic. 2. There is a current recall on Maverick batteries. Numerous complaints on the Facebook Ford Maverick of vehicle shutting off for auto-stop, but not starting in traffic conditions due to the battery. Fact - any electrical or computer problem and your vehicle is now stranded in an intersection. The Maverick has several electrical recalls. 3. I have timed my Vehicle Restart response on camera. It takes approx 1 more second for my vehicle engine to re-start and advance forward. For many accidents 1 second is the difference of life and death. 4. When I stop to put the vehicle in reverse, it will auto-stop while I am shifting. My vehicle is now sitting in the road, until I hit reverse and no brake, then "jumps" backwards in reverse. 5. The feature cannot be turned off permanently- it must be turned off manually for every trip. Summary - I have sent these concerns to Ford. They will not provide a way to turn off this feature. Only option is to pay a mechanic to disable it with an aftermarket product, which could of course, damage something else. (2) Front Collision Warning System - Has gone off three times for no valid reason. One time simply passing an oncoming vehicle 2 times passing police vehicles on the side of the road with flashing lights. I have lowered it's alert level to low and seems to help. But clearly, Emergency lights setting off a system that takes some control of stirring and braking is a concern.

NHTSA ID

11639495

Incident

Jul 3, 2023

The plastic cooling system overflow expansion tank sign is stress cracking in the inlet tubing at approximately 8K miles. It has gotten worse with my odometer at 12K now. I have not contacted Ford regarding a warranty replacement because they would just replace it with the same defective part. I have further investigated this issue and found several documented cases with complete failure of the tank at a little as 20 K miles.

NHTSA ID

11619385

Incident

May 25, 2024

2023 Ford Maverick 2.0L engine current mileage 5300 Noticed oil leak on top of engine valve cover. Ford Mechanic stated there are (3) current service related engine leak issues with Maverick. (1) Plastic valve cover cracked (2) Turbo Oil leak (3) Timing Cover Leak. Mechanic stated a die test will need to be performed. After review of online forums, this appears to be a more common issue and can cause engine fire, especially since High Pressure fuel pump is also located on top of the engine. With Ford spreading repairs across three known issues, A recall investigation should be opened. Repair Sevice schedule for 9/19/24. Can provide repair invoices if desired after service. From research the valve cover, most likely culprit based on oil leak location, is a 2 week repair.

NHTSA ID

11613769

Incident

Sep 10, 2024