VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Ford Maverick2022–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Ford Maverick
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Ford Maverick Years to Avoid
18 recalls · 107 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14 recalls · 71 complaints
1 reported injury
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9 recalls · 51 complaints
9 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Maverick became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Ford Maverick — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 46 | 28 | 40 | Good |
| 2025 | 10 | 15 | 3 | — | 45 | 43 | 44 | Good |
| 2024 | 9 | 51 | 9 | — | 36 | 56 | 43 | Caution |
| 2023 | 14 | 71 | 1 | — | 32 | 66 | 44 | Avoid |
| 2022 | 18 | 107 | 7 | — | 21 | 73 | 39 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Ford Maverick Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Maverick compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Maverick to buy?+
The 2025 Ford Maverick scores highest on our Buyer Score (44/100) — combining a reliability score of 45/100 with a value score of 43/100. It has 10 recalls and 15 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Maverick years have the most problems?+
The 2022, 2023, 2024 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2022 Maverick leads with 18 recalls and 107 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Maverick problems?+
The most frequently reported Ford Maverick issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.