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2026 Ford Maverick
The verdict
Several concerns worth a close look before buying.
Cons
Official recall campaigns exist for this vehicle. See the Safety Recalls section for what failed and how it's fixed.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
At least one recall is serious enough that owners are told to park away from buildings. Treat this as urgent.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
2 of 3 owner complaints are about the unknown or other. Tap it in the heatmap to read the real reports.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
Pros
Nothing in this category from the official data.
Neutral
The government hasn't published a crash-test rating for this exact vehicle. We won't invent one.
Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings
Official EPA fuel economy. We show this as a neutral fact — whether it's 'good' depends on the vehicle's class.
Why we say this — U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov
Take this with you:
—Crash-test safety
0Safety recalls
0Owner complaints
0% involved a crash or fire
25–26Combined MPG
ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.
Safety Recalls
Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.
What is a recall, really?
A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Campaign 25V863000
What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The integrated park module may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The danger: A loss of park function can allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The park module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C69. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 26, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 25V884000
What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The instrument panel cover may separate when the air bag deploy.
The danger: An instrument panel cover separation can cause pieces of the cover to strike occupants, increasing the risk injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SE7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 19, 2025.
NHTSA Campaign 26V104000
What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The danger: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V157000
What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. The moonroof glass may not have been bonded correctly to the moonroof frame, which could result in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle.
The danger: A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the moonroof glass and replace the glass if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 18, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V201000
What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles. The Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) unit may fail to correctly detect the presence of an adult or child in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The danger: Failure to correctly detect a passenger may result in the air bag not deploying as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant classification sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C19. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V340000
What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.
The danger: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 4, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.
Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours
Where Owners Report Problems
Where owners report the most trouble — based on 3 complaints. Tap a part to read the real reports.
Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.
Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?
Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
Description On your vehicle, the instrument panel ip upper section may detach from the passenger air bag chute doors during air bag deployment. The airbag is expected to otherwise deploy in position and restrain the occupant as designed. Safety Risk In the event of a crash in which the vehicle deploys the passenger airbag, a part of the ip upper section may detach and strike a vehicle occupant, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Parts are available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to replace the ip upper section free of charge. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service.
The info screen, Instrument cluster and backup camera are very dark, it's so dark you can't see the fuel level and engine temperature level, if I switch the headlamp switch to off the screen gets brighter in auto mode its dark, lately it's been flickering and going bright to dark. been to dealer 2x they say," no updates available, no stored codes, lights operating as designed no issues found'. I have checked other vehicles 2026 same year model and their instrument cluster and backup camera and info screen are very bright and clearly visible. I have spoken to service manager at dealer and filed a compilate with ford on 5/26.This is very dangerous there are many children in my neighborhood and have concerns when backing up even using my mirrors and turn around to look I can't see behind the vehicle.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
The info screen, Instrument cluster and backup camera are very dark, it's so dark you can't see the fuel level and engine temperature level, if I switch the headlamp switch to off the screen gets brighter in auto mode its dark, lately it's been flickering and going bright to dark. been to dealer 2x they say," no updates available, no stored codes, lights operating as designed no issues found'. I have checked other vehicles 2026 same year model and their instrument cluster and backup camera and info screen are very bright and clearly visible. I have spoken to service manager at dealer and filed a compilate with ford on 5/26.This is very dangerous there are many children in my neighborhood and have concerns when backing up even using my mirrors and turn around to look I can't see behind the vehicle.
Windshields are made with glass far to thin. In the last 30 years i have never had a chip or crack on any vehicle. This is my second maverick, first one i had to replace windshield 3 times and fill 4 chips in 4 years. This new maverick i have now i have had for 1 month and already have a chip in my windshield. There is a major problem with the glass used on these trucks.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Description On your vehicle, the instrument panel ip upper section may detach from the passenger air bag chute doors during air bag deployment. The airbag is expected to otherwise deploy in position and restrain the occupant as designed. Safety Risk In the event of a crash in which the vehicle deploys the passenger airbag, a part of the ip upper section may detach and strike a vehicle occupant, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Parts are available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to replace the ip upper section free of charge. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Description On your vehicle, the instrument panel ip upper section may detach from the passenger air bag chute doors during air bag deployment. The airbag is expected to otherwise deploy in position and restrain the occupant as designed. Safety Risk In the event of a crash in which the vehicle deploys the passenger airbag, a part of the ip upper section may detach and strike a vehicle occupant, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Parts are available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to replace the ip upper section free of charge. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service.
Many crash/fire reportsSome crash/fire reportsNo crash/fire in reports
Color = how serious (crash/fire involvement) · number = how many (share of all this car's reports). Tap any part to read real owner complaints.
Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours
Crash-Test Safety Ratings
Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.
How to read these stars
These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.
2026 FORD MAVERICK PU/CC N/A FWD
Source: NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings · re-checked about every 24 hours
Fuel Economy (MPG)
Official EPA estimates — the real numbers, not the brochure.
25–26Combined MPG
22–23City MPG
30–32Highway MPG
$2,350–$2,450Est. fuel cost / yr
Across 2 official EPA configurations · Fuel: Regular. Pick an engine/trim above for exact numbers.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov · re-checked about every 24 hours