The Ford Maverick helped relaunch the compact pickup category when it debuted for the 2022 model year. While its original $22,470 sticker price is a distant memory, this truck is still the Blue Oval’s entry-level model with a base MSRP of around $29,000. To call Maverick successful is an understatement; In 2024, Ford sold 131,000 units, more than the Bronco, Bronco Sport, Expedition, Mustang Mach-E, and Ranger. This success also started early, as we reported in 2022 that the Ford Maverick was destroying the Hyundai Santa Cruz in sales.
Given Ford’s record-setting number of recalls, it’s fair to wonder about the Maverick’s reliability. After all, model years with conventional gas engines have been hit with several recalls (26 for 2022, 19 for 2023, and 13 for 2024). Interestingly, none of the Maverick hybrids from these years have been recalled yet.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Consumer Reports (CR) gives the non-hybrid a better reliability score than its electrified counterpart, with both receiving roughly average ratings. So, at least in the case of Ford’s smallest pickup, the recall and CR’s reliability ratings don’t appear to be related. In fact, Consumer Reports also recommended each Maverick variant in its overall rating of new pickup trucks, with the gas version in first place and the hybrid in second place. Both had better reliability than the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which was the only other pickup on that list.
Read More: At $19,000, Is This 1977 Ford Pinto Cruising Wagon A Bucking Good Deal?
Ford Maverick (non-hybrid) reliability
A gray Ford Maverick on a dealer lot. – Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
The CR’ reliability rating for the 2.0-liter, turbocharged, gas-powered Maverick never dips into bad territory, at least through the 2025 model year. For its 2022 debut, the Maverick’s reliability sat in the middle of the organization’s “Reliability Judgment” scale, earning an average result. During its review, Consumer Reports highlighted the Maverick’s “decent ride, useful maneuverability, easy access, and decent fuel economy.”
For 2023 and 2024, Ford’s compact truck upped its game, earning good reliability scores from Consumer Reports. Interestingly, despite differences in dependability, owner satisfaction remained consistently in the good range regardless of model year. The 2025 brought a fresh exterior for the Maverick and standard all-wheel drive on turbo 2.0-liter models; Front-wheel drive was previously the base drivetrain. Also with the updates is a drop in reliability ratings, bringing their scores back to average. Despite its freshness, the 2025 Maverick just misses the mark.
Ford Maverick Hybrid Reliability
Driving a 2025 Ford Maverick through the mud – Ford
Consumer Reports often notes that hybrid powertrains are just as reliable as traditional internal combustion engines. However, it seems Ford didn’t get the memo. For 2022, the base Maverick came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The power plant drives the front wheels via an Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission or e-CVT. That hybridization is the difference between the e-CVT and the CVT. The combination didn’t get off to a good start in terms of reliability, with CR giving the Maverick Hybrid a poor rating. The group doesn’t get into specifics, but points to the drive system (think CV axle and other drivetrain gear) as a particularly bad problem spot. Hybrid battery and engine electrical systems are other red flags. If this truck were a student, it would probably have to repeat a grade.
Perhaps Ford engineers went to summer school, because the 2023 and 2024 versions managed to become C students (with average marks) for reliability in the eyes of the CR. Owner satisfaction also rises to the top ranks for these years. Along with the styling update, the 2025 saw the hybrid-powered model get all-wheel drive for the first time, but the added complexity of the running gear doesn’t affect dependability. This model year maintained its average reliability ranking, although it is still lower than the non-hybrid.
Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news delivered straight to your inbox, and add us as a preferred search source on Google.
Read the original article on Jalopnik.
