2023 Ford Maverick Problems

What owners report

Complaints on the 2023 Maverick cluster around two themes: front CV axles that develop a shake or vibration under acceleration, and a rearview camera image that freezes or fails while reversing. Owners also describe 12-volt battery and electrical quirks on hybrid trucks, including repeated battery-saver messages and low-voltage no-starts. Many of these reports arrive at relatively low mileage, and several owners say the problem returned after an initial repair.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front CV axle vibration and premature wear

   • 18 complaints (22%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe a shake or violent vibration from the front end under acceleration, sometimes accompanied by clicking or grinding noises while turning. Complaints say the dealer diagnosed one or both front CV axles or shafts as worn and replaced them, sometimes under warranty and sometimes with parts on backorder. Several owners report the replacement axles failed again within tens of thousands of miles. Reported from roughly 10,000 miles up into the 60,000s, with many clustered between 20,000 and 50,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, accelerate from about 40-60 mph and on an incline, and feel for any shake through the wheel or floor. Ask whether either front axle has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently reported my Ford maverick for the failure of the front right CV joint/axle at 22k miles. Well when I picked it up from Ford. They notified me that the front left is also bad. And I'm at 23k miles. These are clearly an issue that's happening everywhere.”

   NHTSA complaint #11646623, filed 2025-03

   “Traveling 350 miles for work, my Maverick was at 2400 miles when both of my front cv boots were spewing grease all over the underside of the truck, stranding me away from home. The truck would shake violently when accelerating to the point I had to pull over. With all the destruction on the underside of the truck, the local dealer (not preferred) informed me that “they didn’t know who or when” but a missing clamp on one side and a torn boot on the other and denied me from claiming my warranty at 2400 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11592535, filed 2024-06
2. 2
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera freezes or shows no image

   • 26 complaints (32%)
   • median 13,658 mi at 2.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe the backup camera image freezing, going black, or failing to appear when shifting into reverse, in some cases after the recall software update had already been applied. Owners say a key cycle or leaving the truck off for a while sometimes restores it. Several complaints were filed by owners who had received recall notice but were told the repair part was not yet available. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low miles up to about 50,000, and often intermittent rather than constant.

   Recall 24V684000Recall 25V4420001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Shift into reverse a few times and confirm the image appears promptly and does not freeze. Ask whether recall 24V684 or 25V442 has been completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Camera freezes when I'm in reverse. Backed up in to a telephone pole last year and had several thousand dollars in damage. Paid the deductible, my rates went up and my cars value went down. Was backing out of parking space yesterday and almost hit a small child when it froze again. Ford needs to fix this issue that they have known about for ahwile.”

   NHTSA complaint #11643901, filed 2025-02

   “I have previously had the backup camera recall repaired/updated the software and it worked fine for awhile. This week I had it freeze up on me and almost cause me to back end to another vehicle”

   NHTSA complaint #11679520, filed 2025-08
3. 3
   Electrical system

   12-volt battery drain and battery-saver mode (hybrid)

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 3.3 yrs old
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners of hybrid trucks report frequent battery-saver alerts, interior lights and door locks not working, and occasions where the truck would not start without a jump. Complaints say dealers replaced the battery, sometimes under warranty or recall, but the same messages returned later. Some owners describe being told further repairs would be at their own cost. Often described after the truck sits for a few days, in cold weather, and at varying mileage with no clear pattern.

   Recall 25V019000Recall 24V267000Recall 25V158000

   What to check: Ask for the battery replacement and related recall service history, and check whether battery-saver messages appear after the truck has sat for a couple of days.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I believe the OEM 12v battery that is used in the Ford Maverick hybrid is underpowered and has issues that seem to plague the vehicle. I’ve owned the truck for almost two years now and started getting “battery saver” alerts when the truck would sit for a few days over the week or during a vacation. But recently I’ve been getting the warning far more frequently and not even siting for more than 24 hours. Last month I had a warning that the power could turn off at any moment and need to pull over immediately. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11705141, filed 2025-12

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11639495, filed 2025-01
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield and glass issues (inside frost, rear glass

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 5,025 mi at 1.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe frost forming on the inside of the windshield in cold weather, dashboard reflections washing out the view in daylight, scratches appearing in the driver's view, and in one case the rear windshield shattering while parked. Owners say dealers either could not reproduce the concern or described it as normal. Reported across a range of mileage, including very low miles and cold-weather conditions for the interior frost reports.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the windshield for scratches or haze in the driver's view and check for signs of moisture inside the cabin. On a cold morning, look for condensation or frost on the inner glass.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2023 Ford Maverick’s rear windshield shattered. No reasonable explanation for that to happen. Could have caused personal injury to driver or passengers. Reported it to both dealer and Ford customer service representative. Ford Case Number is 454-673-63. Called State Farm insurance to notify them. Vehicle was in garage and the glass must have shattered sometime in the middle of the night.”

   NHTSA complaint #11549966, filed 2023-10

   “Frost INSIDE windshield on 2023 Maverick. No frost on the outside of windshield. Frost not in the 2 other vehicles parked in the same location. Available for inspection, must be cold enough weather. Cannot see to drive, never had a vehicle needing only the inside of the windsheild scrapped. Experienced here 2nd day in a row, as the weather conditions have become cold enough. Not inspected by others. No messages, or warning lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #11557182, filed 2023-11
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Driver door hard to open or close, hinge noise

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Complaints describe the driver's front door becoming stiff to open and close, popping or grinding noises, and in some cases cracked spot welds or a damaged door check inside the door. Owners say dealers diagnosed the door as needing replacement, and some were offered only partial coverage. A related complaint notes the window not rolling fully down. Reported from low miles up to the 80,000s, with several reports in the first couple of years of ownership.

   What to check: Open and close the driver's door slowly and listen for popping or scraping, and check that the window travels its full range. Ask whether the door check or welds have been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle drivers front door is very hard to operate, very hard to shut, window wont roll all the way down. Vehicle makes popping noise when operating drivers front door. Door wont close all the way at times due to door check binding inside of door. Ford has had a customer satisfaction service repair for Escape model vehicles with similar problems. Ford reference for this action is 23B56. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11691841, filed 2025-10

   “The contact owns a 2023 FORD Maverick. The contact stated he noticed a odd sound from the driver side door when closing and opening, the winch on the driver side door is loose and scraping the inside of the door frame. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed it to need a new driver side door. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11736106, filed 2026-05, 83,000 miles

Buying note. Check the front axles for vibration on a test drive and confirm the rearview camera recalls have been completed, since both are the most frequently reported concerns. Ask for the full service history on hybrid trucks, particularly battery replacements and software updates.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.