Are Mavericks Lemons?

[James K]

Well, it's a Ford, it's made in Mexico, it's cheap. Strike one, strike two, strike three.
I bought mine because it was new, different, fun. When, not if, it turns into a turd, I will flush it and get another Toyota.

Ump needs glasses. I had a few fords prior to this Maverick that I'd rate good. That may or may not translate to Maverick. As for made in Mexico, well from what I've seen in my life, Mexican made products are above average quality. I will agree that Cost was a factor in it's construction but I can't say it's cheap. Maybe you and I define cheap differently but when I think of a cheap car I think something like Versa S. Like Mercedes, I think Toyota is gaming it's history. I'm not sure their quality is what it used to be.

Sponsored

 

[OneAlienBoi]

I wouldn't posted if I didn't have two half axles and 4 software updates at 40k. It is what it is.

True, but again, as far as all the repairs and things that could go wrong in a car, having to replace CV axle boots does seem like one of the most mild/inexpensive things to go wrong thankfully. A little over $100 per wheel, it's not free, but it doesn't seem to be the end of the world.

I don't know what it feels like, if it's as aggressive as the hybrid shudder back in the day where it feels like going over a rumble strip, of of the shaking is more subtle than that.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

I am not an automotive engineer, and neither are the majority of Maverick owners. But I have had all the software updates, and my Maverick still WANTS to do the hybrid shudder, but is being suppressed. My Maverick still WANTS to do the low speed stopping lurch, but is being suppressed. Ford's software fixes amount to you taking some cough suppressant. Your body still wants to cough, but is being drugged to not cough. My Maverick still shudders and lurches, but it's been lessened by compensating software, not fixed. And how is the new software update supposed to stop the catastrophic engine failures that result in the fires? Software doesn't fix faulty blocks of whatever the real issue is.

That's odd, we got the hybrid shudder update done some time ago, and it hasn't come up once in the months since. Yours is the first example I've seen of that software update not being super effective.

 

[icegradner]

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Not sure how you do that with a truck, but take that for what it is.

Yeah there are lots of little issues with these trucks, software primarily and build quality issues. Some people either don't notice because it's what they are used to (long time Ford owners) or justify it by saying it's "cheap". It's just a matter of what you consider okay for the dollars spent. Some of it is that build quality industry wide is going downhill (built to last the powertrain warranty), to force people to buy vehicles more often.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

I just got a recall today for BOTH Mavericks (24S27/NHTSA 24V293) with a new needed BCM calibration because one or the other taillight might go out due to a "current overload."

These guys at Ford need to stop all that fancy BS and hire an engineer who made cars in the 1960s to teach them the value a basic 12 volt systems...they don't always need an extra computer module to do something simple. Someone has completely abandoned the K.I.S.S. principle.

The 1960s? When the average lifespan of a new car was less than 7 years, your average American car had 12 defects off the factory floor, and you were on your second transmission after 3 years? The 60s was hardly a high water mark in terms of car longevity good sir.

In fact, to put it into perspective because some people believe the 90s and early 2000s is where car reliability peaked, someone pulled data from I believe it was JD power, whichever site measures the average amount of issues brands have per 100 cars. In 2003, Toyota, the most reliable brand on the list, had something like 200 or more defects and issues per 100 cars on average. Someone compared that to more modern rankings, and every brand on that list aside from like Range Rover had better average quality than Toyotas from the early 2000s. Shows how far we've come.

 

[BradnChristine]

The 1960s? When the average lifespan of a new car was less than 7 years, your average American car had 12 defects off the factory floor, and you were on your second transmission after 3 years? The 60s was hardly a high water mark in terms of car longevity good sir.

In fact, to put it into perspective because some people believe the 90s and early 2000s is where car reliability peaked, someone pulled data from I believe it was JD power, whichever site measures the average amount of issues brands have per 100 cars. In 2003, Toyota, the most reliable brand on the list, had something like 200 or more defects and issues per 100 cars on average. Someone compared that to more modern rankings, and every brand on that list aside from like Range Rover had better average quality than Toyotas from the early 2000s. Shows how far we've come.

Guess I needed to specify the ELECTRICAL part of the 60s engineering.

But...Mustangs, Camaros, and a lot of great cars came out of the 1960s engineering. Even the Dodge Dart GTS 383 and 440 qualified.

 

[9monthslater]

Had mine 2 years,no issues. YMMV.

 

[Serow]

Yeah there are lots of little issues with these trucks, software primarily and build quality issues. Some people either don't notice because it's what they are used to (long time Ford owners) or justify it by saying it's "cheap". It's just a matter of what you consider okay for the dollars spent. Some of it is that build quality industry wide is going downhill (built to last the powertrain warranty), to force people to buy vehicles more often.

You are implying that anyone who is saying they aren't having issues with their Maverick is either oblivious or a Maverick apologist. But the obvious third explanation is... plenty of people are just legitimately not having any issues with their Maverick.

 

[Sykotyk]

Guess I needed to specify the ELECTRICAL part of the 60s engineering.

But...Mustangs, Camaros, and a lot of great cars came out of the 1960s engineering. Even the Dodge Dart GTS 383 and 440 qualified.

The parts may seem more expensive when they're being replaced, but it's far cheaper to design and build where everything is running on the same main hub. Which is why every car manufacturer has switched over to the module system. They'd have to run so many different wires from up front that the wiring harness to the car would look far worse than what you see today. Especially with 'power everything'.

I know in my 2003 Buick Regal when the rear power window failed it was the motor. But that didn't make replacing it any cheaper or easier. Car was towed to the junk yard years later without a working power window on either side in the rear.

I remember when my parents 1993 Olds Cutlass was 'new fangled' because it didn't have a carburetor or a distributor cap. Instead, it was a TBI and had coil packs. It was also front wheel drive v6 sitting sideways. I remember when the vac system cracked and suddenly the car wasn't running right and turned out the EGR was not working right because a suction line was leaking.

Now with these new hybrid systems, eCVT, and computer controlled everything to squeeze out every mile of MPG, we're just learning even more about cars to get the job done. And sadly, that means plug-n-play with a lot of parts rather than just hunting down a chaffed wire or broken connector like days of yore.

 

[Zed79]

As an ASE tech I read this board and think The maverick looks pretty good. Look at what would see on the ranger forums when they would change something. The ford Ranger had these same type of posts happing. As a dodge tech my wife drove ford rangers 3 of them 87/93/98 to over 300k/05 sport trac in my driveway 320k/ and now the Maverick.

 

[WNYEscapee]

Yeah, buying a Toyota, that will fix the problem....
I've worked at a Toyota dealership on two occasions, and I was surprised how much their quality had slipped. I thought they were in competition with Ford for recalls and TSBs to fix problems.
A coworker bought a new Rav4 when this generation came out and almost immediately regretted it as he had so many issues and complaints. It took a while and a lot of complaining to finally resolve most of the issues, but a new rear differential and half a dozen other repairs was starting to make him happy.

There's no manufacturer that doesn't have a problem -- none. The corporate software we used allowed us to see the list of all recalls that each brand we sold and most had dozens and dozens of recalls. Over the past ten years the brand I worked at with the lowest number of recalls was Nissan.

 

[Guv]

I am considering a trade for a same year (22) Ranger Super Cab with the same milage, 8,000 miles. Mostly because of long term reliability concerns, no real problems yet with my FX4 but too many recalls for silly stuff.
And I'm not spending an arm and a leg for an extended warranty either.

 

[Zed79]

That 22 ranger has more recalls than my 22 Mav. 10/100k for less than $2100 I think the odds are in my favor one valve job, trans, or turbo I come out ahead. Parts still cost money and time has value.

 

[Tim d]

I bought a 2022 Hybrid used. 28k when I bought it. I love this little truck. I commute 45 minutes each way daily and between the gas mileage, how easy and fun it is to drive and the the practical use I get as a delivery vehicle, it really works for me. But I just had both CV axles replaced an 40 k miles and 3 recalls done. All at Fords expense but this car will be out of warranty in 10k. Are Mavericks just not well built and should I get rid of it before it goes out af drive train warranty? Curious to see other owners responses. I know on forums you always hear the bad stuff, but it seems to be a little worse for the Maverick.

By reading this forum I'd say yes,but perhaps all manufacturers vehicles have problems if you also read their forums. Over one year with our ecoboost and not one issue.

 

[BradnChristine]

We both love our Mavericks, and the software recalls are just a minor annoyance. The dealership did one on the 2023 in the driveway, and I'll likely have them do this new one (due on the 2023 AND the 2024) in the driveway as well. Last time I asked, the dealership said it was "good for the Service Dept metrics" for me to have it done at home instead of driving 3 miles to the dealer.

Not a lemon in any way. Comfortable and reliable.

I just wish I could understand the BMS stuff better and that would have comforted me during this first year. I used to have a lot of Deep Sleep warnings, so my solution was to put a jump box in each, just in case. But I've never had to use it. At the first service, I asked them to test the battery and they reported it was good in March, when the truck was 12 months old and about 3800 miles.

Now after 14 months, the deep sleep warnings are GONE. I've seen folks throw new batteries at their Mavericks, and sometimes have the dealer replace them, even more than once...but my original battery is doing just fine. It has definitely gotten BETTER over time. The BMS must be learning and adjusting as time goes by, but that cannot happen if new batteries keep getting installed. I do try to always lock it, but am always walking by it with the Fob in my pocket. Whatever has happened, it ended my Deep Sleep warnings.

Since I tow it with supplemental braking, I just repurposed an extra RV shunt with bluetooth voltage monitor to ensure I don't get into a low battery situation on my next trip.

I see that my battery is holding at 12.45v for days now, when I used to see a VERY quick drop to 11.9v after shutdown. (Only the voltage is valid, as the shunt is not needed to be fully connected):

Sponsored