Ford Maverick
Compact pickup · 1970–1977 and 2022–present. 131,142 units sold in the US in 2024
How it began
The Maverick pickup was created in Dearborn, Michigan, by a Ford team of about 50 people from design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and purchasing. Chris Mazur was chief engineer and Tim Farmer was program manager. James Gilpin was product manager and Trevor Scott was Maverick marketing manager. Daniel George led the interior and Barb Whalen led materials and colors. The original 1970 Maverick was pushed forward by Lee Iacocca, then Ford's executive vice president.
It was developed in one large room at Ford's Product Development Center in Dearborn, split into "neighborhoods" with street signs. It is built at Ford's Hermosillo plant in Mexico, alongside the Bronco Sport. That plant built 171,968 Mavericks in 2024 and 186,350 in 2025.
The first Maverick, a compact car, debuted in April 1969 as a 1970 model and was sold through 1977. Ford began planning the new pickup internally in 2018 and revealed it on June 8, 2021 as a 2022 model, with sales announced for fall 2021.
A maverick is an unbranded calf. The word comes from Samuel A. Maverick, an 1840s Texas landowner who let his cattle roam unbranded, and it came to mean an independent person who does not follow the rules. The name fit Ford's ranch family: Mustang, Pinto and Bronco. For the pickup, Ford tested several names with young buyers and, according to Trevor Scott, "it was Maverick almost unilaterally."
Pickups had grown ever bigger and pricier, and Ford was stepping away from sedans. It needed an affordable product to bring in new customers. The team watched people at home improvement and furniture stores, and students moving into dorms, struggling to load small cars and crossovers. The goal was the lowest-priced truck in America, hybrid, sized to fit a garage, with a target development time of about 36 months.
Generation by generation
- Gen. 11970–1977
The "Simple Machine" compact
Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain What changed. It was Ford's budget compact built to fight imports from Volkswagen, Datsun and Toyota. It was a two-door coupe based on Falcon mechanicals, with a 170-cubic-inch six and a three-speed manual, for $1,995. The four-door sedan and an optional 302 V8 arrived for 1971, and Mercury sold its twin, the Comet.
The innovation. Its innovation was simplicity: Ford sold it as "The Simple Machine," a car with few options and a low price.
If you buy one usedFor the classic car, check actual service and installed equipment: 71V018 covers certain 1970–1971 Firestone tires; 71V111, contaminated brake fluid on 1971 cars; 73V181, carburetor/automatic-transmission linkage that can stick the throttle on 1973–1974 cars; and 74V160, 1975 250-cu-in wiring routing that can hold the throttle open. For 1977, 77V218 addresses manual-steering balls and 77V045 the left-door latch. Under 77V218, increased steering effort with popping/grinding or momentary hang-up means the vehicle should not be operated until addressed. Confirm actual VIN work with Ford and a classic-car specialist. - Gen. 22022–2024 · C2
The compact pickup; hybrid at launch
Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 What changed. At its 2022 U.S. launch, the name returned on a four-door, five-seat compact pickup with unibody construction on the C2 platform shared with the Bronco Sport and Escape. It started at $19,995 with a standard 2.5-liter hybrid making 191 hp. An optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost made 250 hp, with all-wheel drive and up to 4,000 pounds of towing with the 4K package. Payload was 1,500 pounds and the bed was 4.5 feet.
The innovation. Ford presented it as the first truck in the country with a standard hybrid powertrain, targeting 40 mpg city and 500 miles per tank. The FLEXBED has slots for 2x4 or 2x6 boards, tie-down points, prewired 12-volt power for DIY projects and a QR code with DIY customization ideas.
If you buy one usedFor affected 2022–2026 trucks in 26V340, do not drive until the front lower ball-joint remedy is complete. On 2.5 hybrids, 22V484 covers 2022 and replacement 23V380 covers 2022–2023 engine-failure oil/vapor fire risk: safely park and shut down for unexpected engine noise, power loss or smoke. New work is required even after the earlier repair. Check 24V330 hybrid Neutral software; 24V267/25V019 12V detection and battery work; 23V848 missing failed-turn-signal warning; 24V293 rear lights; and 24V684 Connected Touch Radio camera software. Follow-ups 25V094/25V095/25V133 require new work after incorrect repairs. Verify each VIN campaign and current remedy. - Gen. 32025–present · C2
Hybrid AWD and the arrival of Lobo
Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 What changed. For 2025 it got a new grille and front fascia, a standard 13.2-inch center screen and 8-inch digital cluster, SYNC 4 with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The hybrid was offered with all-wheel drive for the first time, along with the 4K Tow package. Tremor became its own model.
The innovation. The Maverick Lobo, a street-truck style pickup championed by designer Joshua Blundo, uses the 2.0 EcoBoost, advanced 4WD with a 7-speed transmission and a twin-clutch rear drive unit that splits power between the wheels, upgraded brakes, lowered suspension and an autocross-inspired drive mode for closed courses.
If you buy one usedFor 2025, check 25V787 brake-booster replacement for ECU-cover/circuit-board overheating and stability/brake-assist loss; and 25V828 cylinder-head ball-plug oil leakage/fire, requiring head replacement. For specified 2025–2026 trucks, check 25V863 Park-module software, 25V884 dashboard-cover replacement, 26V157 moonroof inspection/conditional glass replacement, and 26V201 passenger-occupant sensor replacement. Campaign 26V340 also spans affected 2022–2026 trucks: do not drive until the lower ball-joint remedy is completed. A prior invoice or dealer-inventory status does not establish final completion; ask Ford to check actual VIN eligibility and all required repairs.
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