The automaker invites potential owners of the 2024 Ford Maverick to “enjoy your everyday adventures.” They also promote the truck as “happiness on four wheels.” But consumers aren’t at all happy when their trucks shut off because of electrical or engine problems. And unsurprisingly, those who encounter problems with malfunctioning safety features don’t feel even vaguely adventurous.
Brief Overview
Loss of engine power and system shutdowns are the most common problems owners of the 2024 Ford Maverick are reporting to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A common issue is that drivers get a message to “stop safely now.” Then, when they stop, they aren’t able to start again. Typically, everything is disabled.
There are also a whole lot of other quite varied electrical system issues, as well as problems with vehicle speed control and forward collision avoidance.
Other components and systems that complaints name include the powertrain, fuel/propulsion system, airbags, brakes, tires, visibility/wiper, and wheels of the truck.
Recalls that relate to the 2024 Ford Maverick are also of great concern. There are seven that were issued between April 12 and September 13, 2024.
The components and systems that are responsible for recalls affecting the 2024 Ford Maverick are:
Backover prevention that can cause the rearview camera to freeze. 144,516 2022-2024 Mavericks are implicated.
Electrical system issues that affect the tail lights that might fail and a missing warning for the turn signal. Both of these are also an exterior lighting issue.
Incorrect tire and loading information,
Leaking fuel tanks that increase the risk of fire.
A software error that may cause the loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash.
Windshield wiper motors that may fail, reducing visibility and also increasing the risk of a crash.
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Stop Safely Now Alerts
Most of the complaints that report “stop safely now” messages are reported as electrical system problems. Here are some of the complaints that highlight the issue.
An owner from Illinois states that his 2024 Maverick “turned off and gave me a message across (the) dash that said stop safely now.” He managed to pull onto the shoulder, but “was almost hit by traffic from behind.” He couldn’t restart the truck and it was towed. More than two weeks later, the dealership returned the vehicle after they had “replaced the high voltage power inverter, one-time use bolts, and the high voltage fuse.”
A Maryland owner was traveling in Baltimore when “the truck flashed a warning ‘stop safely now’.” The powertrain was disabled, and the driver “while decelerating uncontrolled, pulled across 4 lanes to a median” and waited for more than three hours for the Ford roadside service to collect the truck.
An owner from Pennsylvania also experienced a “stop safely now” message. Stopping at a stop sign, “everything shut down. No accelerator, now power and the transmission dial locked after I put it in Park. I could not get it in Neutral to push it out of the intersection. Since it is a front wheel drive vehicle, the front wheels locked also.” The tow truck used a code reader and found there were nine hybrid-related errors. He cleared six of them, but couldn’t restart the truck.
Eventually, Ford replaced the Hybrid Battery System, at no charge. The owner was reasonably happy but then met other people with the same problem. “I am worried the same thing might happen to me on the highway with different results than the first time!”
Loss of Power
In addition to the “stop safely now” messages, there are complaints that talk about engines losing power, decelerating, or simply quitting. Some highlight what owners believe are powertrain issues, but most blame the engine. We believe that these may all be a result of the same basic problem, but we have chosen to separate them for ease of reference.
An owner from Texas reports in a complaint that the engine lost power in the middle of driving on an interstate at a steady speed. He wasn’t accelerating or braking and had to coast to a feeder road. The solution, on this occasion, was to turn the car off and restart before the engine would re-engage.
In Arizona, another owner had to pull over the left shoulder because construction “prevented any other movement. After the truck stopped, I turned off the key and then restarted it.” He added that there had never been any other problems like this previously. There were also no warning signs or warning lamps.
In a powertrain complaint, an owner from Florida states that the Maverick suddenly decelerated from 45 mph to 20 mph. “The check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed.” The dealer said this was a battery failure. However, the failure happened again after the battery had been replaced!
Impact of Safety Feature Errors
The rationale behind buying any vehicle because of its acclaimed safety features cannot be negated. So, when safety features fail, owners are understandably concerned (or more likely worried).
A very detailed complaint from an owner in California describes how a red warning on the dash indicated to prepare for a collision. This had happened before, but previously because there was another vehicle in its own lane, slowing down. On neither occasion was there a threat of a collision. But it kept happening. “I’m concerned that this “safety feature” has more possible error modes than Ford lists in its owner’s operating manual, and that the faulty messages are a distraction, and possibly dangerous.”
Another less specific description tells how a Maverick in Maryland stopped recognizing stopped traffic and began accelerating after allowing the advanced cruise control to operate. “I intervened and hit the brakes before a collision occurred. This was verbally reported to the dealership and was to be inspected at (the) time of recall service.”
Then there is a complaint issued as a forward collision avoidance problem. This states that the airbags didn’t deploy during a head-on collision, other than the one at the driver’s feet. Additionally, emergency braking didn’t work and “hindered my ability to brake.” Two people were injured in the crash.
When to Consider Lemon Law
If you’re considering whether lemon law is the right solution for your Ford Maverick problems, here is some advice:
A lemon law claim may be an option if your vehicle has recurring issues that affect its safety, value, or functionality after multiple repair attempts.
Lemon laws often apply when the vehicle has had numerous unsuccessful repairs within a certain mileage or time window.
If your car is unusable for an extended period due to these issues, it may also be eligible for a lemon law claim.
Defects that severely impact your vehicle’s performance, that can’t be fixed by the manufacturer, may entitle you to a refund or replacement.
Be sure to review your state’s specific lemon law to ensure your case meets the criteria (there are differences). Don’t be afraid to ask a lemon lawyer for advice.
What to Do If You Have Recurring Issues with your Maverick
When your 2024 Ford Maverick experiences recurring problems, protecting your rights is key. It doesn’t matter what the problems are, take these steps to address the situation:
Record every issue in as much detail as you can. Note the dates, symptoms, and any dashboard warnings or unusual sounds.
Retain copies of all repair orders, receipts, and any correspondence you have had with the dealership or manufacturer.
Ensure your service records clearly outline the nature of the repairs attempted and how often the vehicle has been in for service.
Even if the issues with your Maverick aren’t identical (or even similar) to those mentioned here, your case could still be considered a lemon.
If the issues persist, seek advice from a reputable lemon law attorney who can assess your situation and guide you through pursuing a refund or replacement.
Lemberg Law is Here for You
If you are concerned that your 2024 Ford Maverick might be a lemon, Lemberg Law can help you. We’ll evaluate your case without any charge and help you to determine your next steps.
Our lemon law firm has successfully negotiated settlements for many vehicle owners, and we may be able to do the same for you. You won’t have to worry about legal costs because the automaker is required by law to cover attorney fees in lemon law cases. Simply call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out our contact form to get started. We promise to be by your side all the way.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
