2022-2024 Ford Maverick 2.5L Duratec iVCT Hybrid Engine: Problems, Longevity, and Specs

The Maverick is the historical name of a model in Ford Motor Company that was repeatedly used for several types of vehicles in different epochs. In 2022, the company decided to bring this name out again after a long time. And now, the Maverick is a compact pickup truck that is pretty interesting for American buyers. In 2022, the company sold almost 75,000 Maverick models which is impressive.

Today, we'll tell you about the base 2.5L hybrid Duratec iVCT engine in the Ford Maverick, its longevity, and some facts that you should know about it. We are going to reveal some features of the engine that you should get acquainted with before you decide to pay for the vehicle. We should say first our editorial board really like this engine but we still know some downsides you should also learn about.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2008-now
• Average lifespan of 2.5L Hybrid:220,000-250,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:port injection
• Power range:168-175 hp
• Fuel efficiency:excellent
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:high
• The most common problems:various oil leaks, noisy work, timing chain problems, phaser problems.

What should you know about the hybrid powerplant in the Maverick pickup truck?

This is probably the first truck in America that sells the hybrid engine as the base and more affordable option. It also offers the 2-liter EcoBoost non-hybrid powerplant for more money if you still don't feel like relying on a hybrid vehicle. But we would think about getting a hybrid option because of some reasons described below.

The hybrid powerplant allows you to have the advantage of 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. Yes, it's much less than you get with a turbocharged option of the powerplant in the Maverick, but still, it should be enough for most people who want a compact truck. But first things first, you should know that this powerplant can only tow up to 2,000 lbs and can't be equipped with the 4K towing package (while the turbo version can).

Here's what else you should know about this engine:

• the heart of the hybrid powerplant is the 2.5L Duratec Atkinson cycle engine with 4 cylinders that is paired with an electric motor;
• this is not a plug-in hybrid vehicle, so you can't charge it from the grid and you can't drive it as an all-electric vehicle;
• the powerplant only powers front wheels which is a ridiculous solution for a truck but AWD options are only available with the EcoBoost engine;
• the e-CVT transmission is the only available option for the hybrid engine in the Maverick and this is the weak link when it comes to towing;
• the powerplant relies on the 1.1 kW Li-Ion battery pack which shouldn't cost too much and is going to save you a lot of fuel;
• the gasoline engine charges the battery but it also can power the wheels, so even if the hybrid system is broken, you can drive solely on the gas engine.

Well, you can clearly see some disadvantages here. The engine is pretty weak, it has the e-CVT transmission which is a very doubtful technology for a truck, it also has only FWD which limits its functionality and purpose. But the hybrid version of the Maverick has one stunning advantage - this is the gas mileage.

You can expect to go about 42 MPG in the city. On highways, the 1.1-kW battery pack proves to be too weak and only allows you to rely on 33 MPG mileage. But if you mostly drive in the city, this vehicle will save you tons of fuel and will certainly be a better solution than the EcoBoost version that allows you to go about 21 MPG in the city - exactly twice less than the hybrid version.

How long will the Maverick hybrid powerplant survive?

Well, we believe this is a pretty durable tandem which still has some doubtful links that should be considered.

The 2.5L Duratec iVCT engine can clearly go for more than 250,000 miles if maintained properly. This is a very well-known engine that has been used in a lot of Ford models. We know everything about its potential flaws and we can say it's a really good unit with basically no serious issues until it reaches very high mileage.

The electric motor will also be fine and will not even require any maintenance. It's probably the most durable unit in this system.

When it comes to transmission, we can't be as positive anymore. The e-CVT transmission, just like any other CVT unit, will only be OK for about 100K miles. After that, you can expect issues at any moment. Some of them will go more but you should be super careful with loads when towing or hauling something.

Also, the battery is going to require replacement at more or less the same mileage - 100K miles. The battery pack is not huge, so we guess it's not going to be very expensive to replace. But still, it's not something like buying a new tire - you will have to be ready for some expenses.

Overall, the hybrid powerplant in the Ford Maverick pickup truck is not bad. If you replace or repair the e-CVT transmission when it dies and also replace the battery pack at about 100,000 miles, you will drive this truck for 200,000 miles with no other expensive and unexpected issues given it gets its required maintenance.

What are some of the common problems with the hybrid powerplant in the Maverick?

Well, we can't rely on forums and even on car mechanics as our source of information for this article. The Maverick pickup truck is an extremely fresh vehicle and only some of them have developed some serious problems. But still, we've found some information about the most expected problems with this hybrid engine.

Here are some of them:

1) Bad battery pack

Unfortunately, Ford tried to make this vehicle more affordable and cut the battery pack to the smallest possible size. So, the battery has to work hard and should be charged pretty often. It means the battery will obviously be worn much faster than we expect. Maybe, some Maverick owners will even be lucky enough to have it replaced under warranty.

Others though will have to pay. We couldn't find the information about the battery pack price but we expect it to cost about $2,000 plus some labor costs.

2) e-CVT problems

We wouldn't buy a truck equipped with a CVT transmission. But when it comes to hybrid vehicles, manufacturers have little to no options. The e-CVT transmission is the only reasonable choice for a hybrid vehicle like the Maverick. It's still bad in terms of towing capacity and overall performance in the truck.

So, we expect that some owners will even have problems with this e-CVT unit earlier than we assumed before. Especially, if these owners disrespect towing capacity of their vehicle or love aggressive driving.

3) Gas mileage issues

We've already read some reports of owners who aren't really glad about the gas mileage they get. First of all, this vehicle is going to save you money in that case only if you drive it like a hybrid vehicle should be driven: carefully, slowly, and with stops on its way. So, if you go to the highway, the Maverick Hybrid vehicle will turn into a simple compact pickup truck powered by the 4-cylinder 2.5L gas engine.

If you aren't glad about the mileage you get, just experiment with your driving style. This should obviously help you.

4) Possible fire!

Another issue is the possible fire in the hybrid powerplant because of some problems with the engine construction. There was a recall of other models powered by the same or similar hybrid powerplant. So far, Ford knows about 23 fires caused by the issue with the construction of the engine. But we should say that the Maverick was not part of the recall.

We will keep tracking this and will update the article if the problem proves to be serious.

What should you know and do to make your Maverick hybrid run longer?

You should keep in mind that you have a vehicle with basically two separate powerplants that work together. So, do everything needed to prevent the gasoline engine fail like changing oil and filters, using only high-quality fuel, and buying good parts and fluids. Also, you should have your battery checked at every regular maintenance.

Once some problem happens, better address it immediately. Otherwise, even a small problem can grow into a disaster that will destroy your vehicle and make you pay a lot for the repair.

If you feel that the gas mileage is too high (higher than usual), have the battery checked and most likely replaced. With a bad battery, this vehicle will be useless.

Take all regular maintenance requirements seriously. Even after the warranty period, be careful with maintenance. Better go to the dealer for any repair because repairing or maintaining a hybrid vehicle is pretty hard and you don't want an inexperienced person to touch your truck at all.