Ford recalibrated the traction control system on the 2026 Maverick Hybrid AWD after a media test revealed the 2025 model’s inability to handle a three-wheel slip scenario. The fix is already in production, and Ford plans to release the update over the air to existing 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD owners.
The issue surfaced when The Fast Lane Truck ran a tire slip test on the 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD, simulating total traction loss on three wheels. The truck failed to move forward. In the test, the system could not shift enough power to the single wheel with grip to overcome the obstacle. Ford’s traction control calibration had been tuned for on-road conditions, prioritizing stability on ice or wet pavement by minimizing wheel spin. That approach worked in typical low-traction driving but broke down in scenarios where three wheels lost contact simultaneously.
The problem was rooted in how Ford paired all-wheel drive with the Maverick’s hybrid powertrain, a configuration that delivers power differently from a conventional gas setup. Adding AWD to the hybrid had been a customer request since the truck launched, and Ford delivered the capability for 2025. The real-world testing from The Fast Lane Truck demonstrated that the engineering still had room to improve.
Ford’s Brake Controls team responded by adapting the traction control approach from the brand’s 2.0-liter gas-powered off-road models to the hybrid’s requirements. The recalibrated system now transfers torque more aggressively. When the system detects a spinning wheel, it applies the brakes to that wheel and redirects power to the wheels with traction. The Maverick uses its brakes to stop slipping wheels automatically while sending power to the opposite wheel that has grip.
Ford provided The Fast Lane Truck with a 2026 Maverick Hybrid AWD equipped with the new calibration. The truck cleared the same test that had stopped the 2025 model.
The revision changes the truck’s behavior on snowy driveways and rutted dirt roads, conditions where a three-wheel slip is rare but not impossible. For buyers crossing a ditch or navigating mud with uneven traction under each tire, the system now has the logic to keep the vehicle moving.
Ford has committed to releasing the updated traction calibration as an over-the-air update for 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD owners. The company has not disclosed a timeline. An activated vehicle modem and the Ford app are required to schedule the update remotely.
Beyond the immediate fix, Ford is modifying its internal engineering test procedures to include three-wheel roller testing as a standard evaluation step. The addition closes a gap in the development process that allowed the original calibration to reach production without exposure to the specific failure mode that The Fast Lane Truck documented.
The Maverick Hybrid AWD occupies an unusual position in the compact truck segment. The 2026 Maverick XL with the hybrid powertrain starts at $28,145, the lowest base price of any pickup sold in the United States. The Hyundai Santa Cruz, the Maverick’s primary competitor, does not offer a hybrid option. That pricing and powertrain combination has made the Maverick a volume success for Ford, which makes the traction control oversight more conspicuous. A truck marketed partly on value and capability needed the capability claim to hold up under scrutiny.
The recalibration reflects a development cycle that extended past the vehicle’s initial launch. Ford delivered the AWD hybrid configuration customers asked for, then adjusted the system after independent testing revealed a weakness the internal process had missed. The three-wheel roller test now entering Ford’s standard procedures suggests the company views the oversight as a process failure, not just a calibration miss on one model.
For 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD owners waiting on the OTA update, the timeline remains undefined. Ford has said more information is coming soon. The 2026 models leaving the factory already have the fix.
Source: Ford. Images courtesy of Ford.
