Several owners of the Ford Maverick have posted accounts online saying they found their trucks running in closed garages with nobody inside, a potentially dangerous situation because of carbon monoxide risk. The posts began appearing in late September in private Facebook and Reddit groups and were summarized by The Drive and later covered by Jalopnik.
What owners are reporting
According to the online reports, owners discovered Mavericks with the engine running and no occupant present. The incidents are described as isolated posts rather than a clear pattern: The Drive found no formal complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as of the coverage, and there is no recall or service bulletin addressing the issue.
- Possible causes cited by reporters and owners include scheduled remote starts via the FordPass app, residual access from a previous owner linked to the vehicle's account, accidental activation with the key fob, and rare hybrid behavior. The Drive called a scheduled start in the FordPass app the most likely explanation.
- Manufacturer response: Ford did not provide an explanation to The Drive when asked, according to reporting.
Safety steps owners are urged to take
Reporters and owners recommend several precautions for Maverick owners who experience or wish to guard against unexpected starts:
- Check the FordPass app for scheduled remote starts and review which phones and accounts are linked to the truck.
- If the truck was purchased used, confirm prior owners no longer have FordPass access to the vehicle.
- Notify Ford and file a complaint with NHTSA if an unexpected start occurs; regulators use complaints to open investigations.
Jalopnik highlighted the potential danger of an unattended gasoline engine running inside an enclosed garage because of carbon monoxide exposure. The accounts follow other service and reliability complaints for the Maverick earlier in the year; in June Ford provided remedies to some owners in unrelated matters, the company said at that time.
For now, the reports remain anecdotal and limited in number. Ford has not issued guidance tied specifically to these posts, and NHTSA has not announced an inquiry. Owners who encounter unexpected remote starts are advised to secure their FordPass accounts, review vehicle connectivity settings and report incidents to both Ford and federal regulators.
