Is the 2026 Ford Maverick a safe truck?
Safety matters just as much as capability when choosing a pickup, especially for drivers who rely on their truck for daily commuting, weekend projects, and family life. The 2026 Ford Maverick truck has been evaluated in safety with a variety of crashworthiness and injury-prevention tests, giving shoppers a clearer picture of how this compact truck performs when it comes to protection.
Below, Sherwood Ford breaks down the Maverick truck’s safety performance so you can shop with confidence.
How the Ford Maverick truck performed in safety testing
The Ford Maverick truck was evaluated in a wide range of safety categories by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Overall, the Maverick demonstrated strong performance in several critical areas, particularly those related to structural integrity and injury protection.
Areas where the Ford Maverick rated “Good”
The Maverick earned the highest possible rating of Good in multiple important tests, including:
- Side crashworthiness performance
- Strength of the vehicle’s structure and safety cage
- Driver injury measures for:
- Head and neck
- Chest
- Thigh and hip
- Lower leg and foot
- Driver restraints and dummy movement during impact
- Rear passenger injury protection for:
- Head and neck
- Thigh
These results show that the Maverick provides strong occupant protection in side impacts and demonstrates solid injury prevention for both drivers and rear passengers in several key areas.
Areas where Maverick earned the second-highest safety rating
The Ford Maverick received the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the following areas:
- Rear passenger chest injury measures
- LATCH system ease of use for child safety seats
This means the Maverick performs well overall in these categories, with room for improvement compared to top-rated vehicles.
Areas where Maverick earned the third-highest safety rating
In a few tests, the Maverick earned a Marginal rating, which is the third-highest level used in these evaluations:
- Moderate overlap front crashworthiness test
- Overall crashworthiness evaluation
- Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
While these scores indicate acceptable real-world performance, they also highlight areas where buyers may want to compare results with other trucks in the segment.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ford Maverick safety rating
Yes. The Ford Maverick performed well in many critical crash tests, earning top ratings in side crash protection, structural integrity, and several driver and rear passenger injury measures.
The Maverick received a Good rating in side crashworthiness, indicating strong protection for occupants during side impacts.
Rear passengers benefit from strong head, neck, and thigh injury protection, with acceptable results in chest injury measures and child-seat LATCH usability.
Yes. The Maverick earned Marginal ratings in the moderate overlap front crash test, the overall evaluation, and rear passenger restraint performance.
Visit Sherwood Ford in Sherwood Park, AB, to explore the Ford Maverick in person and speak with our team about its safety technology, design, and real-world protection.
Find a safe Ford truck at Sherwood Ford
At Sherwood Ford, we know safety is a top priority for Maverick buyers. Our team is happy to walk you through the Maverick truck’s safety features, explain how crash test ratings work, and help you compare trims or other Ford trucks to find the right fit for your needs.
