Long story I will try to keep short, If you ordered a Ford 2025 Maverick hybrid and were told it was flat towable, it might not be true. I first became interested in the Maverick as a TOAD when my neighbor got one, 2023 FWD Hybrid, and he gets great milage and tows well. So I made the trip to talk to dealer in Late Aug about to check them out and the sales guy let me know that the 2025 would have some better features one of which was AWD. I like AWD and so I kept contact with him and he finally tells me that Ford Authority has an article out that states the AWD Hybrid is flat towable. https://fordauthority.com/2024/12/20...wed-exclusive/ So End of August I order one and patiently waited. About a week ago I was notified my vehicle is in production. Being one that preps, I finally saw the owners manual was finally available for download and proceeded to read it. I get to the part where recreational vehicle towing is discussed and low and behold the manual states it can not be towed behind a RV unless it is on a dolly... I heard over to the Maverick Forum and see the discussion there about flat towing and it is a huge question. Seem that back in August the approval was to flat tow. But the manual is not stating that and now that the manual is out, the questions are coming and there is no firm, solid answer yet. I suggest If you have one of these Mavericks on order to get with your dealer for verification and DOCUMENTATION in case the manual is not corrected. You could be on the hook for tranny replacement, could, we don't know yet.
I recently went throught the same thing, almost. The 2024 & 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and the plug in Lincoln Corsair is flat towable. So we drove both and liked the Corsair. Was just about to write the check while in the dealer on a 2024 Corsair when the sales person left us to go get the price?? I stumble on a forum saying that even though the Lincoln web site and the manual say flat towable, nobody can actually get the car to go into flat tow mode. So went with the Hybrid Nautilus, that does go into flat tow. Would have really beed ticked to have paid the big bucks on a useless to us vehcile. The new Nautllus is towing so far, perfectly. We like it a lot.
She studdered, said I suppose you believe everything you hear or read on the internet? I said not really, but this might be real important don't you think. I need a car to flat tow, how about we go out right now and you get it into flat tow mode. She tried, and tried and tried. Called the service guy who tried 4 times and said it just need to be tweeked. I said call me whe you get it tweeked. Left and went to a different dealer, tried the Corsair there, no luck. Went to the third dealer tried there, nope none of these cars would do what Lincoln said they would. But the Nautilus did so we bought it. Never heard from the first sales lady, so i assume it never got tweeked...
Thanks for the info. LOL, I hope my situation gets straighten out. The article in the FORD AUTHORITY, an independent media outlet, did quote the communications person of the Ford Corp stating the flat tow but I go by what the owner's manual says.. it says no. I will walk away from this if they can't provide documentation so I don't void my warranty. It reminds me of Honda... I had an Element that was towable but when they came out with the CRV, built with the same drive train as the Element, Honda pulled the tow ability from the manuals and replaced with the "will Damage" clause, yet it was the exact same engine and tranny. They wanted to boost CRV sales.
Merry Christmas and Thanks for the input. So an update. There are a messages out and awaiting responses from Ford. On Ford's website where the owner's manuals are available, there are 2 versions; a PDF and a HTML. The one I have been reading is the PDF that I downloaded to read, this version states no Flat Tow but in emergency it can but need to select from the screen Neutral Tow just like on the Lincoln/Ford other AWD Hybrids. On the HTML version (I didn't read initially) it says that the hybrid can be towed, provides the procedure that includes using the Neutral Tow feature but doesn't distinguish between AWD or FWD. This version is the one that is the onboard SYNC. So there is two issues, which version is correct and is the AWD also included for Flat Tow on the HTML version. I got into this because of those two questions. What I do know is that there is a similar mention of the Neutral Tow feature, the Maverick supposedly has a different, beefier transmission. Is that difference enough to void Flat Tow. I did know previously that the Constant Variable Transmissions (CVT) are not flat towable, we owned a Subaru previously. However, the mention of eNeutral Switch in the articles I read lead me to think, not believe until told, that the transmission would not matter if the tranny is disconnected like disconnecting a tranny from the drive shaft with the transfer case. I also know that AWDs can be, I had a Honda Element Toad with over 50K towed with no problems. I also know that some AWD can not be towed. In fact the Honda Element was not towable after a few years but I think that was due to Honda wanting to push sale on the CRV that had the exact same drive train. So that is where this is at and I do not expect to hear anything more until after the Holidays.
Reply form another Forum this morning. It is Towable!!! "Good morning, I sincerely apologize for the delay in getting the confirmation regarding the flat towing of Maverick AWD HEV. Dawn’s original message advising that the vehicle can be flat towed is correct. I have confirmed that the owner’s manual will be updated, but yes the vehicle can be flat towed. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thank you, DaVonya C. Lyons | Ford Executive Offices Ford Motor Company Phone 313-949-1429 | Email dlyons7@ford.com"
