Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Nissan Pathfinder?

No, the Pathfinder has a slight edge. Both rate good, but the Pathfinder has 3.5 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 7.2 for the Traverse. It also costs less per year to repair and has a lower chance of a major repair.

Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Pathfinder?

The Traverse has more. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across 9 model years for the Traverse and 14 across 8 model years for the Pathfinder. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Pathfinder?

The Pathfinder costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $542 a year for the Pathfinder and $656 for the Traverse, about $570 more over five years. Both average 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year.

What is the common exhaust problem on the Chevrolet Traverse?

Front exhaust pipe brackets crack at their welds, and the pipe then tears. It starts as a rattle at startup and grows into a loud clang, sometimes with fumes in the cabin. GM special coverage applied to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, and welded patches often crack again.

What goes wrong with the Nissan Pathfinder transmission?

Owners report the CVT juddering, slipping, lurching, and sometimes cutting out. Several describe the car failing to accelerate and then surging forward near a stop. Dealers often find no fault codes, so cars leave unrepaired. Test drive any Pathfinder at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Pathfinder

Good

Slight edge goes to the Nissan Pathfinder over the Chevrolet Traverse, mainly on owner complaints: 3.5 per 10,000 sold against 7.2. Both rate good. The Pathfinder also has fewer recalls and lower repair costs, while the Traverse has more crash-linked complaints.

How Do the Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder Generations Compare?

Most used Traverse shoppers will be looking at the second generation, which ran from the 2018 model year through 2024, with a facelift in 2022. That makes the early 2018 and 2019 cars, its weakest years, the ones to treat with caution. The Pathfinder spent 2013 through 2020 in its fourth generation, which had a facelift in 2017. A fifth generation followed with the 2022 model year and a facelift in 2023. So 2018 to 2020 cars are fourth generation, while 2022 and later are the redesign, and 2022 is among its weakest years.

Verdict

The Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse, scoring 74/100 vs 70/100.

A slight edge goes to the Pathfinder. Both rate good, but the Pathfinder draws about half as many owner complaints per vehicle sold, costs less to keep running, and has fewer recalls. Its repairs are also less likely to be major. The Traverse is not a bad pick, yet its complaints include more crash-linked problems in brakes, electrical, and power train. The gap is small, so model year and condition matter as much as the badge.

Key Differences

1Nissan Pathfinder costs $114 less per year to repair
2Nissan Pathfinder has 5 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Pathfinder scores 4 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Chevrolet Traverse

—

5Nissan Pathfinder

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Nissan Pathfinder
Reliability Score	70/100	74/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	19	14
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	3.5
Annual Repair Cost	$656/yr	$542/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	15%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1	7

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder?

Sudden loss of function runs through the Traverse complaints. Alternators fail early and some cars lose all power while driving, brakes fail to stop the car at low speeds, and AWD shuts off with service messages. Front exhaust brackets crack too, leaving a loud clang and fumes in the cabin. Crashes are linked to its power train, electrical, and brake complaints. Pathfinder complaints are more scattered: CVT judder and surging near a stop, key fob locks, a blank backup camera, and timing chain wear in some engines. Its crash-linked reports are limited to power train and speed control.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Nissan Pathfinder
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	0.5Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.4Very Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Traverse or Nissan Pathfinder?

Repair costs run lower on the Pathfinder, at $542 a year in independent repair-cost data against $656 for the Traverse. Over five years, that gap comes to about $570. Each model averages 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year, so neither sends you to the shop more often. The difference shows up in severity: 18% of Traverse repairs are major, against 15% for the Pathfinder.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Nissan Pathfinder	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 6C	82/1000R / 1C	Nissan Pathfinder
2025	75/1000R / 132C	78/1001R / 25C	Nissan Pathfinder
2024	73/1000R / 107C	74/1002R / 38C	Nissan Pathfinder
2023	72/1002R / 62C	74/1001R / 86C	Nissan Pathfinder
2022	73/1001R / 76C	66/1005R / 119C	Chevrolet Traverse
2020	62/1008R / 188C	78/1000R / 43C	Nissan Pathfinder
2019	62/1003R / 358C	71/1002R / 71C	Nissan Pathfinder
2018	62/1002R / 416C	68/1003R / 74C	Nissan Pathfinder

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse scored 73/100 and the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Traverse vs the Nissan Pathfinder?

Pick the Pathfinder if you want the lower-risk choice for daily family driving. It has fewer complaints, lower repair costs, and no crash-linked reports in brakes or electrical. Test drive it carefully for CVT judder or lurching, since dealers often find no codes. Skip 2022 and 2018, its weakest years. A 2020 is a solid target, but a 2026 is too new to judge. Pick the Traverse if you prefer it and can accept more risk. Check that the alternator and charging system have been looked at, listen for an exhaust rattle at startup, and test the brakes at parking speeds. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. For exhaust bracket trouble, special coverage applied to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, so a 2020 can leave you paying. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so do not read their quiet record as proof.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse more reliable than the Nissan Pathfinder?: No, the Pathfinder has a slight edge. Both rate good, but the Pathfinder has 3.5 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 7.2 for the Traverse. It also costs less per year to repair and has a lower chance of a major repair.
Which has more recalls, the Traverse or the Pathfinder?: The Traverse has more. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across 9 model years for the Traverse and 14 across 8 model years for the Pathfinder. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which costs less to repair, the Traverse or the Pathfinder?: The Pathfinder costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $542 a year for the Pathfinder and $656 for the Traverse, about $570 more over five years. Both average 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year.
What is the common exhaust problem on the Chevrolet Traverse?: Front exhaust pipe brackets crack at their welds, and the pipe then tears. It starts as a rattle at startup and grows into a loud clang, sometimes with fumes in the cabin. GM special coverage applied to 2019 and 2021 models but not 2020, and welded patches often crack again.
What goes wrong with the Nissan Pathfinder transmission?: Owners report the CVT juddering, slipping, lurching, and sometimes cutting out. Several describe the car failing to accelerate and then surging forward near a stop. Dealers often find no fault codes, so cars leave unrepaired. Test drive any Pathfinder at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic.

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More Nissan Pathfinder comparisons

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Decided between Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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