Last updated: 2026-03-04
Honda Passport vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Reliability Compared
Honda Passport
Hyundai Santa-FE
Choosing between the Honda Passport and the Hyundai Santa-FE? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Honda Passport currently leads with an average score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Honda Passport and Hyundai Santa-FE Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Honda Passport is more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-FE, scoring 72/100 vs 69/100.
The Honda Passport edges out the Hyundai Santa Fe in reliability with an average score of 83/100 compared to Santa Fe's 79/100. While the Passport has a slightly higher owner complaint rate of 11.6 per 10,000 sold versus the Santa Fe's 8, it benefits from having fewer total recalls at 29 over eight years, compared to Santa Fe's 60 over nine years. Both models have similar annual repair costs, approximately $521 for the Passport and $515 for the Santa Fe. The key differentiator is the Passport's lower recall frequency, suggesting a more stable long-term performance.
Key Differences
- 1Honda Passport has 31 fewer total recalls
- 2Hyundai Santa-FE costs $6 less per year to repair
- 3Hyundai Santa-FE has 3.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Honda Passport vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Honda Passport | Hyundai Santa-FE |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 72/100 | 69/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 29 | 60 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 11.6 | 8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $521/yr | $515/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Year Wins | 4 | 3 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Passport and Hyundai Santa-FE?
The Hyundai Santa-FE exhibits a higher volume of complaints across several categories compared to the Honda Passport, particularly in the engine and power train areas, with 321 and 269 complaints respectively. Notably, the Santa-FE also has a significant number of crash-linked complaints in the power train and service brakes categories, which could suggest potential safety concerns. In contrast, the Honda Passport, while having fewer overall complaints, shows a relatively higher concentration of issues with the electrical system and forward collision avoidance. Both models have electrical system complaints with minor crash-linked incidents, but the Santa-FE's broader distribution of issues might indicate more widespread reliability challenges.
| Component | Honda Passport | Hyundai Santa-FE |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.6Low | 0.9Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.2Low | 1.3Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.3Low | 1.1Low |
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 1.5Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1.4Low | 0.3Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Passport or Hyundai Santa-FE?
How Does Honda Passport vs Hyundai Santa-FE Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Honda Passport | Hyundai Santa-FE | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82/1000R / 11C | 75/1006R / 109C | Honda Passport |
| 2024 | 79/1001R / 12C | 73/1009R / 109C | Honda Passport |
| 2023 | 75/1004R / 24C | 70/1004R / 244C | Honda Passport |
| 2022 | 74/1003R / 45C | 66/10014R / 223C | Honda Passport |
| 2021 | 68/1005R / 119C | 69/10010R / 165C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2020 | 68/1008R / 84C | 70/1002R / 165C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2019 | 59/1008R / 253C | 69/1003R / 201C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2026(predicted) | 79/100(predicted) | 73/100(predicted) | Honda Passport |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Passport scored 82/100 and the 2025 Hyundai Santa-FE scored 75/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Honda Passport vs the Hyundai Santa-FE?
Honda Passport vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Passport more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Based on our data, the Honda Passport is more reliable with an average score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Honda Passport or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- The Hyundai Santa-FE has more recalls (60) compared to the Honda Passport (29). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Passport or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Hyundai Santa-FE has a lower complaint rate at 8 per 10,000 sold versus 11.6 for the Honda Passport. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Passport or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Santa-FE is cheaper to maintain at $515/year versus $521/year for the Honda Passport.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Honda Passport comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue