Is the Honda Passport more reliable than the Nissan Pathfinder?

They're very close — both average 74/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Passport or the Nissan Pathfinder?

The Honda Passport has more recalls (29) compared to the Nissan Pathfinder (14). 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 Nissan Pathfinder?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 11.6 for the Honda Passport. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Passport or the Nissan Pathfinder?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Passport is cheaper to maintain at $521/year versus $542/year for the Nissan Pathfinder.

Last updated: 2026-07-17

Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder: Reliability Compared

Honda Passport

Good

Nissan Pathfinder

Good

Choosing between the Honda Passport and the Nissan Pathfinder? 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. Both models currently share an average reliability score of 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda Passport and Nissan Pathfinder Generations Compare?

The Nissan Pathfinder is currently in its fifth generation (R53), introduced in 2021, with a facelift in 2023. Being relatively early in its generation cycle, buyers might encounter typical first-year issues as the platform matures. Conversely, the Honda Passport is in its third generation (YF7/8), launched in 2019, with facelifts in 2022 and subsequent model year updates in 2023 and 2024. This suggests a more mature platform that has likely resolved earlier teething problems. Generally, newer platforms like the Pathfinder may face initial reliability challenges, while the more established Passport could offer a more sorted experience.

Verdict

The Honda Passport and Nissan Pathfinder are evenly matched with a reliability score of 74/100.

The Honda Passport achieves a higher average reliability score of 83/100 compared to the Nissan Pathfinder's 75/100, indicating a generally more dependable performance. However, the Passport has a higher owner complaint rate at 11.6 per 10,000 sold, compared to the Pathfinder's 3.5, suggesting more frequent issues relative to its sales volume. Both vehicles have a similar range of common issues, but the Passport's slightly lower estimated annual repair cost of $521 versus the Pathfinder's $542 may offer minor savings. Overall, while the Passport scores better in reliability, the Pathfinder presents fewer complaints, making them closely matched in reliability considerations.

Key Differences

1Honda Passport costs $21 less per year to repair
2Nissan Pathfinder has 15 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Pathfinder has 8.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Honda Passport

—

2Nissan Pathfinder

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair Frequency

Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Passport	Nissan Pathfinder
Reliability Score	74/100	74/100
Years Tracked	8	8
Total Recalls	29	14
Complaints per 10k Sold	11.6	3.5
Annual Repair Cost	$521/yr	$542/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Year Wins	5	2

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Passport and Nissan Pathfinder?

The Nissan Pathfinder and Honda Passport exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Honda Passport reporting a higher overall number of complaints at 548 compared to the Pathfinder's 457. The Passport shows a significant focus on the Electrical System with 123 complaints, including 2 crash-linked, which is nearly double the 64 complaints for the Pathfinder in the same category. Additionally, the Passport's Forward Collision Avoidance system is a notable area of concern with 64 complaints, 2 of which are crash-linked, a category not highlighted in the Pathfinder's data. Both vehicles have a similar number of complaints related to the Power Train and Engine, but the Pathfinder has slightly more issues related to the Service Brakes, with 58 complaints versus the Passport's 49.

Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Passport	Nissan Pathfinder
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.6Low	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.3Low	0.5Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1.2Low	0.5Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1.4Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	1Very Low	0.4Very Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—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 Nissan Pathfinder?

Independent repair cost data indicates that the Nissan Pathfinder has an annual repair cost of $542, slightly higher than the Honda Passport's $521. Over five years, this equates to a $105 difference in favor of the Honda. The Pathfinder also requires more frequent repairs, with 0.4 visits per year compared to the Passport's 0.3 visits. Additionally, the Pathfinder has a 15% risk of major repairs, making it potentially more costly in the long run. For cost-conscious buyers, the Honda Passport offers better value, with lower repair costs and less frequent service visits, alongside a lower risk of major repairs.

How Does Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Passport	Nissan Pathfinder	Edge
2026	84/1000R / 0C	82/1000R / 1C	Honda Passport
2025	82/1000R / 11C	78/1001R / 25C	Honda Passport
2024	79/1001R / 12C	74/1002R / 38C	Honda Passport
2023	75/1004R / 24C	74/1001R / 86C	Honda Passport
2022	74/1003R / 45C	66/1005R / 119C	Honda Passport
2020	68/1008R / 84C	78/1000R / 43C	Nissan Pathfinder
2019	59/1008R / 253C	71/1002R / 71C	Nissan Pathfinder

Best years to cross-shop: The 2026 Honda Passport scored 84/100 and the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda Passport vs the Nissan Pathfinder?

If you prioritize reliability and are concerned with fewer owner complaints, the Honda Passport might be the better choice for you. With a reliability score of 83/100 and a repair frequency of 0.3 times per year, it offers a dependable ride. While it has a higher number of recalls at 29, the estimated annual repair cost is slightly lower at $521, suggesting that when issues do arise, they're less expensive to fix. On the other hand, if you are looking for a vehicle with a lower recall count and are less concerned about the number of complaints, the Nissan Pathfinder could be more suitable. It has fewer recalls at 14 and a lower major repair risk of 15%, though it comes with a slightly higher annual repair cost of $542. The Pathfinder may appeal to those who value a balance between reliability and fewer disruptive recalls.

Honda Passport vs Nissan Pathfinder: Common Questions

Is the Honda Passport more reliable than the Nissan Pathfinder?: They're very close — both average 74/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.
Which has more recalls, the Honda Passport or the Nissan Pathfinder?: The Honda Passport has more recalls (29) compared to the Nissan Pathfinder (14). 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 Nissan Pathfinder?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 11.6 for the Honda Passport. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Passport or the Nissan Pathfinder?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Passport is cheaper to maintain at $521/year versus $542/year for the Nissan Pathfinder.

More Honda Passport comparisons

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More Nissan Pathfinder comparisons

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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.

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