Is the Honda Pilot more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade?

Based on our data, the Honda Pilot is more reliable with an average score of 66/100 compared to 63/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Pilot or the Hyundai Palisade?

The Honda Pilot has more recalls (51) compared to the Hyundai Palisade (33). 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 Pilot or the Hyundai Palisade?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Honda Pilot has a lower complaint rate at 9.1 per 10,000 sold versus 31.7 for the Hyundai Palisade. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Pilot or the Hyundai Palisade?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Pilot is cheaper to maintain at $542/year versus $573/year for the Hyundai Palisade.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda Pilot

Good

Hyundai Palisade

Good

Choosing between the Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Palisade? 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 Pilot currently leads with an average score of 66/100 compared to 63/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade Generations Compare?

The Honda Pilot is currently in its fourth generation, introduced in 2023, which makes it relatively new in its lifecycle. Newer platforms like this can sometimes have first-year issues as they work out initial bugs. However, Honda's reputation for reliability might mitigate some concerns. The Pilot's last significant redesign was in 2016, with a facelift in 2019, suggesting that the previous generation was well-sorted by the time it was replaced. On the other hand, the Hyundai Palisade is in its first generation, introduced in 2020, with a facelift in 2022. This generation is mature, and typically, vehicles later in their generational cycle benefit from improvements based on earlier models' feedback, enhancing reliability. With the Palisade set for a redesign in 2026, current buyers are likely experiencing a refined version of its initial platform.

Verdict

The Honda Pilot is more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade, scoring 66/100 vs 63/100.

The Honda Pilot demonstrates a slight edge in reliability over the Hyundai Palisade, with an average reliability score of 74/100 compared to the Palisade's 70/100. Despite having more recalls, the Pilot has a notably lower owner complaint rate of 9.1 per 10,000 vehicles sold, versus 31.7 for the Palisade. While both vehicles have similar estimated annual repair costs, the Palisade's higher complaint frequency and focus on issues like service brakes and seat belts make the Pilot a marginally more reliable choice.

Key Differences

1Honda Pilot costs $31 less per year to repair
2Honda Pilot has 22.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Hyundai Palisade has 18 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

3Honda Pilot

—

2Hyundai Palisade

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair Frequency

Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Pilot	Hyundai Palisade
Reliability Score	66/100	63/100
Years Tracked	9	7
Total Recalls	51	33
Complaints per 10k Sold	9.1	31.7
Annual Repair Cost	$542/yr	$573/yr
Repair Frequency	0.5/yr	0.4/yr
Year Wins	6	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Palisade?

The Honda Pilot exhibits a higher frequency of complaints related to the electrical system, with 632 reports and 7 linked to crashes, indicating a potential area of concern. In contrast, the Hyundai Palisade's most significant issue lies with the service brakes, accounting for 326 complaints and 16 crash-linked incidents, suggesting a critical safety consideration. While both models report issues with the engine and power train, the Palisade's complaints are comparatively lower in these categories. However, the Palisade has a notable number of complaints regarding seat belts and visibility/wiper systems, areas where the Pilot does not have as significant a problem presence.

Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Pilot	Hyundai Palisade
SERVICE BRAKES	0.3Very Low	5.4Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.4Low	2.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1Very Low	3.3Average
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	3.9Average
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	3.6Average
ENGINE	1Very Low	1.7Low
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	1.6Low
SUSPENSION	—None	2.3Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	1.1Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Pilot or Hyundai Palisade?

Based on independent repair cost data, the Honda Pilot has an annual repair cost of $542, compared to $573 for the Hyundai Palisade. Over five years, this translates to a savings of $155 for the Honda Pilot. The Pilot also requires fewer visits, with a frequency of 0.5 visits per year versus the Palisade's 0.4. However, the major repair risk is slightly higher for the Pilot at 13%, while the Palisade's risk is unspecified, which may imply a similar or lower risk. For cost-conscious buyers, the Honda Pilot presents better value due to its lower annual repair costs and slightly higher repair frequency, which may balance out against the unspecified major repair risk of the Palisade.

How Does Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Pilot	Hyundai Palisade	Edge
2025	71/1004R / 111C	70/1003R / 139C	Honda Pilot
2024	72/1006R / 82C	63/1005R / 304C	Honda Pilot
2023	72/1005R / 93C	62/1005R / 326C	Honda Pilot
2022	72/1003R / 105C	65/1005R / 241C	Honda Pilot
2021	63/1008R / 358C	61/1006R / 354C	Honda Pilot
2020	60/1009R / 431C	59/1007R / 521C	Honda Pilot
2026(predicted)	72/100(predicted)	65/100(predicted)	Honda Pilot

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 and the 2025 Hyundai Palisade scored 70/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda Pilot vs the Hyundai Palisade?

If you prioritize reliability and lower repair costs, the Honda Pilot may be the better choice for you. With a reliability score of 74/100 and an estimated annual repair cost of $542, it offers a slightly more dependable and economical option. The Pilot has fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold (9.1), suggesting higher customer satisfaction. However, be aware of potential issues with the electrical system and power train. On the other hand, if you are concerned about recalls and want a vehicle with fewer historical recalls, consider the Hyundai Palisade. Despite its lower reliability score of 70/100, it has experienced fewer recalls (33) compared to the Pilot. This may indicate a more stable manufacturing process. While the estimated annual repair cost is slightly higher at $573, the Palisade's repair frequency is lower, which might save you time and hassle in the long run.

Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade: Common Questions

Is the Honda Pilot more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade?: Based on our data, the Honda Pilot is more reliable with an average score of 66/100 compared to 63/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Honda Pilot or the Hyundai Palisade?: The Honda Pilot has more recalls (51) compared to the Hyundai Palisade (33). 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 Pilot or the Hyundai Palisade?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Honda Pilot has a lower complaint rate at 9.1 per 10,000 sold versus 31.7 for the Hyundai Palisade. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Pilot or the Hyundai Palisade?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Pilot is cheaper to maintain at $542/year versus $573/year for the Hyundai Palisade.

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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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