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

The Honda Pilot has more recalls (51) 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 Pilot or the Nissan Pathfinder?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus 9.1 for the Honda Pilot. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

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

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

Is the Honda Pilot or Nissan Pathfinder safer?

Both the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder: Reliability Compared

Honda Pilot

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Pathfinder

Good

Choosing between the Honda Pilot 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. The Nissan Pathfinder currently leads with an average score of 73/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder Generations Compare?

The Honda Pilot is currently in its fourth generation, introduced in 2023, with a planned facelift in 2026. Being early in its cycle, potential buyers should be aware that newer platforms can sometimes encounter first-year issues as they settle into the market. The Nissan Pathfinder, on the other hand, is in its fifth generation, launched in 2022 and facelifted in 2023. This places it slightly further along in its cycle, potentially offering a more refined experience. Historically, mature platforms like the late-cycle Pathfinder tend to have well-sorted reliability, while early-cycle models like the Pilot may require time to address initial teething problems.

Verdict

The Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable than the Honda Pilot, scoring 73/100 vs 66/100.

The Nissan Pathfinder edges out the Honda Pilot in reliability with a slightly higher average reliability score of 75/100 compared to the Pilot's 74/100. Notably, the Pathfinder has a significantly lower owner complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus the Pilot's 9.1, and it has been subject to only 14 recalls over 8 years compared to the Pilot's 51 over 9 years. Both vehicles share similar estimated annual repair costs of $542. While both models experience common issues with the electrical system and power train, the Pathfinder's stronger recall history and lower complaint rate make it the more reliable choice in this comparison.

Key Differences

1Nissan Pathfinder has 37 fewer total recalls
2Nissan Pathfinder scores 7 points higher in reliability
3Nissan Pathfinder has 5.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Honda Pilot

—

4Nissan Pathfinder

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Pilot	Nissan Pathfinder
Reliability Score	66/100	73/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	51	14
Complaints per 10k Sold	9.1	3.5
Annual Repair Cost	$542/yr	$542/yr
Repair Frequency	0.5/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	13%	15%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1	6

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

The Honda Pilot exhibits a significantly higher number of complaints across all categories compared to the Nissan Pathfinder, particularly in the electrical system with 632 complaints, including 7 crash-linked incidents. The Pilot also shows a notable number of issues in the engine and power train categories, with crash-linked complaints present in both. In contrast, the Nissan Pathfinder has fewer total complaints, with the power train and electrical system being the most reported issues, but it lacks the higher severity seen in the Pilot's service brakes and forward collision avoidance categories. Overall, the Honda Pilot's problem profile suggests a broader range of issues with more safety-related concerns than the Pathfinder.

Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Pilot	Nissan Pathfinder
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.4Low	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1Very Low	0.5Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	0.5Very Low
ENGINE	1Very Low	0.3Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.6Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—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 Nissan Pathfinder?

Both the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder have an identical annual repair cost of $542 according to industry estimates. However, the Honda Pilot requires slightly more frequent repairs with an average of 0.5 visits per year compared to the Pathfinder's 0.4 visits. Over five years, this could mean one additional visit for the Pilot, potentially leading to additional inconvenience. Additionally, the Pathfinder carries a higher risk of major repairs at 15% compared to the Pilot's 13%. This suggests that while the initial repair costs are the same, the Pilot offers better value for cost-conscious buyers due to its lower risk of costly major repairs.

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

Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Pilot	Nissan Pathfinder	Edge
2025	71/1004R / 111C	78/1001R / 25C	Nissan Pathfinder
2024	72/1006R / 82C	74/1002R / 38C	Nissan Pathfinder
2023	72/1005R / 93C	74/1001R / 86C	Nissan Pathfinder
2022	72/1003R / 105C	66/1005R / 119C	Honda Pilot
2020	60/1009R / 431C	78/1000R / 43C	Nissan Pathfinder
2019	56/10011R / 794C	71/1002R / 71C	Nissan Pathfinder
2018	63/1005R / 408C	68/1003R / 74C	Nissan Pathfinder
2026(predicted)	72/100(predicted)	75/100(predicted)	Nissan Pathfinder

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 and the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda Pilot vs the Nissan Pathfinder?

If you prioritize fewer recalls and owner complaints, the Nissan Pathfinder might be a better fit. With a slightly higher reliability score of 75/100, it has only 14 total recalls and 3.5 owner complaints per 10,000 sold. This indicates fewer issues and a smoother ownership experience. Although it carries a slightly higher major repair risk of 15%, the Pathfinder's repair frequency is lower at 0.4 times per year, making it a solid choice for those seeking peace of mind. On the other hand, if you value a balanced approach with a focus on cost-effective maintenance, the Honda Pilot is worth considering. It shares the same estimated annual repair cost of $542 with the Pathfinder but boasts a lower major repair risk of 13%. Despite having more recalls and complaints, the Pilot's repair frequency is comparable at 0.5 times per year, offering a reliable option for families needing a versatile vehicle.

Honda Pilot vs Nissan Pathfinder: Common Questions

Is the Honda Pilot more reliable than the Nissan Pathfinder?: Based on our data, the Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable with an average score of 73/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Honda Pilot or the Nissan Pathfinder?: The Honda Pilot has more recalls (51) 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 Pilot or the Nissan Pathfinder?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus 9.1 for the Honda Pilot. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Pilot or the Nissan Pathfinder?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Pathfinder is cheaper to maintain at $542/year versus $542/year for the Honda Pilot.
Is the Honda Pilot or Nissan Pathfinder safer?: Both the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Honda Pilot 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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