Last updated: 2026-03-04
Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
Honda Pilot
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander? 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 Toyota Highlander currently leads with an average score of 72/100 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 Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Honda Pilot, scoring 72/100 vs 66/100.
The Toyota Highlander demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 84/100 compared to the Honda Pilot's 74/100. While the Highlander has a higher number of total recalls at 66 versus the Pilot's 51, it benefits from fewer owner complaints at 5.8 per 10,000 units sold, as opposed to the Pilot's 9.1. Additionally, the Highlander offers lower annual repair costs, estimated at $489 compared to the Pilot's $542. These factors make the Highlander the more reliable choice, particularly with its lower complaint rate and maintenance expenses.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Highlander costs $53 less per year to repair
- 2Honda Pilot has 15 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota Highlander scores 6 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Honda Pilot | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 51 | 66 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 9.1 | 5.8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $542/yr | $489/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.5/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 13% | 13% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 7 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Highlander showing a significant concern in the air bags category, recording 162 complaints, 41 of which are crash-linked, indicating a potential safety issue. In contrast, the Honda Pilot reports the highest number of complaints in the electrical system category, with 632 complaints and 7 crash-linked incidents, suggesting a prevalent reliability challenge. While both models have notable power train complaints, the Highlander's power train issues (485 complaints, 5 crash-linked) are more frequent compared to the Pilot's (232 complaints, 3 crash-linked). Additionally, the Highlander's service brakes category reports a higher number of crash-linked complaints (10) than the Pilot, highlighting a potential area of concern for safety.
| Component | Honda Pilot | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.4Low | 0.4Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.9Very Low | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.3Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.6Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.3Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —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 Toyota Highlander?
How Does Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Honda Pilot | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71/1004R / 111C | 76/1008R / 40C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2024 | 72/1006R / 82C | 67/10016R / 198C | Honda Pilot |
| 2023 | 72/1005R / 93C | 73/10013R / 140C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2022 | 72/1003R / 105C | 74/1007R / 186C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2021 | 63/1008R / 358C | 70/1006R / 403C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2020 | 60/1009R / 431C | 71/1008R / 269C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2019 | 56/10011R / 794C | 70/1003R / 414C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2018 | 63/1005R / 408C | 72/1005R / 242C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Tie |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Honda Pilot vs the Toyota Highlander?
Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Pilot more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 72/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Honda Pilot or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) compared to the Honda Pilot (51). 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 Toyota Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Highlander has a lower complaint rate at 5.8 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 Toyota Highlander?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Highlander is cheaper to maintain at $489/year versus $542/year for the Honda Pilot.
- Is the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander safer?
- Both the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander 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.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Honda Pilot 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