Last updated: 2026-03-04
Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Palisade
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the Hyundai Palisade 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 full-size 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 63/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Hyundai Palisade, scoring 72/100 vs 63/100.
The Toyota Highlander outshines the Hyundai Palisade in reliability with a higher average reliability score of 84/100 compared to the Palisade's 70/100. Additionally, the Highlander has fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold at 5.8 versus the Palisade's 31.7, indicating a more consistent performance. While both vehicles have experienced numerous recalls, the Highlander's lower estimated annual repair cost of $489 further underscores its advantage in long-term dependability. Overall, the Highlander presents a more reliable choice with fewer issues and lower upkeep expenses.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Highlander costs $84 less per year to repair
- 2Hyundai Palisade has 33 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota Highlander has 25.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Palisade | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 63/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 7 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 33 | 66 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 31.7 | 5.8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $573/yr | $489/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Year Wins | 0 | 6 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander faces significant issues with its power train and air bags, with 485 and 162 complaints respectively, and notably, 41 crash-linked incidents related to air bags. In contrast, the Hyundai Palisade shows a higher concentration of complaints in the service brakes and seat belts categories, with 326 and 234 complaints, respectively, and 16 crash-linked incidents associated with service brakes. Both models have a similar number of complaints in the electrical system and engine categories; however, the Highlander's power train issues are more pronounced compared to the Palisade. While both vehicles have areas of concern, the Highlander is notably more affected by air bag-related safety issues, whereas the Palisade has more problems with service brakes.
| Component | Hyundai Palisade | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 5.4Average | 0.6Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3.3Average | 0.7Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 3.9Average | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3.6Average | —None |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.6Low | 1.5Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.1Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 2.3Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1.7Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 1.1Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.4Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.4Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Palisade or Toyota Highlander?
How Does Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Palisade | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70/1003R / 139C | 76/1008R / 40C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2024 | 63/1005R / 304C | 67/10016R / 198C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2023 | 62/1005R / 326C | 73/10013R / 140C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2022 | 65/1005R / 241C | 74/1007R / 186C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2021 | 61/1006R / 354C | 70/1006R / 403C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2020 | 59/1007R / 521C | 71/1008R / 269C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 65/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Toyota Highlander |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Hyundai Palisade scored 70/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Palisade vs the Toyota Highlander?
Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Palisade 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 63/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Palisade or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) 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 Hyundai Palisade or the Toyota Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Highlander has a lower complaint rate at 5.8 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 Hyundai Palisade or the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Highlander is cheaper to maintain at $489/year versus $573/year for the Hyundai Palisade.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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More Toyota Highlander 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.
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