Last updated: 2026-05-15
Hyundai Santa-Cruz vs Nissan Frontier: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Santa-Cruz
Nissan Frontier
Choosing between the Hyundai Santa-Cruz and the Nissan Frontier? 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 trucks.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Frontier currently leads with an average score of 80/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Santa-Cruz and Nissan Frontier Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Frontier is more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-Cruz, scoring 80/100 vs 66/100.
The Nissan Frontier demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Hyundai Santa-Cruz, with an average reliability score of 80/100 versus 66/100. The Frontier also has a significantly lower owner complaint rate of 0.7 per 10,000 sold, compared to 20.2 for the Santa-Cruz. While both models share common issues with the power train and electrical systems, the Frontier's lower estimated annual repair cost of $470 further highlights its advantage. Despite having more recalls, the Frontier's overall reliability profile makes it a more dependable choice in the midsize truck segment.
Key Differences
- 1Nissan Frontier has 19.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 2Nissan Frontier scores 14 points higher in reliability
- 3Nissan Frontier has 2 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Santa-Cruz vs Nissan Frontier: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Santa-Cruz | Nissan Frontier |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 80/100 |
| Years Tracked | 5 | 7 |
| Total Recalls | 11 | 9 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 20.2 | 0.7 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 0 | 2 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Santa-Cruz and Nissan Frontier?
The Nissan Frontier and Hyundai Santa-Cruz exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Hyundai Santa-Cruz having a notably higher total number of complaints at 289 compared to the Nissan Frontier's 92. The Santa-Cruz's predominant issues lie in the power train, with 116 complaints, although it has fewer crash-linked incidents (2) than the Frontier's power train (3 crash-linked out of 21 complaints). Additionally, the Santa-Cruz experiences more complaints related to the engine and forward collision avoidance, areas not prominently problematic for the Frontier. On the other hand, the Frontier's issues are more evenly distributed across categories, with significant concerns in electrical systems and service brakes, though these are not linked to crashes.
| Component | Hyundai Santa-Cruz | Nissan Frontier |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 8.1Above Avg | 0.2Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2.2Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.9Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1.7Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.8Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.8Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.7Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| TRAILER HITCHES | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Santa-Cruz or Nissan Frontier?
How Does Hyundai Santa-Cruz vs Nissan Frontier Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Santa-Cruz | Nissan Frontier | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72/1002R / 15C | 84/1000R / 0C | Nissan Frontier |
| 2024 | 71/1001R / 30C | 77/1003R / 14C | Nissan Frontier |
| 2026(predicted) | 69/100(predicted) | 82/100(predicted) | Nissan Frontier |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Hyundai Santa-Cruz scored 72/100 and the 2025 Nissan Frontier scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Santa-Cruz vs the Nissan Frontier?
Hyundai Santa-Cruz vs Nissan Frontier: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Santa-Cruz more reliable than the Nissan Frontier?
- Based on our data, the Nissan Frontier is more reliable with an average score of 80/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Santa-Cruz or the Nissan Frontier?
- The Hyundai Santa-Cruz has more recalls (11) compared to the Nissan Frontier (9). 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 Santa-Cruz or the Nissan Frontier?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Frontier has a lower complaint rate at 0.7 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 20.2 for the Hyundai Santa-Cruz. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Is the Hyundai Santa-Cruz or Nissan Frontier safer?
- Based on NHTSA crash test ratings, the Hyundai Santa-Cruz has a higher overall safety rating of 5/5 stars compared to 4/5 for the Nissan Frontier. Check sub-ratings (frontal, side, rollover) above for a more detailed safety comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Hyundai Santa-Cruz comparisons
Decided between Hyundai Santa-Cruz and Nissan Frontier? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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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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