Last updated: 2026-03-04
Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Reliability Compared
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa-FE
Choosing between the Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Santa-FE? 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 Hyundai Santa-FE currently leads with an average score of 69/100 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 Hyundai Santa-FE Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Hyundai Santa-FE is more reliable than the Honda Pilot, scoring 69/100 vs 66/100.
In the midsize SUV segment, the Hyundai Santa Fe slightly edges out the Honda Pilot in terms of reliability, with a higher average reliability score of 79/100 compared to the Pilot's 74/100. The Santa Fe also has a lower owner complaint rate at 8 per 10,000 units sold, whereas the Pilot has 9.1. Although the Santa Fe has experienced more recalls (60 compared to the Pilot's 51), it offsets this with a marginally lower estimated annual repair cost of $515 versus $542 for the Pilot. Both vehicles share similar common issues, but the Santa Fe's overall reliability metrics suggest a slight advantage.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Santa-FE costs $27 less per year to repair
- 2Honda Pilot has 9 fewer total recalls
- 3Hyundai Santa-FE scores 3 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Honda Pilot | Hyundai Santa-FE |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 69/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 51 | 60 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 9.1 | 8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $542/yr | $515/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.5/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 13% | 10% |
| Year Wins | 2 (1 tied) | 5 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Pilot and Hyundai Santa-FE?
The Honda Pilot and Hyundai Santa-FE exhibit distinct problem profiles in terms of reliability. The Honda Pilot shows a higher concentration of complaints in the electrical system (632 complaints, 7 crash-linked) and forward collision avoidance (147 complaints, 3 crash-linked), indicating potential concerns in these areas. Conversely, the Hyundai Santa-FE faces more challenges with its engine (321 complaints) and power train (269 complaints, 9 crash-linked), pointing to mechanical reliability issues. Notably, the Santa-FE has a higher number of crash-linked complaints in service brakes (11) compared to the Pilot's 9, suggesting a more significant safety concern in this category for the Santa-FE.
| Component | Honda Pilot | Hyundai Santa-FE |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.4Low | 0.9Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1Very Low | 1.5Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.9Very Low | 1.3Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1Very Low | 1.1Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.6Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.3Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —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: Honda Pilot or Hyundai Santa-FE?
How Does Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Santa-FE Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Honda Pilot | Hyundai Santa-FE | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71/1004R / 111C | 75/1006R / 109C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2024 | 72/1006R / 82C | 73/1009R / 109C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2023 | 72/1005R / 93C | 70/1004R / 244C | Honda Pilot |
| 2022 | 72/1003R / 105C | 66/10014R / 223C | Honda Pilot |
| 2021 | 63/1008R / 358C | 69/10010R / 165C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2020 | 60/1009R / 431C | 70/1002R / 165C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2019 | 56/10011R / 794C | 69/1003R / 201C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2018 | 63/1005R / 408C | 63/1007R / 489C | Tie |
| 2026(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | 73/100(predicted) | Hyundai Santa-FE |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 and the 2025 Hyundai Santa-FE scored 75/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Honda Pilot vs the Hyundai Santa-FE?
Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Pilot more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Based on our data, the Hyundai Santa-FE is more reliable with an average score of 69/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Honda Pilot or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- The Hyundai Santa-FE has more recalls (60) 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 Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Hyundai Santa-FE has a lower complaint rate at 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 Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Santa-FE is cheaper to maintain at $515/year versus $542/year for the Honda Pilot.
Related Reliability 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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