Last updated: 2026-10-10
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Nissan Pathfinder: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Santa Fe
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder edges out the Hyundai Santa-FE on reliability, with far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. Owners filed 457 complaints on the Pathfinder against 1710 on the Santa-FE, and federal recall records show a much heavier load on the Hyundai. Repair costs run slightly lower on the Santa-FE.
How Do the Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable than the Hyundai Santa Fe, scoring 74/100 vs 70/100.
A slight edge goes to the Pathfinder. Both rate good, so the gap is small. The deciding factor is the volume and severity of trouble on record. The Santa-FE draws far more owner complaints per vehicle sold and has far more federal recalls, and its worst reports involve engines that burn oil, brakes that fail to stop the car, and sudden acceleration. The Pathfinder has real problems, especially CVT judder, but they are fewer and less often tied to crashes. The Santa-FE does win on repair cost and shop visits, which keeps this close.
Key Differences
- 1Nissan Pathfinder has 46 fewer total recalls
- 2Hyundai Santa Fe costs $27 less per year to repair
- 3Hyundai Santa Fe has 5% lower major repair risk
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Nissan Pathfinder: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Santa Fe | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 70/100 | 74/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 60 | 14 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8 | 3.5 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $515/yr | $542/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2/yr | 0.4/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 10% | 15% |
| Year Wins | 0 (1 tied) | 7 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder?
Heavy oil burning is the Santa-FE's biggest pattern, with engines running quarts low and some failing outright. Its brake and speed control complaints include cars that would not stop and surged into a wall or through a window. Crashes are linked to four of its five problem areas, led by service brakes and power train. The Pathfinder's main issues are a juddering CVT, key fob door locks that stop responding, a backup camera that cuts out, and cruise control that drops out when the radar reports an obstruction. Crash links appear only in its power train and speed control areas. Its service brake complaints have none.
| Component | Hyundai Santa Fe | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1.3Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1.5Low | 0.2Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.2Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.9Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.5Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEATS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —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 Fe or Nissan Pathfinder?
How Does Hyundai Santa Fe vs Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Santa Fe | Nissan Pathfinder | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 75/1005R / 5C | 82/1000R / 1C | Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2025 | 75/1006R / 109C | 78/1001R / 25C | Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2024 | 73/1009R / 109C | 74/1002R / 38C | Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2023 | 70/1004R / 244C | 74/1001R / 86C | Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2022 | 66/10014R / 223C | 66/1005R / 119C | Tie |
| 2020 | 70/1002R / 165C | 78/1000R / 43C | Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2019 | 69/1003R / 201C | 71/1002R / 71C | Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2018 | 63/1007R / 489C | 68/1003R / 74C | Nissan Pathfinder |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe scored 73/100 and the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe vs the Nissan Pathfinder?
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Nissan Pathfinder: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Santa-FE more reliable than the Nissan Pathfinder?
- No, the Pathfinder has a slight edge. Both models rate good, but the Santa-FE draws more owner complaints per vehicle sold (8 per 10,000 versus 3.5) and has more recalls. The Santa-FE does cost a little less to repair each year and needs fewer shop visits.
- Which has more recalls, the Santa-FE or the Pathfinder?
- The Santa-FE has far more. Federal recall records show 60 recalls across 9 model years for the Santa-FE, compared with 14 across 8 model years for the Pathfinder. Check the VIN of any used example for open recalls before you buy either one.
- Which costs less to repair, the Santa-FE or the Pathfinder?
- The Santa-FE costs a bit less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $515 a year for the Santa-FE and $542 for the Pathfinder. The Santa-FE also averages 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year against 0.4, and a repair is less likely to be major.
- What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Engine oil burning is the dominant pattern. Owners find the engine several quarts low with no visible leak, often between about 78,788 and 110,000 miles. If ignored, it can bring misfires, knocking, stalling at highway speed, and engine failure.
- What goes wrong with the Nissan Pathfinder transmission?
- The CVT is the main concern. Owners report judder, slipping, lurching, and sometimes cutting out. Some describe the car failing to accelerate and then surging forward near a stop, which forces hard braking. Dealers often find no fault codes, so the problem can go unrepaired.
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Decided between Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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