Last updated: 2026-03-04
Hyundai Santa-FE vs Nissan Pathfinder: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Santa-FE
Nissan Pathfinder
Choosing between the Hyundai Santa-FE and the Nissan Pathfinder? 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 Nissan Pathfinder currently leads with an average score of 73/100 compared to 69/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Santa-FE and Nissan Pathfinder Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-FE, scoring 73/100 vs 69/100.
The Hyundai Santa Fe slightly edges out the Nissan Pathfinder in terms of average reliability score, with a 79/100 compared to the Pathfinder's 75/100. However, the Pathfinder has significantly fewer recalls over the years (14 compared to the Santa Fe's 60) and a lower owner complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus the Santa Fe's 8. Despite the Santa Fe's lower estimated annual repair cost of $515 compared to the Pathfinder's $542, the Pathfinder's lower complaint rate and recall history suggest a more dependable ownership experience in the long run. Both vehicles share common issue areas, but the Pathfinder's recall and complaint metrics make it the more reliable choice overall.
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 | 69/100 | 73/100 |
| 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) | 6 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Santa-FE and Nissan Pathfinder?
The Hyundai Santa-FE exhibits a higher volume of complaints compared to the Nissan Pathfinder, particularly in the engine and power train categories, with 321 and 269 complaints respectively. Notably, the Santa-FE also shows a significant number of crash-linked complaints in the power train and service brakes categories, totaling 20 incidents. On the other hand, the Nissan Pathfinder's issues are more evenly distributed across the electrical system, unknown or other, and power train, but with fewer crash-linked incidents overall. The Pathfinder has a notably lower incidence of engine-related complaints, suggesting its engine reliability might be superior to the Santa-FE's.
| Component | Hyundai Santa-FE | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.5Low | 0.3Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.3Low | 0.5Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.1Low | 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 |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.3Very Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEATS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —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-FE or Nissan Pathfinder?
How Does Hyundai Santa-FE vs Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Santa-FE | Nissan Pathfinder | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2026(predicted) | 73/100(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | Nissan Pathfinder |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Hyundai Santa-FE scored 75/100 and the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
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?
- Based on our data, the Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable with an average score of 73/100 compared to 69/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Santa-FE or the Nissan Pathfinder?
- The Hyundai Santa-FE has more recalls (60) compared to the Nissan Pathfinder (14). 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-FE or the Nissan Pathfinder?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus 8 for the Hyundai Santa-FE. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Santa-FE or the Nissan Pathfinder?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Santa-FE is cheaper to maintain at $515/year versus $542/year for the Nissan Pathfinder.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Hyundai Santa-FE 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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