Most Reliable Used Midsize SUVs — Ranked by Data

52 midsize suvs ranked on complaint severity, repair costs, recall impact, and issue diversity — each one normalized by sales volume. The 2022 Lexus RX tops our rankings with a score of 90/100.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Most Reliable Used Midsize SUVs Rankings

#VehicleBest YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaints / 10kMaint. RatingEst. Repair Cost
1Lexus RX202290/100Excellent03.75
2Kia Sedona202188/100Excellent0—4
3Mitsubishi Outlander202184/100Excellent00.04
4Toyota 4Runner202182/100Excellent12.14
5Mazda CX-9202381/100Excellent06.94
6Infiniti QX60202181/100Excellent00.03.5
7Toyota Venza202280/100Excellent00.64
8Buick Enclave202379/100Good04.33.5
9Chevrolet Blazer202279/100Good14.94
10Acura MDX202379/100Good16.54
11Buick Envision201978/100Good06.93.5
12Nissan Pathfinder202078/100Good08.93.5
13Cadillac XT5201978/100Good06.23.5
14Dodge Journey201978/100Good112.34
15Subaru Outback202377/100Good25.13.5
16Nissan Ariya202376/100Good4—4
17Mercedes-Benz GLB202275/100Good05.63
18Honda Passport202375/100Good45.94
19Ford Edge202374/100Good41.53.5
20Toyota Highlander202274/100Good78.34
21Toyota bZ4X202373/100Good116.14
22Chevrolet Traverse202273/100Good17.83
23Lincoln Nautilus202173/100Good27.43.5
24Cadillac XT6202373/100Good20.93
25Jeep Grand Cherokee202072/100Good39.93.5
26Honda Pilot202272/100Good310.53.5
27Volvo XC90202272/100Good47.93.5
28Kia Sorento202071/100Good115.44
29Audi Q5202371/100Good21.13
30Subaru Ascent202371/100Good36.53
31Ford Explorer202371/100Good124.53.5
32Hyundai Santa Fe202070/100Good216.34
33Mercedes-Benz GLE202370/100Good50.82.5
34GMC Acadia202168/100Good2—3
35Kia Telluride202368/100Good514.53.5
36BMW X5202267/100Good16.22
37Cadillac Lyriq202367/100Good726.23.5
38Ford Bronco Sport202367/100Good138.93.5
39BMW X6202266/100Good12.22
40Ford Mustang Mach-E202366/100Good330.13.5
41Genesis GV60202366/100Good8170.63.5
42Lincoln Aviator202366/100Good1613.53.5
43Mazda CX-50202365/100Good232.73
44Subaru Solterra202365/100Good228.23.5
45Porsche Cayenne201862/100Good111.71.5
46Audi e-tron202062/100Good41.42
47Genesis GV70202360/100Good521.72.5
48Volkswagen Atlas202358/100Mixed1118.72
49Rivian R1S202357/100Mixed925.62
50BMW iX202356/100Mixed1220.22
51Ford Bronco202350/100Mixed2723.12
52Volkswagen ID.4202249/100Mixed7—2

Score Comparison

Visual comparison of reliability scores. Longer bars indicate higher reliability.

Lexus RX (2022)90/100
Excellent
Kia Sedona (2021)88/100
Excellent
Toyota 4Runner (2021)82/100
Excellent
Mazda CX-9 (2023)81/100
Excellent
Infiniti QX60 (2021)81/100
Excellent
Toyota Venza (2022)80/100
Excellent
Excellent Good Mixed Risky

Model Highlights

1. 2022 Lexus RX — 90/100

Reliability is excellent and well above average for SUVs, and no model year is clearly weak. Used shoppers should favor 2022, which has no recalls and far fewer complaints than 2019 or 2021. The problems that matter most are airbag non-deployment in crashes and hesitation or power loss when accelerating. On 2022 cars, watch for an instrument cluster that dims or goes blank.

Best year: 2022 (score: 90/100, 0 recalls, 35 complaints). Average score across all years: 86/100.

Full reliability report →

2. 2021 Kia Sedona — 88/100

Reliability is excellent, well above other SUVs on the site, and no year is a clear one to skip. Favor 2021 or 2020, and shop 2018 with more care. The biggest worry is the engine: sudden highway shutdowns, sometimes with no warning light, and seizures after heavy oil burning. Power sliding doors that misbehave are the next most common fault.

Best year: 2021 (score: 88/100, 0 recalls, 8 complaints). Average score across all years: 82/100.

Full reliability report →

3. 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander — 84/100

Used Outlanders hold up well overall and cost about what other midsize SUVs do to repair. The 2021 is the pick, and the 2022 is the year to skip because of hood flutter at speed and sudden shutdowns while driving. Across all years, owners also report liftgates that drop without warning and electrical warning lights that switch off safety features.

Best year: 2021 (score: 84/100, 0 recalls, 0 complaints). Average score across all years: 74/100.

Full reliability report →

4. 2021 Toyota 4Runner — 82/100

Used 4RUNNERs hold up well, and yearly repair costs run below the midsize SUV average. The 2023 model year is the pick, while 2018 and 2019 carry more recalls and complaints. Check first for steering wheel shake at highway speeds, then for owner reports of a brake pedal that sinks toward the floor.

Best year: 2021 (score: 82/100, 1 recalls, 31 complaints). Average score across all years: 80/100.

Full reliability report →

5. 2023 Mazda CX-9 — 81/100

Used buyers get a solid SUV here, with one big exception: the 2018 model year. Cracked cylinder heads leak coolant, often with no warning light, and dealers usually quote a full engine replacement. Later years, especially 2022 and 2023, rate excellent, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly upkeep well below the midsize SUV average.

Best year: 2023 (score: 81/100, 0 recalls, 12 complaints). Average score across all years: 76/100.

Full reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found Your Next Car? Check Its History

Before you buy, a VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most reliable used midsize suvs?
Based on our data, the 2022 Lexus RX is the most reliable with a score of 90/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and 35 owner complaints.
How many midsize suvs did we analyze?
We analyzed 52 models in this category. The average reliability score is 71/100.
How are reliability scores calculated?
Every 0–100 score blends complaint severity (35%), repair costs (30%), recall impact (20%), and issue diversity (15%). Complaints are weighted by component type — powertrain and safety issues count more than cosmetic ones — and normalized by sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

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

1

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.

2

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

3

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.

4

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 via vehicles.dev. 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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