Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Nissan Pathfinder?

The Chevrolet Traverse has more recalls (19) 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 Chevrolet Traverse or the Nissan Pathfinder?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus 7.2 for the Chevrolet Traverse. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Nissan Pathfinder?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Pathfinder is cheaper to maintain at $542/year versus $656/year for the Chevrolet Traverse.

Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Nissan Pathfinder safer?

Both the Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Traverse

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Pathfinder

Good

Choosing between the Chevrolet Traverse 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 Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder Generations Compare?

The Chevrolet Traverse is currently in its third generation, which began with the 2024 model year. With this being the start of a new generation, potential buyers should be aware that newer platforms can sometimes experience first-year issues as manufacturers work out initial production kinks. In contrast, the Nissan Pathfinder is in its fifth generation, initiated in 2022 and recently updated with a facelift in 2023. Being relatively early in its generation cycle, it may still be refining any early issues. Generally, mature platforms like the Traverse's second generation, which had a facelift in 2022, tend to be more reliable as they benefit from years of refinement and problem-solving.

Verdict

The Nissan Pathfinder is more reliable than the Chevrolet Traverse, scoring 73/100 vs 69/100.

The Nissan Pathfinder edges out the Chevrolet Traverse in terms of reliability with a higher average reliability score of 75/100 compared to the Traverse's 68/100. The Pathfinder also has a lower owner complaint rate of 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus the Traverse's 7.2, along with fewer recalls over eight years. Additionally, independent repair cost estimates favor the Pathfinder with an annual cost of $542 compared to the Traverse's $656. Both models share common issues, but the Pathfinder's overall metrics suggest it is the more reliable midsize SUV option.

Key Differences

1Nissan Pathfinder costs $114 less per year to repair
2Nissan Pathfinder has 5 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Pathfinder scores 4 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Chevrolet Traverse

—

5Nissan Pathfinder

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Traverse	Nissan Pathfinder
Reliability Score	69/100	73/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	19	14
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.2	3.5
Annual Repair Cost	$656/yr	$542/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	15%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder?

The Chevrolet Traverse exhibits a higher volume of complaints, particularly in the power train category with 431 complaints, including 6 crash-linked incidents, which is notably higher than the Nissan Pathfinder's 60 power train complaints. The Traverse also shows significant issues in the electrical system and service brakes, with 222 and 138 complaints respectively, both categories having crash-linked incidents. In contrast, the Nissan Pathfinder's issues are more evenly distributed, with the electrical system and unknown or other categories each receiving 64 complaints, though the latter has 3 crash-linked cases. Overall, the Traverse demonstrates more severe and crash-linked problems, especially in the power train and brakes, compared to the Pathfinder's relatively balanced distribution of issues.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Traverse	Nissan Pathfinder
POWER TRAIN	2.2Low	0.5Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.4Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.6Very Low	0.5Very Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	0.3Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—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: Chevrolet Traverse or Nissan Pathfinder?

The Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder present similar repair frequencies, each requiring approximately 0.4 visits per year, but differ in their annual repair costs and major repair risks. The Traverse incurs $656 annually, whereas the Pathfinder is more economical at $542 per year—a $114 difference, equating to $570 over five years. Additionally, the major repair risk for the Traverse is 18%, compared to the Pathfinder's lower 15%. For cost-conscious buyers, the Nissan Pathfinder offers better value, with lower yearly repair expenses and a reduced likelihood of major repairs, translating into potential long-term savings.

How Does Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Traverse	Nissan Pathfinder	Edge
2025	75/1000R / 132C	78/1001R / 25C	Nissan Pathfinder
2024	73/1000R / 107C	74/1002R / 38C	Nissan Pathfinder
2023	72/1002R / 62C	74/1001R / 86C	Nissan Pathfinder
2022	73/1001R / 76C	66/1005R / 119C	Chevrolet Traverse
2020	62/1008R / 188C	78/1000R / 43C	Nissan Pathfinder
2019	62/1003R / 358C	71/1002R / 71C	Nissan Pathfinder
2018	62/1002R / 416C	68/1003R / 74C	Nissan Pathfinder
2026(predicted)	73/100(predicted)	75/100(predicted)	Nissan Pathfinder

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse 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 Chevrolet Traverse vs the Nissan Pathfinder?

If you prioritize reliability and lower ownership costs, the Nissan Pathfinder might be the better choice for you. With a higher reliability score of 75/100 and fewer owner complaints at 3.5 per 10,000 sold, it offers a more dependable experience. The Pathfinder also has fewer total recalls (14) and a lower estimated annual repair cost of $542, making it an attractive option for those looking to minimize unexpected expenses. On the other hand, if you are drawn to the features or design of the Chevrolet Traverse, it's important to consider its slightly lower reliability score of 68/100 and higher complaint rate of 7.2 per 10,000 sold. With 19 recalls and an estimated annual repair cost of $656, the Traverse may require more attention in the long run. However, it still offers a competitive repair frequency of 0.4 per year, similar to the Pathfinder. Choose the Traverse if these aspects align with your preferences and priorities.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Nissan Pathfinder: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Traverse 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 Chevrolet Traverse or the Nissan Pathfinder?: The Chevrolet Traverse has more recalls (19) 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 Chevrolet Traverse or the Nissan Pathfinder?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Pathfinder has a lower complaint rate at 3.5 per 10,000 sold versus 7.2 for the Chevrolet Traverse. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Traverse or the Nissan Pathfinder?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Pathfinder is cheaper to maintain at $542/year versus $656/year for the Chevrolet Traverse.
Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Nissan Pathfinder safer?: Both the Chevrolet Traverse and Nissan Pathfinder received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Chevrolet Traverse comparisons

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More Nissan Pathfinder 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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