What is the best year for a Hyundai Palisade?

The Palisade's complaint counts have remained elevated across all model years. 2020 (504 complaints) was the worst, with gradual improvement since. The 2025 model (213 complaints, 10/10 safety, 9 severe) is the strongest year currently available as a used buy. Avoid early 2020-2021 production when possible — the trend is improving, but complaint levels across all years remain higher than most three-row rivals.

How much does Hyundai Palisade insurance cost?

Palisade insurance averages around $3,049/year — roughly $254/month. The highest insurance rate of any model in this dataset, well above the three-row class norm.

Is the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride cheaper to maintain?

Maintenance cost data isn't available for the Kia Telluride, so a direct comparison isn't possible. Within the three-row class, the Palisade's $573/year sits exactly at the segment average.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Hyundai Palisade?

Maintenance metrics are all at the segment average, which doesn't create a strong case for or against warranty on cost grounds alone. However, the Palisade's consistently elevated complaint counts — particularly around electronics and infotainment — make coverage worth considering for used buyers, as those systems carry significant repair costs outside of warranty.

Is the Nissan Pathfinder expensive to maintain?

The Pathfinder costs $542/year to maintain — $31 below the three-row segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 43% is slightly above the class average of 40%. Reliability score of 7 matches the segment average. Major repair probability of 15% is slightly above the 13% norm. Below-average cost but a slightly above-average risk profile.

What is the best year for a Nissan Pathfinder?

Strongly avoid 2013-2014 (888 and 568 complaints, with 18 and 28 severe respectively), driven by well-documented CVT transmission failures in the third generation. The 2022-2025 fourth-generation window is substantially cleaner: 2024 (64 complaints, 10/10 safety, 1 severe) and 2025 (39, 10/10, 2 severe) are the strongest years on record.

How much does Nissan Pathfinder insurance cost?

Pathfinder insurance averages around $2,477/year — roughly $206/month.

Is the Nissan Pathfinder or Toyota Highlander cheaper to maintain?

The Highlander is cheaper to maintain by $53/year — $489 versus $542 for the Pathfinder. The Highlander also has a higher reliability score (8 vs. 7). Repair frequency data isn't available for the Highlander for a complete comparison, but on cost and reliability score, the Highlander holds a clear edge.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Nissan Pathfinder?

Major repair probability of 15% and repair frequency of 43% are both slightly above the three-row class average. The 2013-2014 CVT failures are the most significant risk factor for used buyers — warranty coverage is strongly recommended for those years. For 2022 and newer, the risk profile is more moderate, though the slightly above-average probabilities make warranty worth weighing for high-mileage plans.

Hyundai Palisade vs Nissan Pathfinder

Two three-row SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Nissan Pathfinder to minimise 5-year ownership cost.

Buy the Nissan Pathfinder if long-term reliability matters most.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Hyundai Palisade	Nissan Pathfinder
Annual maintenance	$573	$542winner
5-year total cost	$2,865	$2,710winner
Reliability score	7 / 10	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	13%winner	15%
Cargo space	—	—
Starting price (new)	$41,035	$37,500winner
Best years to buy	2022	2010, 2012

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Hyundai Palisade	Nissan Pathfinder
RepairPal score	7 / 10	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	355.3	308.5winner
Years to avoid	2024, 2025, 2026	2013, 2014
Value retained · 3 yr	73.3%winner	69.2%
Value retained · 5 yr	54.7%winner	47.1%
Value retained · 7 yr	43.2%winner	35%

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Hyundai Palisade	Nissan Pathfinder
Engine	11.2%winner	13.2%
Electrical	4.7%	3.7%winner
ADAS	9.4%	7.1%winner
Brakes	14.6%	7.2%winner
Suspension	5.7%	2.0%winner
Steering	2.0%	1.1%winner
Fuel system	—winner	1.5%
Tires/Wheels	0.7%winner	1.3%
Glass/Windows	14.1%	6.0%winner
Airbags	4.6%winner	16.1%
Seatbelt	14.0%	—winner

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Hyundai Palisade	Nissan Pathfinder
Avg annual premium	$3,049	$2,477winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Hyundai Palisade

$573/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Nissan Pathfinder

$542/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Palisade costs $573/year to maintain — exactly at the three-row segment average. Repair frequency of 37% is slightly below the class average of 40%. Reliability score of 7 and major repair probability of 13% both match segment averages. Precisely average across all maintenance metrics — though its insurance cost stands well apart from the class.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →