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Kia Sorento vs Nissan Pathfinder: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 448 complaints per model year about the Kia Sorento and 228 about the Nissan Pathfinder.

Side by side

Kia SorentoNissan Pathfinder
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints9,4124,565
Complaints per model year448228
Recalls3935
Years to avoid20112012201320142016201720062007200820132014
Best years200720202022201620182019
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-37 mpg combined (2026)21-23 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Kia Sorento: 2422006 Nissan Pathfinder: 83720062007 Kia Sorento: 1542007 Nissan Pathfinder: 5612008 Kia Sorento: 2172008 Nissan Pathfinder: 32820082009 Kia Sorento: 552009 Nissan Pathfinder: 372010 Kia Sorento: 32010 Nissan Pathfinder: 4020102011 Kia Sorento: 1,5202011 Nissan Pathfinder: 452012 Kia Sorento: 8802012 Nissan Pathfinder: 2320122013 Kia Sorento: 9852013 Nissan Pathfinder: 8912014 Kia Sorento: 9892014 Nissan Pathfinder: 57720142015 Kia Sorento: 7552015 Nissan Pathfinder: 3212016 Kia Sorento: 1,2632016 Nissan Pathfinder: 10520162017 Kia Sorento: 8112017 Nissan Pathfinder: 1882018 Kia Sorento: 2552018 Nissan Pathfinder: 7820182019 Kia Sorento: 4372019 Nissan Pathfinder: 762020 Kia Sorento: 1402020 Nissan Pathfinder: 4820202021 Kia Sorento: 2572022 Kia Sorento: 1942022 Nissan Pathfinder: 13720222023 Kia Sorento: 1282023 Nissan Pathfinder: 1072024 Kia Sorento: 442024 Nissan Pathfinder: 8720242025 Kia Sorento: 772025 Nissan Pathfinder: 642026 Kia Sorento: 62026 Nissan Pathfinder: 152026
Kia SorentoNissan Pathfinder

Problems compared

SorentoPathfinder
Engine3,8901,165
Electrical1,297346
Transmission1,0911,754
Body883195
Lights76747
Brakes650336
Fuel system405545
Airbags632487

Questions about the Kia Sorento vs Nissan Pathfinder

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sorento or the Nissan Pathfinder?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Kia Sorento has 6 years to avoid and the Nissan Pathfinder 5. The Nissan Pathfinder has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Nissan Pathfinder drew fewer complaints per model year (228 vs 448), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Sorento or the Nissan Pathfinder?

From 2006 to 2026, the Kia Sorento was covered by 39 recalls and the Nissan Pathfinder by 35.

What years of the Kia Sorento and Nissan Pathfinder should you avoid?

Kia Sorento: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Nissan Pathfinder: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014.

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