Which Kia Telluride years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2020 and 2021 as Avoid years for the Telluride, with 2020 having a complaint index of 100 and 761 complaints, the highest of any Telluride model year. 2025 is rated Best with a complaint index of 20.

Which Nissan Pathfinder years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013 and 2014 as Avoid years. The 2013 model year has the highest complaint index (100) with 890 complaints and 11 recall campaigns.

Does the Kia Telluride or Nissan Pathfinder have more recalls?

The Pathfinder has 35 total recall campaigns across 20 model years versus 17 for the Telluride across 6 model years.

Which SUV gets better fuel economy, the Telluride or Pathfinder?

The Telluride averages 21.7 mpg combined across its model years versus 19.9 mpg combined for the Pathfinder, per EPA figures.

What are the top complaint areas for each model?

Telluride owners most often report Electrical System issues (477 complaints, 24% share). Pathfinder owners most often report Transmission & Powertrain issues (2,330 complaints, 42% share).

Kia Telluride vs Nissan Pathfinder: Which Years to Avoid

Kia Telluride owners should avoid 2020-2021, with 2025 rated Best. Nissan Pathfinder owners should avoid 2005-2007 and 2013-2014, while 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2020 rate Best. Telluride averages 331 complaints per model year across 6 years; Pathfinder averages 278 across 20 years, but totals aren't sales-normalized.

Head to head

Kia Telluride

Model years: 2020–2025 (6)
NHTSA complaints: 1,987
Per model year: 331
Recall campaigns: 17
Years to avoid: 2020, 2021
Best years: 2025
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 21.7
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Nissan Pathfinder

Model years: 2005–2025 (20)
NHTSA complaints: 5,568
Per model year: 278
Recall campaigns: 35
Years to avoid: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014
Best years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2020
Top problem area: Transmission & Powertrain
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 19.9
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Telluride				Pathfinder
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	—	—	—	—	Avoid	1,050	2	16.5
2006	—	—	—	—	Avoid	837	3	16.5
2007	—	—	—	—	Avoid	561	1	16.5
2008	—	—	—	—	Caution	328	4	15.5
2009	—	—	—	—	Good	37	3	16
2010	—	—	—	—	Best	40	4	16.5
2011	—	—	—	—	Best	45	2	16
2012	—	—	—	—	Best	23	2	16
2013	—	—	—	—	Avoid	890	11	21.5
2014	—	—	—	—	Avoid	574	11	24
2015	—	—	—	—	Caution	320	5	23
2016	—	—	—	—	Good	105	2	22
2017	—	—	—	—	Caution	186	2	22
2018	—	—	—	—	Caution	77	3	22
2019	—	—	—	—	Caution	76	2	22
2020	Avoid	761	7	22	Best	48	0	22
2021	Avoid	365	5	22	—	—	—	—
2022	Caution	324	7	22	Caution	135	5	23
2023	Caution	207	6	22	Caution	104	1	22.5
2024	Caution	217	5	21	Good	81	2	22.5
2025	Best	113	3	21	Caution	51	1	22.5

Complaint Index by year

Kia Telluride

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Nissan Pathfinder

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Kia Telluride years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2020 and 2021 as Avoid years for the Telluride, with 2020 having a complaint index of 100 and 761 complaints, the highest of any Telluride model year. 2025 is rated Best with a complaint index of 20.
Which Nissan Pathfinder years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013 and 2014 as Avoid years. The 2013 model year has the highest complaint index (100) with 890 complaints and 11 recall campaigns.
Does the Kia Telluride or Nissan Pathfinder have more recalls?: The Pathfinder has 35 total recall campaigns across 20 model years versus 17 for the Telluride across 6 model years.
Which SUV gets better fuel economy, the Telluride or Pathfinder?: The Telluride averages 21.7 mpg combined across its model years versus 19.9 mpg combined for the Pathfinder, per EPA figures.
What are the top complaint areas for each model?: Telluride owners most often report Electrical System issues (477 complaints, 24% share). Pathfinder owners most often report Transmission & Powertrain issues (2,330 complaints, 42% share).