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.

Kia Soul vs Nissan Pathfinder

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

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Kia Soul based on your priorities for this class.

Buy the Nissan Pathfinder based on your priorities for this class.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Kia Soul	Nissan Pathfinder
Annual maintenance	—	$542
5-year total cost	—	$2,710
Reliability score	—	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	—	15%
Cargo space	—	—
Starting price (new)	—	$37,500
Best years to buy	—	2010, 2012

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Kia Soul	Nissan Pathfinder
RepairPal score	—	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	0winner	308.5
Years to avoid	None identified	2013, 2014
Value retained · 3 yr	—	69.2%
Value retained · 5 yr	—	47.1%
Value retained · 7 yr	—	35%

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Kia Soul	Nissan Pathfinder
Engine	—winner	13.2%
Electrical	—winner	3.7%
ADAS	—winner	7.1%
Brakes	—winner	7.2%
Suspension	—winner	2.0%
Steering	—winner	1.1%
Fuel system	—winner	1.5%
Tires/Wheels	—winner	1.3%
Glass/Windows	—winner	6.0%
Airbags	—winner	16.1%

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?

	Kia Soul	Nissan Pathfinder
Avg annual premium	$2,445winner	$2,477

// FULL MODEL PAGES

$542/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

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 →