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Different vehicle classes · Different segments — choice depends on use case

2020 Honda Pilot vs 2020 Hyundai Palisade

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2020 Honda Pilot versus 2020 Hyundai Palisade — different vehicles, different jobs

These two come from different segments, which makes a direct reliability comparison less meaningful than usual. Showing the data so you can see what each one is good at and where each one breaks down. The reliability scores (3.2 versus 3.4) reflect different testing populations and use patterns — don't treat them as apples-to-apples.

2020 Honda Pilot

3.2/5
Reliability score
459 complaints
3 recalls (0 critical)
$14,300 repair exposure
vs

2020 Hyundai Palisade

3.4/5
Reliability score
504 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$12,550 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

These come from different vehicle segments, which means we're not declaring a winner here. The 2020 Honda Pilot scores 3.2; the 2020 Hyundai Palisade scores 3.4. Different testing populations, different driving patterns, different categories of failure. Use the data below to understand what each one is good at and what each one breaks.

If you lean 2020 Honda Pilot, know what you're getting into on electrical and fuel system. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2020 Hyundai Palisade sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2020 Hyundai Palisade? Watch the visibility and engine. The 2020 Honda Pilot has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: these are different categories of vehicle. Pick based on what you actually need it for. We're showing the reliability data so you can factor in long-term ownership cost, not pick a winner.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2020 Honda Pilot
2020 Hyundai Palisade
electrical
191 reports
moderate · ~$850
31 reports
severe · ~$850
visibility
No reports
115 reports
moderate · ~$350
engine
45 reports
severe · ~$3,100
69 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
powertrain
30 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
36 reports
severe · ~$2,500
suspension
No reports
59 reports
moderate · ~$900
seatbelts
No reports
37 reports
moderate · ~$500
body
No reports
24 reports
severe · ~$1,500
fuel system
21 reports
moderate · ~$1,200
No reports
airbags
No reports
20 reports
severe · ~$1,100
brakes
16 reports
severe · ~$450
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2020 Honda Pilot or the 2020 Hyundai Palisade?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.2 vs 3.4). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2020 Honda Pilot?

Compared to the 2020 Hyundai Palisade, the 2020 Honda Pilot sees more reported issues in electrical and fuel system. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2020 Hyundai Palisade?

Compared to the 2020 Honda Pilot, the 2020 Hyundai Palisade has more complaints in visibility and engine. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2020 Honda Pilot has more active recalls (3 vs 1). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $14,300 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2020 Honda Pilot on NHTSA · 2020 Hyundai Palisade on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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