2018 Honda Pilot vs 2018 Nissan Pathfinder
Two midsize SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2018 Honda
Pilot
6/10
Great living room on wheels, mediocre gearbox — get the 2018 with the transmission already sorted or budget $3-4k for when it isn't.
VS
2018 Nissan
Pathfinder
4/10
Comfortable, well-equipped, and roomy — but the CVT is a ticking clock that turns 'good deal' into 'money pit' fast.
Milo scores the 2018 Honda Pilot higher — 6/10 against 4/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Honda Pilot |
Nissan Pathfinder |
| Known failure points | 6 | 5 |
| NHTSA complaints | 435 | 77 |
| Safety recalls | 7 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 58 | 38 |
| Cheap to own | 62 | 30 |
| Fun factor | 38 | 30 |
| Holds value | 64 | 35 |
| Enthusiast cred | 22 | 15 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2018 Honda Pilot
9-speed automatic transmission — harsh/delayed shifts, torque converter shudder (P0741), rare full failures
$150–$4,50020k–50k mi
2018 Nissan Pathfinder
CVT (Jatco JF015E/RE0F10E-family) shudder, whine, or outright failure — hesitation and slipping under load are classic early warning signs
$150–$5,50030k–70k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2018 Honda Pilot
2018 Pilot Elite, AWD, built spring 2018 or later, with service records showing a TCM update — the torque-vectoring AWD and improved shift software are worth chasing specifically.
✅ 2018 Nissan Pathfinder
2018 SV 4WD with the Trailer Tow Package and mid-cycle CVT software update applied — check service records for CVT-related TSBs already performed.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.