Most reliable used SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 10,000 built

These 25 model years of used SUVs drew the fewest NHTSA owner complaints for every 10,000 cars built. The rate puts models that sell in large and small numbers on the same scale.

How this list is ranked

Complaints per 10,000 built is a model year's NHTSA owner complaints divided by its production, times 10,000.
Production is the number of cars the maker reported building for that model year to NHTSA under Early Warning Reporting (EWR).
Only model years with at least 10,000 built and from 2023 or earlier are ranked. Production for newer model years is not final.
At most 3 model years per model are listed, so one model can't fill the list. Ties are listed by make, model and year.
It covers 26 models of used SUVs with a model page on this site: Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Bronco, Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander and Toyota RAV4.
The ranked model years run from 2012 to 2023.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints and EWR production reports, as of October 26, 2026.

Rank	Model year	Complaints per 10,000 built	Complaints	Built	Model
1	2021 Kia Sorento	1.9	12	62,114	All years
2	2023 Toyota 4Runner	2.2	32	142,433	All years
3	2021 Toyota 4Runner	2.5	36	146,552	All years
4	2023 Subaru Crosstrek	2.8	34	119,777	All years
5	2022 Toyota 4Runner	2.9	39	132,795	All years
6	2023 Mazda CX-5	4.0	62	153,959	All years
7	2023 Toyota RAV4	4.2	153	367,237	All years
8	2022 Toyota RAV4	4.2	144	345,293	All years
9	2022 Subaru Crosstrek	4.2	31	73,705	All years
10	2023 Chevrolet Traverse	4.9	88	179,912	All years
11	2023 Ford Explorer	5.0	108	215,316	All years
12	2023 Subaru Forester	5.2	73	141,554	All years
13	2021 Chevrolet Equinox	5.2	94	180,615	All years
14	2016 Toyota Highlander	5.7	110	194,601	All years
15	2022 Mazda CX-5	5.9	63	107,581	All years
16	2021 Subaru Crosstrek	5.9	115	196,235	All years
17	2023 Chevrolet Equinox	6.3	95	149,974	All years
18	2023 GMC Terrain	6.3	38	59,959	All years
19	2018 Toyota RAV4	6.4	331	515,433	All years
20	2021 GMC Terrain	6.6	35	53,290	All years
21	2012 Nissan Pathfinder	6.6	23	34,760	All years
22	2021 Honda HR-V	6.9	63	91,951	All years
23	2022 GMC Terrain	7.0	59	84,796	All years
24	2022 Honda HR-V	7.0	86	122,638	All years
25	2022 Kia Sportage	7.3	46	62,910	All years

What these numbers can't show

Here 'reliable' means few NHTSA complaints per 10,000 built.
Complaints are unverified reports that owners filed with NHTSA. They don't show repair costs, or problems owners never reported.
Older model years have had more time to draw complaints, so the measure favors newer years.
A few model years have no production match in EWR and are left out.