Most Reliable SUVs: Ranked by Complaint Rate

NHTSA owner-complaint rate per 1,000 vehicles sold · 26 SUVs · July 2026

By NHTSA owner-complaint rate per 1,000 vehicles sold, the Lexus RX 350, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Murano post the lowest complaint rates among the 26 SUVs CarWhere analyzed — the Lexus RX 350 lowest at 0.149 complaints per 1,000 sold per year on the road. This measures federal complaint volume adjusted for how many were sold; it is not a holistic dependability score. Data as of July 2026.

How to read this. This ranks the federal complaint rate — NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold — not overall dependability. It is a different lens than Consumer Reports or J.D. Power, which weigh many systems and owner surveys. A model can place differently here than on those lists. Counts are severity-weighted; sales figures are cited per model. How we score complaints.

#	Model	Complaints / 1k sold / yr	Rating
1	Lexus RX 350*	0.149	Lowest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
2	Toyota RAV4	0.182	Lowest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
3	Nissan Murano	0.2	Lowest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
4	Mazda CX-5	0.246	Lowest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
5	Nissan Rogue	0.341	Lowest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
6	Chevrolet Equinox	0.353	Below average	Years to avoid →
7	Buick Enclave	0.369	Below average	Years to avoid →
8	Nissan Pathfinder	0.377	Below average	Years to avoid →
9	Toyota Highlander	0.393	Below average	Years to avoid →
10	Honda CR-V	0.497	Below average	Years to avoid →
11	Kia Sportage	0.508	Below average	Years to avoid →
12	Chevrolet Tahoe	0.517	Average	Years to avoid →
13	Subaru Forester	0.525	Average	Years to avoid →
14	Acura RDX	0.541	Average	Years to avoid →
15	Hyundai Santa Fe	0.552	Average	Years to avoid →
16	Mazda CX-9	0.558	Average	Years to avoid →
17	Jeep Grand Cherokee	0.592	Above average	Years to avoid →
18	Dodge Durango	0.613	Above average	Years to avoid →
19	GMC Acadia	0.811	Above average	Years to avoid →
20	Ford Explorer	0.918	Above average	Years to avoid →
21	Hyundai Tucson	0.966	Above average	Years to avoid →
22	Honda Pilot	1.073	Highest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
23	Jeep Wrangler	1.119	Highest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
24	Acura MDX	1.207	Highest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
25	Jeep Cherokee	1.269	Highest complaint rate	Years to avoid →
26	Kia Sorento	1.294	Highest complaint rate	Years to avoid →

Lower is better. Rate = severity-weighted NHTSA complaints ÷ (U.S. units sold ÷ 1,000) ÷ years on the road, median across a model's years. All 26 curated SUVs ranked. Models are also flagged where only a combined model-line sales figure was available (*). Complaint data: NHTSA. Sales: cited per model below.

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Frequently asked

What is the most reliable SUV by complaint rate?

Among the 26 SUVs we analyze, the Lexus RX 350 has the lowest NHTSA owner-complaint rate — 0.149 complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold per year on the road — followed by the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Murano. This ranks federal complaint volume adjusted for sales, so it rewards models owners complain about least relative to how many are on the road.

How is this SUVs ranking calculated?

For each model we take its NHTSA owner complaints, weight severe (crash/fire/injury) complaints double, and divide by U.S. units sold (per 1,000) and years on the road. That yields a complaint rate that is comparable across models regardless of how many were sold — a best-seller is no longer penalized just for volume. Sales figures are cited per model; complaints are the federal record.

Does this match Consumer Reports or J.D. Power reliability?

Not necessarily. Consumer Reports and J.D. Power measure owner-reported problems and predicted dependability across many systems. This ranks only NHTSA safety/defect complaint rate — a narrower, public, federal signal. A model can rank differently here than on those lists; both are valid, they measure different things. Use this alongside them, then check the specific VIN.