Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Altima vs Nissan Murano
How the Nissan Altima and Nissan Murano compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Altima vs Nissan Murano: The Altima has 117.8 complaints per year, while the Murano has 26.3. Altima owners report stalling and shifter failures; Murano owners report false crash alerts and braking issues. The Murano is generally less problematic. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Altima or Nissan Murano more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima, a midsize sedan, shows a high volume of owner complaints over the past decade, averaging nearly 118 per year. The pattern points to a car that can suffer from sudden electrical and powertrain failures, including stalling, unexpected shutdowns, and even a door that won't open. Owners also report engine issues like a fuel pump that can unseat and cause sudden power loss. While not every car will have these problems, the frequency and severity of the reported incidents are a concern for a used-car buyer.
Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano, a midsize SUV, has a much lower complaint rate, averaging about 26 per year. The issues that do surface often involve the forward collision avoidance system, which can trigger false alerts, and the brakes, which may cause the car to slow down unexpectedly. Electrical problems and speed control issues also appear, but the overall volume is far smaller than the Altima's. This suggests a generally more reliable ownership experience, though the reported safety-system glitches are worth noting.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Altima | Nissan Murano |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,178 | 263 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 | 11 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 96 | 17 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 117.8 | 26.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 73 | 18 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Nissan Altima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER237
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM206
- 03POWER TRAIN193
- 04ENGINE157
- 05SERVICE BRAKES148
Owners report sudden stalling and shutdowns while driving, as well as a dead alternator with no warning. These can leave you stranded or, worse, cause a loss of power at speed.
The gear shifter can detach from its housing, locking the car in Drive and making it impossible to shift into Park or Reverse. Also, the car may shut off and restart on its own while driving.
The high-pressure fuel pump can become loose due to failed mounting threads, causing oil leaks and sudden loss of power. This is a serious safety risk if it happens on the road.
“I was driving to work. As I was doing so multiple lights came on my dashboard and it started dinging. At the same time my car immediately shot left so hard into the concrete median barrier at 70 mph. It all happened so fast I was not able to see what lights c…”
“I took my car into the dealer to ask a question. Upon arriving I tried to open the drivers door after I turned the ignition off to exit the car and the drivers door would not open. The service man tried to open it from the outside with the same results. Final…”
Nissan Murano
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER66
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE43
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 04SERVICE BRAKES30
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL25
The crash sensor can engage randomly, even when parked or idle, triggering false alerts. This can be distracting and may cause the system to brake unexpectedly.
Owners report the vehicle abruptly slowing down on its own, as if the brakes are being applied without input. This can be dangerous in traffic and may be related to the antilock brake system.
There are reports of electrical issues that cause the dashboard to light up and the car to lose power, sometimes leading to a complete shutdown. These can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“I am reporting a serious safety issue involving my 2025 Nissan Murano SL, purchased on April 21, 2026. On May 9, 2026, while driving from [XXX] to [XXX] , the vehicle began experiencing repeated failures at stoplights and in traffic. While stopped at red ligh…”
“On [XXX] I was driving back down [XXX] , stopped at red light and when light changed to green, I proceeded to take off and as I got under the interstate overpass my vehicle abruptly started slowing down as if it was going to shut completely down and the panel…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Nissan Altima — 22 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot…
The risk: A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
The risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC997.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
Nissan Murano — 11 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-60…
The risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer s…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Murano vehicles. The incorrect primer may have been used on the quarter glass, resulting in the left and right quarter glass detaching from the vehicle.
The risk: Detached glass panels can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both side quarter glass panels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PD102.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or INFINITI's customer servi…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Altima or Nissan Murano: which should you buy?
The Nissan Murano has far fewer complaints per year (26.3) compared to the Nissan Altima (117.8), indicating a lower rate of reported problems. While both have safety-related issues, the Altima's higher volume and more severe failure modes (like stalling and shifter detachment) make it a riskier used purchase. In practice, the Murano is likely to give you fewer headaches, but you should still check its safety systems.
Key differences
- The Altima has a much higher complaint rate (117.8 per year) than the Murano (26.3 per year).
- Altima owners report sudden stalling, shifter detachment, and fuel pump failures, while Murano owners report false crash alerts and unexpected braking.
- The Altima has more crash-related complaints (96) and injuries (73) compared to the Murano (17 and 18), though the Altima also has 1 death reported.
- Both have recalls for backup cameras, but the Murano also has recalls for brakes and visibility, while the Altima has recalls for door latches and steering.
- Check for any signs of electrical issues, such as flickering lights or a battery that dies quickly, as alternator failures are common.
- Inspect the gear shifter for looseness or damage, and test shifting through all gears, as detachment has been reported.
- Test the forward collision warning system to ensure it doesn't alert without reason, as false activations are a common complaint.
- Pay attention to any unexpected braking or slowing, especially at low speeds, and have the brake system checked by a mechanic.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's VIN and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system and brakes.
- Test drive the car at various speeds, including stop-and-go traffic, to see if any stalling or unexpected braking occurs.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for the Altima's fuel pump and the Murano's forward collision system.
- Consider a warranty or extended service plan to cover potential repairs, given the reported issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Nissan Altima | Nissan Murano |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 21 |
| 2024 | 40 | 4 |
| 2023 | 29 | 6 |
| 2022 | 20 | 6 |
| 2021 | 69 | 16 |
| 2020 | 177 | 45 |
| 2019 | 226 | 42 |
| 2018 | 223 | 15 |
| 2017 | 388 | 107 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Nissan Altima or Nissan Murano in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Altima vs Nissan Murano
- Nissan Altima total complaints
- 1,178
- Nissan Murano total complaints
- 263
- Nissan Altima total recalls
- 22
- Nissan Murano total recalls
- 11
- Nissan Altima avg complaints/year
- 117.8
- Nissan Murano avg complaints/year
- 26.3
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Murano
- Nissan Altima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Nissan Murano top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER