Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Murano vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Murano and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Murano vs Honda Accord: The Murano averages 26.6 complaints per year versus the Accord's 443.8, a significant difference. Murano owners report forward collision issues in sunlight, while Accord owners face engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Murano or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano, a midsize SUV, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 27 per year over the past decade. Owners report issues with forward collision avoidance systems, especially in bright sunlight, and electrical problems that can affect acceleration and braking. While not as numerous as some rivals, these issues can be concerning for a family vehicle.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 440 per year. Complaints are dominated by engine problems, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions. The sheer number suggests a pattern of recurring issues that could affect reliability and owner satisfaction.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Murano | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 266 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 17 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 26.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 Murano
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER67
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE43
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33
- 04SERVICE BRAKES31
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL25
Owners report the system disables with a warning when driving into sunlight, saying 'Driving Aids temporarily disabled, poor visibility.' This can happen at any time of day, reducing safety features when needed most.
Some owners describe unintended acceleration after a software update, and others report the vehicle failing to restart after parking brake engagement. These electrical gremlins can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Brake issues include the parking brake failing to release, leaving the vehicle stuck. Another complaint mentions brake problems at high mileage, suggesting potential caliper or ABS module failures.
“My wife was victim to a hit and run driver on 30 Dec 22. Our 2022 Nissan Murano's AUTOMATIC COLLISION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE UPON COLLISION. There were no warnings in the car prior. Additionally, the secondary system known as the "SOS BUTTON"…”
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine complaints are frequent, with owners reporting unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. Some vehicles experience sudden speed loss on highways, which is a serious safety concern.
Electrical issues range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failure to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. These problems can cause unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.
The system often triggers false alerts or shows errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. These intermittent malfunctions can undermine driver trust and system effectiveness.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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 Murano — 11 recalls
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…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, 2025-2026 Armada, and Infiniti QX80 vehicles. A software error may occur in the In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is shifted into rever…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The IVI system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti…
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-…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Murano or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Murano has far fewer complaints per year (26.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means Murano owners are less likely to encounter the kinds of problems that lead to NHTSA complaints, though both vehicles have their share of concerns.
Key differences
- The Murano has significantly fewer complaints per year, suggesting a lower rate of owner-reported issues.
- The Accord's engine problems are more prominent, with reports of power loss and warning lights, while the Murano's issues are more focused on driver-assist and electrical glitches.
- Both vehicles have forward collision avoidance problems, but the Murano's are triggered by sunlight, while the Accord's are more random and include false alerts.
- The Accord has a higher number of recalls (38 vs 11), indicating more widespread manufacturing or design issues.
- Check the forward collision warning system for any 'Driving Aids temporarily disabled' messages, especially when driving toward the sun.
- Test the parking brake repeatedly to ensure it releases properly, and ask about any software updates related to acceleration.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, which could indicate a serious engine or electrical issue.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially if the vehicle is parked outdoors, and verify the TPMS system is functioning correctly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- During a test drive, deliberately drive into bright sunlight to see if the Murano's forward collision system disables.
- For the Accord, accelerate to highway speeds and monitor for any warning lights or loss of power.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the braking system on both vehicles, including the parking brake and ABS.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have already been addressed.
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 Murano | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 21 | 101 |
| 2024 | 4 | 214 |
| 2023 | 8 | 224 |
| 2022 | 6 | 238 |
| 2021 | 16 | 226 |
| 2020 | 45 | 355 |
| 2019 | 43 | 677 |
| 2018 | 15 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 107 | 534 |
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 Murano or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Murano vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Murano total complaints
- 266
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Murano total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Murano avg complaints/year
- 26.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Murano
- Nissan Murano top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE