Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Sentra vs Nissan Murano
How the Nissan Sentra 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 Sentra vs Nissan Murano: The Sentra has 114 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Murano has 26.4. Sentra owners report more electrical and powertrain issues, while Murano has fewer but notable safety system failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Sentra or Nissan Murano more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra, a compact sedan, shows a high complaint rate over the past decade, averaging over 100 complaints per year. Owners report a mix of electrical gremlins, powertrain hesitations, and issues with advanced safety features, suggesting that while the car may be economical, it can be plagued by intermittent and sometimes safety-relevant problems.
Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano, a midsize SUV, has a much lower complaint rate, averaging about 26 per year. Its issues are more focused on specific systems like the forward collision avoidance and brakes, with some reports of unexpected slowdowns and sensor malfunctions, but overall it appears to be a more reliable choice in terms of owner-reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Sentra | Nissan Murano |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,140 | 264 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 | 11 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 97 | 17 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 114.0 | 26.4 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 78 | 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 Sentra
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM254
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER221
- 03POWER TRAIN208
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE181
- 05STEERING163
Owners report a range of electrical issues, from early engine and electrical malfunctions to problems with Apple CarPlay causing loud static and audio cutouts, which can be distracting and potentially unsafe.
Complaints include non-functional door locks, making it difficult to exit the vehicle, and rental companies renting out cars with open safety recalls, indicating potential safety oversight issues.
There are reports of delayed acceleration when pressing the gas pedal, especially after idling, which can create a significant safety risk in traffic situations.
Intermittent malfunctions in the dashboard and infotainment system, along with DTC codes that dealerships refuse to diagnose, suggest problems with the advanced driver assistance systems.
“I am submitting a vehicle defect complaint pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 regarding a potential safety related defect involving engine, electrical, and powertrain systems. The vehicle experienced early engine and electrical malfunction at relatively low mi…”
“When my iPhone is connected to Apple CarPlay in my vehicle, a loud static sound occurs during phone calls, and music playing. This static causes the audio to cut in and out, making conversations unintelligible. Because of this, I am unable to safely use the h…”
Nissan Murano
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER66
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE43
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 04SERVICE BRAKES30
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL25
A critical complaint involves the automatic collision notification system failing to activate after a collision, and the SOS button not working, which could delay emergency response.
The crash sensor light engages randomly, even when parked, and cruise control fails to maintain speed on downhill grades, indicating issues with the sensing and control systems.
Electrical issues have been reported, including a vehicle that was at a dealership for an extended period, suggesting complex electrical problems that may be hard to diagnose.
There are reports of the vehicle abruptly slowing down on its own, as if it were going to shut down, which could be related to brake system malfunctions.
“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"…”
“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 Sentra — 25 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Sentra vehicles. The driver's seat frame may not be fully secured to the outer side of the seat track. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems,"…
The risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's side lower seat frame assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Sentra vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Mat…
The risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA58…
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…
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 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 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 Sentra or Nissan Murano: which should you buy?
The Nissan Murano has significantly fewer complaints per year (26.4) compared to the Nissan Sentra (114.0), indicating a lower rate of owner-reported issues. In practice, this means Murano owners are less likely to encounter the frequent electrical and powertrain problems that Sentra owners report.
Key differences
- The Sentra has over four times the annual complaint rate of the Murano (114 vs 26.4 per year).
- Sentra owners report more electrical system issues (254 complaints) and powertrain problems (208), while Murano's top issues are unknown/other (66) and forward collision avoidance (43).
- The Sentra has more recalls (25) compared to the Murano (11), and includes recalls for air bags, seats, and windshield visibility.
- The Murano has a notable complaint about the automatic collision notification system failing, which is a safety-critical feature, whereas the Sentra's issues are more about drivability and comfort.
- Check for any electrical gremlins, especially with the infotainment system and Apple CarPlay, as owners report static and audio cutouts.
- Test the acceleration from a stop, as some owners report a delay in response, which could be a safety concern.
- Verify that the automatic collision notification and SOS button work properly, as one owner reported failure after a crash.
- Test the forward collision warning system and cruise control, especially on hills, as owners report false alerts and speed loss.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and powertrain on the Sentra, and check for any pending recalls.
- On the Murano, test the forward collision avoidance system and brakes, and ensure the SOS feature is functional.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have been addressed.
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on the specific VIN of the vehicle you're considering.
- Take a thorough test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for any hesitation or unexpected braking.
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 Sentra | Nissan Murano |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 1 |
| 2025 | 26 | 21 |
| 2024 | 34 | 4 |
| 2023 | 19 | 7 |
| 2022 | 80 | 6 |
| 2021 | 129 | 16 |
| 2020 | 204 | 45 |
| 2019 | 221 | 42 |
| 2018 | 184 | 15 |
| 2017 | 230 | 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 Sentra or Nissan Murano in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Sentra vs Nissan Murano
- Nissan Sentra total complaints
- 1,140
- Nissan Murano total complaints
- 264
- Nissan Sentra total recalls
- 25
- Nissan Murano total recalls
- 11
- Nissan Sentra avg complaints/year
- 114.0
- Nissan Murano avg complaints/year
- 26.4
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Murano
- Nissan Sentra top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Nissan Murano top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER