Nissan Murano Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β NHTSA Data
Comparing used Nissan Murano options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Nissan Murano you plan to buy.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Nissan Murano has 255 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls across model years 2017β2026. The most reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2024 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Murano
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 255
- Safety recall campaigns
- 11
- Crash-related complaints
- 17
- Fire-related complaints
- 3
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (107 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2024 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Nissan Murano: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
β NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
PoorThe NISSAN MURANO has 255 NHTSA complaints and 11 recalls on record. 17 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 255 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 11 federal recall campaigns
- 17 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
π NHTSA Safety Recalls
11 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
π§ Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 255 NHTSA complaints.
π NHTSA Complaint Reports
255 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, as he was slowing down for a traffic signal, the vehicle in front of him made a sudden stop. The contact stated that he was about 2 car lengths behind the rear of the other vehicle, and he depressed the brake pedal hard. The contact stated that the pedal went to the floorboard. The contact stated that his vehicle stopped when it crashed into the rear end of the vehicle in front. The contact stated that the vehicle had a tow hitch, which damaged the front grill and damaged the radiator of his vehicle. The contact stated that the hood had also been deformed from the crash. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact and the other driver were not injured. The contact stated that both vehicles were able to drive away from the accident. The contact stated that the police had arrived and filed a report. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle to a collision repair shop but had not had the brakes diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
My lift gate window shattered while the car was sitting in my driveway with no one near it.
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES AN HOUR NO CARS INFRONT OF ME AND NONE BEHIND ME, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING WENT ON FLASHING RED ON MY DASH AND MY CAR WAS AUTOMATICALLY BRAKING FOR NO REASON. YES, ITS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, MY SAFETY WAS PUT AT RISK IF THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR BEHIND, THEY COULD HAVE WRECKED INTO ME. I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.
I purchased a 2023 Nissan Murano from Sunset Kia in Auburn, Washington. The vehicle was listed online with 37,334 miles and this was the mileage discussed throughout the sales process. However, after finalizing the paperwork and taking possession of the vehicle, I noticed that the actual mileage on the odometer was over 42,500 milesβmore than 5,000 miles higher than advertised. I contacted the dealership immediately. They told me the discrepancy was due to a sales manager driving the vehicle during the time it was listed and that they "forgot to update" the mileage in the online listing. This explanation raises concern for me, as I believe I was misled during the transaction. If the odometer disclosure form and the listing did not reflect the true mileage, this may constitute odometer fraud or at least a violation of federal and state disclosure laws. I am requesting that this situation be investigated. I have documentation including screenshots of the original listing and text message communication with the dealership confirming the listed mileage.
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 in the dash turned red with a symbol of a car. There was a vehicle coming directly behind me and I am thankful they were not following me closely because it may have caused them to hit me from behind. A few seconds later the vehicle picked up speed and the red warning light disappeared quickly. 11/11/24 I made a call to Nissan Consumer Affairs to create a case (case#[XXX]) and representative opened and closed the case without escalating to a specialist for review. On 11/13/24 I took the Vehicle into a Nissan Dealership to perform a diagnostic on the vehicle and no code was found. I was told to bring the vehicle back in for a full day to troubleshoot. With all of the safety features this vehicle has, I thought issues like this would be recorded. I asked the service advisor if anyone else has reported this issue and he stated not on the 23 Murano but have received reports of other Nissan vehicles just shutting down. This could have been a very bad situation and Nissan Consumer Affairs did not seem to care when this issue was brought to their attention. Also have reported issue with brake pedal squeaking and wheel slipping when making short turn on driver's side. Issues are never found by the dealership in most cases, until the warranty runs out which is very short (3yrs 36,000). I attempted to upload document to support my trip to dealership, but received message that file is too large. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
noticed a small oil puddle near the front passenger side of the car in the garage before leaving for work on 2/24/24 at approximately 530am. Checked all reservoirs and found nothing outstanding and left for work. At approximately 540am I was driving to work and noticed 2 deer avoided one and hit the second one while still attempting to stop. I slammed my brakes, had no abs kick on, and the pedal went to the floor and I still narrowly clipped the second deer. I was attempting to brake for at least 20ft before the collision happened with the deer and slowed down from 80 to 65mph. I found it very odd that my brake pedal went to the floor and did not set off the ABS system and that the car took longer than it should have to come to a complete stop. After collision repair was done, thankfully just cosmetic damage, the dealership found both front brake calipers leaking the passenger one leaking significantly more than the drivers side. Due to the oil being found before that trip that day it has been ruled they were leaking before the incident occurred and this could have resulted in my car not being able to stop fully and properly and hitting the deer.
The 2026 Nissan Murano is a great vehicle, but often times the infotainment display freezes and the restart remedy provided by Nissan does not work either. That is an annoyance but the rear view camera which is a standard safety feature on vehicles does not display either. With the only way to fix the issue is by letting the cats computer sit for a few hours and fully turn off. It has occured many times.
Vehicle is unstable in wind conditions I t is all I can do to drive it safely , even at very slowed speeds
The infotainment system resets itself multiple times within a 5-10 minute drive. This also causes the back up to not work when in reverse, which is a safety concern. The clock does not stay on the correct time no matter how many times I change it. This issue is very frustrating and my dealership didn't take me seriously when I first tried to get this looked at.
While driving on the highway I decided to pass the vehicle in front of me. At the same time I had hit the button to resume the speed I had set on the cruise control. I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor to quickly pass the vehicle in front and when I got past him and let off the peddle my vehicle kept accelerating. I tried turning off the cruise control but that didnβt help. I finally put the car in neutral and coasted to a stop with the engine racing. I tried to pull the accelerator up thinking it was stuck but that didnβt work. Finally I turned the vesicle off and restarted the car and it started working normally. I donβt know what/why that happened and Iβve been afraid to try to duplicate that incident by pushing the accelerator all the way down again. I think this is dangerous and thus Iβm reporting this.
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating and shuddering significantly. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,457.
I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2021 Nissan Murano Platinum with approximately 45,000 miles. The vehicle experienced water intrusion into the cabin due to a failure in the panoramic sunroof drainage system. A Nissan dealership diagnosed that water was leaking from the sunroof channels and that the drain hoses were contaminated and not functioning properly. As a result, water entered the interior of the vehicle, soaking the A-pillars and floorboards. There was also a musty odor, indicating that moisture remained trapped inside the vehicle for a period of time. In addition to the interior water intrusion, the dealership found corrosion in an electrical connector related to the power liftgate system and moisture inside the headlight assembly, causing lighting failure. I am concerned that water intrusion into the cabin and pillar areas could affect electrical systems, wiring, and safety-related components, including those located near the A-pillars. This issue occurred at relatively low mileage and appears to be more than normal wear and tear. The combination of water intrusion and electrical component damage raises concerns about long-term reliability and potential safety risks. I am reporting this so the issue can be documented and reviewed for potential broader impact.
The driver side rear seat belt buckle does not engage, the red button on buckle does not pop up
Iβm not sure what this problem may be but I was at the traffic light with my foot on the brake and the car just accelerated by itself which was very frightening to my and my grandkids I had to pump the brakes twice before it almost ran into the car in front of me. So the engine rises also when this happens
The crash sensor light keeps engaging while driving, even when the vehicle is parked or idle. There is nothing in site to indicate a crash. Vehicle was taken to dealer on 5 or more occasions and finally it was replaced in December 2024 after Nissan Corp. got involved. The vehicle engaged the brakes while driving on the highway when NOTHING was present to indicate danger. This was mentioned to Nissan and the dealer (AutoNation) on my last visit in January 25 and the dealer stated they could not reproduce the issue, although the problem still exist, I was told by the dealer that it's normal. Nissan Corp mentioned a senior mechanic will investigate, but was never sent to dealer. Instead, I emailed video of it happening to customer affairs at Nissan. The senior mechanic (Nissan Corp) and the mechanic at the dealer provided reasons like a piece of lint could be on the lenses (not while driving 55mph), could be sunlight blocking the sensor (what about at night), or the lenses could be dirty (maybe but not really). This seem to be a danger when driving and all of a sudden your brakes are engaged automatically while driving and the only reason given was possibly lint. The only recourse from the dealer was my option was to return vehicle (lemon law) and purchase another one. I'm retired and not in the position to start all over in acquiring a note. This vehicle was still under warranty (with less 25K miles) when this was first reported, why are customers responsible for any fees? I am afraid to drive most occasions and would like to know if anyone else has reported this (also asked Nissan - sure they're not going to be truthful)? Will someone please investigate this matter and let me know my options? Have videos showing crash sensor engaging but the files are too large to upload. Thanks!
On Jan 15, 2025, my vehicle exhibited an unintended sudden acceleration event while applying the brakes to slow the vehicle. Shortly after applying the brakes, the vehicle's engine revved very high and the car launched forward despite my foot on the brake and then struck another vehicle in front of me. The automatic emergency braking did not trigger. The air bags did deploy. No significant injuries, but both cars were damaged, my Murano likely totaled. I am confident that I did not accidentally hit the gas pedal.
The component of the vehicle is the passenger headlight. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time.I was unable to see at night clearly with the use of only one headlight because the other headlight went out. At the time that the headlight went out I was on a 2 Lane Rd. with no street lights and it became very dark and difficult to see.The defect has been confirmed at a Nissan dealership on September 23. The dealership found separation of the assembly, causing the condensation in the passenger side headlight causing it not to work. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other entity, besides the certified Nissan dealership. The system warning message appeared only when the headlight went out.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while her mother was driving at 6 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop, after which the vehicle lost power. As a result, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light, and the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking systems failed to activate, and the driver lightly tapped the vehicle in front. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Back up system sensors alarms when nothing is behind vehicle and sometimes does not alarm when there is something behind me. I bought the car 5/31/2023 the problem started right away, I took my car to the dealership for repair on 6/7/2023 for the first time. They were unable to reproduce the issue, I have had my car at the dealership 6 times since, they have seen and videoed my car giving false warning lights and sounds like something is behind me even though nothing is behind me. They have replaced all 4 backup sensors and most recently the left blindside warning sensor and tail light, I still have the same issue. I have asked for a loaner car because I am worried I am going to back into something, they tell me this is not a safety issue and I am to drive the car even though there is a problem with the backup system. They have a specialist scheduled for 10/10/2023 to see if he can figure out what is wrong. Both the dealership and Nissan consumer affairs tell me the car is safe to drive with a malfunctioning camera system.
The cruise will not maintain the set speed when going downhill. This does not have to be a steep hill. Any downward slope with cause the speed to increase until I hit the brake pedal. It has gotten up to 13 miles over before I hit the brake. I owned a 2018 Murano and it did not do this. I've also owned many other vehicles with cruise control and none have done this. I have taken this to Town Center Nissan more than once for this problem and they say that it they can't duplicate it and then the answer changed to it is normal when going downhill.
Showing 20 of 255 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Nissan Murano
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
π Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Nissan Murano has 255 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Nissan Murano has 11 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 17 of the Nissan Murano's 255 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Nissan Murano vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Nissan Murano vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Nissan Murano has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Buyers Also Compare
How does the Nissan Murano stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
π Check a Nissan Murano by State
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Nissan Murano.