Nissan Murano Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2005 draws 21.69 complaints per run and the 2020 1.38, a 15.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 83.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Seats, with 1,044 complaints, typically at 5.6 years.

Nissan Murano years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Nissan Murano — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2025	1.22	22	18	too new
2024	1	5	5	too new
2023	1	8	8	too new
2022	1.2	6	5	too new
2021	1.06	17	16	too new
2020	1.38	47	34	yes
2019	2.28	41	18	yes
2018	1.75	14	8	yes
2017	4.3	99	23	yes
2016	3.35	104	31	yes
2015	8.3	191	23	yes
2014	4.18	138	33	yes
2013	2.54	61	24	yes
2012	4.43	124	28	yes
2011	4.06	138	34	yes
2010	5.87	176	30	yes
2009	15.42	555	36	yes
2007	14.49	565	39	yes
2006	15.45	649	42	yes
2005	21.69	781	36	yes
2004	12.61	517	41	yes
2003	17.6	616	35	yes

ROWS 22·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2005 Murano asks a median $2,995, against $2,950 for a 2006, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 9 Nissan Murano years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2005, 2003, 2006; the three worth hunting are 2020, 2011, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Nissan Murano — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	200	4.2%	covered
1 year	287	10.3%	covered
2 years	290	16.4%	covered
3 years	400	24.8%	you pay
4 years	567	36.7%	you pay
5 years	568	48.7%	you pay
6 years	459	58.3%	you pay
7 years	410	67%	you pay
8 years	401	75.4%	you pay
9 years	302	81.8%	you pay
10 years	222	86.4%	you pay
11 years	168	90%	you pay
12 years	180	93.8%	you pay
13 years	112	96.1%	you pay
14 years	93	98.1%	you pay
15 years	91	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 16.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 83.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 21% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Seats at 5.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Nissan Murano — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Seats	1044	5.6 yrs	4	4
Power Train	730	6.6 yrs	13	2
Electrical System	577	6 yrs	9	14
Service Brakes	498	7.1 yrs	36	6
Visibility	412	4.1 yrs	1	—
Unknown Or Other	398	7.1 yrs	8	3
Air Bags	305	6.8 yrs	44	—
Engine	293	9.1 yrs	4	6

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Murano's vehicle class. Per production run, the Volvo V70 draws 2.01, against 9.25 for the Murano. That is the most complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Nissan Murano — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Murano	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Audi RS 6 Avant	6	8	2021–2026
Volvo V70	1,001	61	1998–2010
Volvo V90	27	14	1998–2021
Audi A6 allroad	35	20	2020–2026
Toyota Prius V	1,744	15	2012–2017
Kia Rondo	297	11	2007–2016

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Nissan Murano

Recalls70 campaigns Fuel economy29 mpg best Common problems5,853 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space39 cu ft Used prices3,217 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2002–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nissan Murano reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 9.25 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 1 class rivals we compared.

Which Murano years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2005, 2003, 2006. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2020, 2011, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Murano problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Seats, typically at 5.6 years, followed by Power Train.

Will the warranty cover Murano problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 16.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 21% of the complaints here.

Is the Murano more reliable than the Volvo V70?

No: 9.25 complaints per production run for the Murano against 2.01 for the Volvo V70.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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