Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano: Reliability Compared

Ford Escape reliability comparison

Ford Escape

68
GoodReliability score: 68 out of 100, rated Good
VS
More ReliableNissan Murano reliability comparison

Nissan Murano

79
GoodReliability score: 79 out of 100, rated Good

Reliability favors the Nissan Murano over the Ford Escape by a wide margin. The Escape has 86 recalls to the Murano's 5. Escape owners also report engine overheating and transmission failures far more often, which drives the gap.

How Do the Ford Escape and Nissan Murano Generations Compare?

A fourth-generation Escape began with the 2020 model year and runs through 2026, with a facelift in 2023. That first 2020 year is one of its weakest. The 2018 and 2019 models belong to the third generation, which had a 2017 facelift, and 2018 is also among the weakest. On the Nissan side, the third-generation Murano ran from 2015 through 2024, with minor updates in 2020, also a weak year. The fourth generation arrived for 2025 and ranks among its weakest. Most Muranos you find will be third generation, including the stronger 2018 and 2021.

Verdict

The Nissan Murano is more reliable than the Ford Escape, scoring 79/100 vs 68/100.

A large gap favors the Murano, and severity of trouble decides it. Escape owners filed thousands of complaints, led by engine overheating, limp mode and transmission failures. Federal recall records list 86 recalls for the Escape against 5 for the Murano. The Murano has no sales data to adjust its small complaint count, so treat that side with some care. Even so, the Escape's problems in the records are the heavier ones.

Key Differences

  1. 1Nissan Murano costs $93 less per year to repair
  2. 2Nissan Murano has 81 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Nissan Murano scores 11 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Ford Escape
—
3Nissan Murano
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricFord EscapeNissan Murano
Reliability Score68/10079/100
Years Tracked88
Total Recalls865
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume4296134
Annual Repair Cost$600/yr$507/yr
Repair Frequency0.3/yr0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk11%14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall
2026 NHTSA
2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins0 (1 tied)6 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Escape and Nissan Murano?

Drivetrain trouble dominates the Escape reports. Owners describe coolant over-temperature warnings that lead to limp mode or stalling, and transmissions that fail with metal in the fluid. Its power train category has 14 crash-linked complaints, and engine and electrical fires appear. Murano complaints are fewer and more scattered. A forward collision warning that shuts itself off is the most common, followed by a brake pedal that sinks and a passenger airbag that switches off. The Murano has crash-linked reports in brakes, air bags and power train, but each area is small. One parked Murano fire is also on record.

Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano common problem areas comparison
ComponentFord EscapeNissan Murano
ENGINE1152—
STRUCTURE708—
POWER TRAIN6076
UNKNOWN OR OTHER36824
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING389—
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3078
FUEL SYSTEM153—
SERVICE BRAKES899
STEERING644
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1821
AIR BAGS335
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES30—
WHEELS18—
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL104
SEATS7—
BACK OVER PREVENTION4—
LANE DEPARTURE22
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—4
VISIBILITY/WIPER—4
SEAT BELTS—2
SUSPENSION—2
EQUIPMENT—2

Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Escape or Nissan Murano?

Independent repair-cost data puts the Murano at $507 a year against $600 for the Escape. Over five years, that is about $465 less. Frequency tells a different story. Murano owners make 0.5 unscheduled shop visits a year, compared with 0.3 for the Escape. A Murano repair is also more likely to be major, at 14% against 11%. The Murano costs less per year, but it goes to the shop more often.

How Does Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano year-by-year reliability scores
YearFord EscapeNissan MuranoEdge
202677/1001R / 2C82/1000R / 1CNissan Murano
202574/10010R / 16C74/1002R / 14CTie
202372/10013R / 107C82/1000R / 6CNissan Murano
202262/10020R / 325C82/1000R / 5CNissan Murano
202052/10025R / 1667C74/1002R / 41CNissan Murano
201969/1003R / 506C77/1001R / 39CNissan Murano
201860/1004R / 1597C82/1000R / 14CNissan Murano

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Ford Escape scored 72/100 and the 2023 Nissan Murano scored 82/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford Escape vs the Nissan Murano?

Pick the Murano if you want to lower the risk of a large drivetrain bill and avoid a long recall history. Target 2018 or 2021, its strongest years in the data. Avoid 2025 and 2020, its weakest. Before buying, check that the forward collision warning stays on, the brakes feel firm and the passenger airbag light behaves. Choose it only if you can live with more frequent shop visits. Pick the Escape only if the price is right and you will pay for a pre-purchase inspection. Engine and transmission reports are the ones to worry about. Avoid 2020 and 2018, its weakest years. Ask for service records on coolant and transmission work, and test drive with a highway merge to check for hesitation or overheating warnings. The 2024 and 2026 models rank among its strongest, but newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so judge any Escape on its own condition.

Ford Escape vs Nissan Murano: Common Questions

Is the Ford Escape more reliable than the Nissan Murano?
No. The Murano comes out well ahead. The Escape has far more recalls and thousands of owner complaints, led by engine overheating, limp mode and transmission failure. The Murano's complaints are few and mostly involve driver-assist warnings, though some brake and airbag reports are serious.
Which has more recalls, the Escape or the Murano?
The Escape, by a wide margin. Federal recall records list 86 recalls across its 8 model years from 2018 to 2026. The Murano has 5 over the same span. Check any specific VIN for open recalls before you buy either one.
Which costs less to repair, the Escape or the Murano?
The Murano costs less per year, at $507 against $600 for the Escape, about $465 over five years. It does visit the shop more often, at 0.5 unscheduled visits a year to 0.3, and its repairs are more often major.
What are the worst problems with the Ford Escape?
Engine and transmission trouble. Owners report sudden coolant over-temperature warnings, limp mode and stalling in traffic. Transmissions have failed outright with metal shavings in the fluid, between 70,000 and 111,114 miles. Power train complaints have 14 crash links, and some engine and electrical fires were reported.
What goes wrong with the Nissan Murano?
The most common report is a forward collision warning that lights up and shuts the system off, which also disables adaptive cruise control. Less often, owners describe the brake pedal sinking, a passenger airbag that switches off, and a car lurching forward after being shifted into Drive.

Related Reliability Comparisons

Decided between Ford Escape and Nissan Murano? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Ford Escape and Nissan Murano

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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