Last updated: 2026-05-15
Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan Murano: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Tucson
Nissan Murano
Choosing between the Hyundai Tucson and the Nissan Murano? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Murano currently leads with an average score of 79/100 compared to 73/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Murano Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Murano is more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson, scoring 79/100 vs 73/100.
The Nissan Murano edges out the Hyundai Tucson in reliability, boasting a higher average reliability score of 79/100 compared to the Tucson's 73/100. The Murano also has a significantly lower recall history, with only 5 recalls over 8 years versus the Tucson's 23 over 9 years. However, the Tucson has a more favorable owner complaint rate at 8.9 per 10,000 sold, suggesting potentially fewer issues relative to sales. While the Tucson offers a lower estimated annual repair cost at $426 compared to the Murano's $507, the Murano's combination of higher reliability score and fewer recalls makes it the more reliable choice overall.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Tucson costs $81 less per year to repair
- 2Nissan Murano has 18 fewer total recalls
- 3Nissan Murano scores 6 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan Murano: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Tucson | Nissan Murano |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 73/100 | 79/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 23 | 5 |
| Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume | 1838 | 134 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $426/yr | $507/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.5/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 10% | 14% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 6 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Murano?
The Hyundai Tucson exhibits a higher number of overall complaints compared to the Nissan Murano, with particular issues in the engine, which accounts for 397 complaints, including 3 crash-linked incidents. The Tucson also has significant problems reported in the power train (260 complaints) and service brakes (225 complaints), with the latter being linked to 15 crashes. In contrast, the Nissan Murano has fewer total complaints, with the most notable issue being in the category of unknown or other, tallying 24 complaints and 1 crash-linked incident. While both models face issues with forward collision avoidance and service brakes, the Tucson's higher incidence of crash-linked complaints in these and other areas suggests a potentially more severe safety profile.
| Component | Hyundai Tucson | Nissan Murano |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 397 | — |
| POWER TRAIN | 260 | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 231 | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 225 | 9 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 210 | 24 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 106 | 21 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 90 | — |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 68 | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 30 | 5 |
| STEERING | 27 | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 11 | — |
| STRUCTURE | 11 | — |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 6 | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 3 | 4 |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 4 | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 | 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: Hyundai Tucson or Nissan Murano?
How Does Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan Murano Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Tucson | Nissan Murano | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1006R / 251C | 74/1002R / 14C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2023 | 75/1002R / 142C | 82/1000R / 6C | Nissan Murano |
| 2022 | 66/1003R / 433C | 82/1000R / 5C | Nissan Murano |
| 2021 | 78/1001R / 58C | 82/1000R / 14C | Nissan Murano |
| 2020 | 73/1001R / 153C | 74/1002R / 41C | Nissan Murano |
| 2019 | 68/1001R / 349C | 77/1001R / 39C | Nissan Murano |
| 2018 | 68/1001R / 362C | 82/1000R / 14C | Nissan Murano |
| 2026(predicted) | 76/100(predicted) | 79/100(predicted) | Nissan Murano |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 and the 2023 Nissan Murano scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Tucson vs the Nissan Murano?
Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan Murano: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the Nissan Murano?
- Based on our data, the Nissan Murano is more reliable with an average score of 79/100 compared to 73/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Tucson or the Nissan Murano?
- The Hyundai Tucson has more recalls (23) compared to the Nissan Murano (5). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Hyundai Tucson or the Nissan Murano?
- The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 1838 for the Hyundai Tucson. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Tucson or the Nissan Murano?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Tucson is cheaper to maintain at $426/year versus $507/year for the Nissan Murano.
- Is the Hyundai Tucson or Nissan Murano safer?
- Both the Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Murano received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Murano? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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