Is the Jeep Cherokee 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 69/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Jeep Cherokee or the Nissan Murano?

The Jeep Cherokee has more recalls (105) 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 Jeep Cherokee or the Nissan Murano?

The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 4984 for the Jeep Cherokee. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Cherokee or the Nissan Murano?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Murano is cheaper to maintain at $507/year versus $520/year for the Jeep Cherokee.

Is the Jeep Cherokee or Nissan Murano safer?

Both the Jeep Cherokee 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.

Last updated: 2026-05-15

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano: Reliability Compared

Jeep Cherokee

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Murano

Good

Choosing between the Jeep Cherokee 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 69/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Jeep Cherokee and Nissan Murano Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Nissan Murano is in its fourth generation, introduced in 2025. Being early in its generation cycle, it may experience typical first-year issues as manufacturers work out initial production quirks. The previous third generation (2015-2024) was well-sorted, especially after its 2020 facelift, which provided minor updates that helped refine its reliability. In contrast, detailed generation history for the Jeep Cherokee is unavailable, leaving buyers without specific insights into its redesign cycles or past facelifts. Typically, vehicles later in their generation cycles tend to have matured platforms with improved reliability, while newer models might require a period to address initial production issues.

Verdict

The Nissan Murano is more reliable than the Jeep Cherokee, scoring 79/100 vs 69/100.

The Nissan Murano outshines the Jeep Cherokee in reliability, boasting a higher average reliability score of 79/100 compared to the Cherokee's 69/100. The Murano also has a significantly lower recall rate with only 5 recalls in eight years versus the Cherokee’s 105. Additionally, the Murano has far fewer owner complaints, with just 134 compared to the Cherokee's 4984, suggesting a more dependable ownership experience. While both models have similar annual repair costs, the Murano's stronger performance in reliability metrics makes it the more reliable choice.

Key Differences

1Nissan Murano has 100 fewer total recalls
2Nissan Murano costs $13 less per year to repair
3Nissan Murano scores 10 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Jeep Cherokee

—

3Nissan Murano

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano: Which Is More Reliable?

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Jeep Cherokee	Nissan Murano
Reliability Score	69/100	79/100
Years Tracked	8	8
Total Recalls	105	5
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	4984	134
Annual Repair Cost	$520/yr	$507/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	12%	14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Cherokee and Nissan Murano?

The Jeep Cherokee exhibits a significantly higher volume of complaints compared to the Nissan Murano, with notable issues in the power train and electrical system, accounting for 1330 and 1161 complaints respectively, and a combined 35 crash-linked incidents. The Cherokee also shows a concerning number of crash-linked air bag complaints at 65, indicating potential safety risks. In contrast, the Murano has a considerably lower total of 134 complaints, with the most common issues related to unknown or other problems and forward collision avoidance, both of which have minimal crash linkage. While both models experience issues with the power train and service brakes, the severity and frequency of these problems are notably higher in the Cherokee.

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano common problem areas comparison
Component	Jeep Cherokee	Nissan Murano
POWER TRAIN	1330	6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1161	8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	579	24
ENGINE	415	—
STEERING	370	4
SERVICE BRAKES	252	9
AIR BAGS	107	5
SUSPENSION	101	2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	85	4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	52	—
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	28	21
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	33	—
LANE DEPARTURE	3	2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—	4
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—	4
EQUIPMENT	—	2
SEAT BELTS	—	2

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Jeep Cherokee or Nissan Murano?

Based on independent repair cost data, the Jeep Cherokee has an annual repair cost of $520, slightly higher than the Nissan Murano's $507. Over five years, this difference amounts to just $65. However, the Cherokee requires fewer repair visits, with 0.2 visits per year compared to the Murano's 0.5. This means less disruption and potentially lower incidental costs for Cherokee owners. Despite the Cherokee's lower repair frequency, it has a marginally lower major repair risk at 12%, compared to the Murano's 14%. For cost-conscious buyers, the Cherokee offers a more reliable ownership experience with fewer repair visits and a slightly lower risk of significant repairs.

How Does Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano Reliability Compare by Year?

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Jeep Cherokee	Nissan Murano	Edge
2025	75/1003R / 64C	74/1002R / 14C	Jeep Cherokee
2023	66/10022R / 396C	82/1000R / 6C	Nissan Murano
2021	67/10018R / 554C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano
2020	76/1005R / 436C	74/1002R / 41C	Jeep Cherokee
2019	67/10017R / 1833C	77/1001R / 39C	Nissan Murano
2018	68/10018R / 1468C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano
2026(predicted)	69/100(predicted)	79/100(predicted)	Nissan Murano

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Jeep Cherokee scored 76/100 and the 2023 Nissan Murano scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Jeep Cherokee vs the Nissan Murano?

If you prioritize reliability and peace of mind, the Nissan Murano is a more suitable choice. With a higher reliability score of 79/100 and significantly fewer recalls (5 compared to the Cherokee's 105), the Murano offers a more dependable ownership experience. Although its major repair risk is slightly higher at 14%, the overall lower number of owner complaints (134) suggests fewer issues. Additionally, the Murano's repair costs are marginally lower at $507 annually, which can be appealing if you aim to minimize ongoing expenses. On the other hand, if you are looking for a vehicle with lower repair frequency and can manage a few more recalls and complaints, the Jeep Cherokee might suit your needs. Despite a lower reliability score of 69/100, the Cherokee has a lower repair frequency of 0.2 times per year. While its major repair risk stands at 12%, the estimated annual repair cost is only slightly higher at $520, which could be manageable for those who appreciate its rugged appeal.

Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Murano: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Cherokee 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 69/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Jeep Cherokee or the Nissan Murano?: The Jeep Cherokee has more recalls (105) 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 Jeep Cherokee or the Nissan Murano?: The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 4984 for the Jeep Cherokee. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Jeep Cherokee or the Nissan Murano?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Murano is cheaper to maintain at $507/year versus $520/year for the Jeep Cherokee.
Is the Jeep Cherokee or Nissan Murano safer?: Both the Jeep Cherokee 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.

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More Nissan Murano comparisons

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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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