Is the KIA Sportage 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 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the KIA Sportage or the Nissan Murano?

The KIA Sportage has more recalls (28) 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 KIA Sportage or the Nissan Murano?

The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 810 for the KIA Sportage. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the KIA Sportage or the Nissan Murano?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Sportage is cheaper to maintain at $462/year versus $507/year for the Nissan Murano.

Is the KIA Sportage or Nissan Murano safer?

Both the KIA Sportage 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: 2026-07-26

KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano: Reliability Compared

KIA Sportage

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Murano

Good

Choosing between the KIA Sportage 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 75/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the KIA Sportage and Nissan Murano Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the KIA Sportage is in its fifth generation (NQ5), introduced in 2023. Being early in its generation cycle, it may experience typical first-year issues as the platform matures. The previous fourth generation (QL) ran from 2017 to 2022, with a facelift in 2020, suggesting it benefited from several years of refinement. The Nissan Murano is currently in its fourth generation (Z53), newly introduced in 2025. Like the Sportage, it is in the early stages of its generation, which could mean teething problems as new technologies and designs are integrated. The third generation (Z52), spanning from 2015 to 2024 with a minor update in 2020, was more established, likely providing a more stable reliability record during its later years.

Verdict

The Nissan Murano is more reliable than the KIA Sportage, scoring 79/100 vs 75/100.

The Nissan Murano edges out the KIA Sportage in reliability with a higher average reliability score of 79 versus 74 and significantly fewer recalls—5 compared to the Sportage’s 28 over similar periods. While the Sportage has a lower estimated annual repair cost at $462 compared to the Murano's $507, its higher owner complaint rate of 5.3 per 10,000 sold suggests more frequent issues. Both models share common problem areas such as electrical systems and power train, but the Murano's better recall and complaint metrics make it the more reliable choice.

Key Differences

1KIA Sportage costs $45 less per year to repair
2Nissan Murano has 23 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Murano scores 4 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3KIA Sportage

—

2Nissan Murano

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano: Which Is More Reliable?

KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	KIA Sportage	Nissan Murano
Reliability Score	75/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	28	5
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	810	134
Annual Repair Cost	$462/yr	$507/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	11%	14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	6

What Are the Common Problems With the KIA Sportage and Nissan Murano?

The KIA Sportage exhibits a broader range of issues with a total of 810 complaints, notably in the engine and electrical system categories, which account for 154 and 134 complaints, respectively, with a combined 8 crash-linked incidents. Additionally, the Sportage's service brakes and vehicle speed control issues are significant, each with 10 crash-linked complaints, highlighting potential safety concerns. In contrast, the Nissan Murano has a far lower total of 134 complaints, with the most concerning being the forward collision avoidance system and fewer crash-linked incidents across categories. The Murano's issues are less widespread, with only isolated concerns in the service brakes and power train categories, suggesting a more focused problem profile compared to the Sportage.

KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano common problem areas comparison
Component	KIA Sportage	Nissan Murano
ENGINE	154	—
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	122	24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	134	8
POWER TRAIN	62	6
SERVICE BRAKES	53	9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	41	4
STEERING	38	4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	14	21
AIR BAGS	21	5
STRUCTURE	25	—
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	16	—
TRAILER HITCHES	9	—
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	7	—
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	3	4
VISIBILITY	5	—
LANE DEPARTURE	2	2
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: KIA Sportage or Nissan Murano?

The KIA Sportage offers a more economical choice for cost-conscious buyers, with an annual repair cost of $462, translating to a $45 savings each year compared to the Nissan Murano. Over five years, this amounts to a $225 difference. The Sportage also has a lower repair frequency, needing only 0.2 visits per year versus the Murano's 0.5 visits, according to independent repair cost data. Furthermore, the risk of encountering major repairs is 11% for the Sportage, compared to 14% for the Murano. These factors combined make the Sportage a more reliable and cost-effective option for those looking to minimize maintenance expenses.

How Does KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano Reliability Compare by Year?

KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano year-by-year reliability scores
Year	KIA Sportage	Nissan Murano	Edge
2026	83/1003R / 4C	82/1000R / 1C	KIA Sportage
2025	82/1002R / 44C	74/1002R / 14C	KIA Sportage
2023	67/1009R / 257C	82/1000R / 6C	Nissan Murano
2022	79/1001R / 39C	82/1000R / 5C	Nissan Murano
2021	76/1002R / 34C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano
2020	69/1002R / 139C	74/1002R / 41C	Nissan Murano
2019	74/1002R / 63C	77/1001R / 39C	Nissan Murano
2018	68/1003R / 147C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano

Best years to cross-shop: The 2026 KIA Sportage scored 83/100 and the 2026 Nissan Murano scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the KIA Sportage vs the Nissan Murano?

If you prioritize low running costs and are concerned about frequent visits to the repair shop, the KIA Sportage might be the better option for you. With an estimated annual repair cost of $462 and a repair frequency of just 0.2 times per year, it offers a more economical and less disruptive ownership experience. However, be aware of its higher number of recalls (28) and common issues with the engine and electrical system. On the other hand, if you value overall reliability and want to minimize the likelihood of encountering vehicle recalls, the Nissan Murano could be the right choice. With a higher reliability score of 79/100 and only 5 recalls, it presents a more dependable option. Despite having a slightly higher repair cost of $507 and a major repair risk of 14%, the Murano’s fewer owner complaints (134 total) suggest a more consistent performance.

KIA Sportage vs Nissan Murano: Common Questions

Is the KIA Sportage 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 75/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the KIA Sportage or the Nissan Murano?: The KIA Sportage has more recalls (28) 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 KIA Sportage or the Nissan Murano?: The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 810 for the KIA Sportage. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the KIA Sportage or the Nissan Murano?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Sportage is cheaper to maintain at $462/year versus $507/year for the Nissan Murano.
Is the KIA Sportage or Nissan Murano safer?: Both the KIA Sportage 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.

More KIA Sportage 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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