Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the Nissan Murano?

Yes, slightly. The CX-5 rates excellent and the Murano good. The CX-5 needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.3 a year against 0.5, and its repairs are less often major. Its cracked cylinder heads keep the lead narrow.

Which has more recalls, the CX-5 or the Murano?

The CX-5 has more. Federal recall records show 11 recalls across 9 model years for the CX-5 and 5 across 8 model years for the Murano. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Which is cheaper to repair, the CX-5 or the Murano?

The CX-5 is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $447 a year against $507 for the Murano, roughly $300 less over five years. A major repair is also less likely on the CX-5, at 8% against 14%.

What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?

Cracked cylinder heads. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, causing a burning smell, white smoke, or pooled oil, and often no warning light appears until oil runs low. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and quotes reach $8,000.

Does the Nissan Murano have brake problems?

Some owners report them, though complaints are few. In one, the pedal sank to the floor while the car rolled before braking returned. In another, a dealer warned braking might fail intermittently and replaced the ABS motor. Two brake complaints are crash-linked.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Mazda CX-5

Excellent

Nissan Murano

Good

The Mazda CX-5 edges out the Nissan Murano on reliability, but only slightly. Lower repair costs decide it. The CX-5 also needs fewer shop visits, though cracked cylinder heads are a real risk, while the Murano has far fewer owner complaints on file.

How Do the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Murano Generations Compare?

Most used CX-5s come from the second generation, which covered US model years 2017 through 2025 and received a facelift for 2022. The third generation arrived for 2026 and covers only that year so far. It has had little time to collect complaints, so its clean record says little. On the Murano side, the third generation ran from 2015 through 2024 and got minor updates in 2020, so nearly every used example you will see comes from it. The fourth generation began with 2025, and that first year is listed among the Murano's weakest.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-5 is more reliable than the Nissan Murano, scoring 83/100 vs 79/100.

Slightly more reliable, the CX-5 takes this comparison with an excellent standing against good for the Murano. Independent repair-cost data decides it: lower yearly cost, fewer unscheduled shop visits, and a smaller chance that a repair is major. The lead stays narrow because of the CX-5's cracked cylinder heads, which can bring a repair quote of $8,000. The Murano's problems are fewer and more scattered, but they include brake and drivetrain faults, so neither car is risk free.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-5 costs $60 less per year to repair
2Nissan Murano has 6 fewer total recalls
3Mazda CX-5 has 6% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

4Mazda CX-5

—

1Nissan Murano

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano: Which Is More Reliable?

Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mazda CX-5	Nissan Murano
Reliability Score	83/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	11	5
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	986	134
Annual Repair Cost	$447/yr	$507/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	8%	14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	3

What Are the Common Problems With the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Murano?

Mechanical failure is the CX-5's worst pattern. Cylinder heads crack and leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, often with no warning light until oil runs low. It also has the "ghost touch" screen fault and smart brake and radar malfunctions, including a car that surged forward into traffic. Its electrical, engine, power train, brake, and structure areas all carry crash links. The Murano's complaints are fewer and spread out: a forward collision warning that keeps shutting itself off, a brake pedal sinking to the floor, lurching after shifting into Drive, and a passenger airbag that switches off. Air bags are a crash-linked area only the Murano has.

Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano common problem areas comparison
Component	Mazda CX-5	Nissan Murano
ENGINE	263	—
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	123	24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	123	8
POWER TRAIN	98	6
SERVICE BRAKES	54	9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	33	4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	14	21
STRUCTURE	33	—
AIR BAGS	27	5
VISIBILITY/WIPER	19	4
FUEL SYSTEM	19	—
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	13	4
STEERING	12	4
SUSPENSION	6	2
TIRES	5	—
SEATS	4	—
VISIBILITY	3	—
SEAT BELTS	—	2
EQUIPMENT	—	2
LANE DEPARTURE	—	2

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Mazda CX-5 or Nissan Murano?

Repair costs favor the CX-5 at an estimated $447 a year, against $507 for the Murano. That $60 gap adds up to about $300 over five years. The CX-5 also needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.3 a year against 0.5. Only 8% of its repairs turn out to be major, compared with 14% for the Murano. A cracked cylinder head is the exception, with quotes reaching $8,000 on a CX-5.

How Does Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano Reliability Compare by Year?

Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mazda CX-5	Nissan Murano	Edge
2026	94/1000R / 0C	82/1000R / 1C	Mazda CX-5
2025	82/1003R / 25C	74/1002R / 14C	Mazda CX-5
2023	81/1002R / 96C	82/1000R / 6C	Nissan Murano
2022	87/1000R / 50C	82/1000R / 5C	Mazda CX-5
2021	83/1000R / 129C	82/1000R / 14C	Mazda CX-5
2020	86/1000R / 94C	74/1002R / 41C	Mazda CX-5
2019	75/1002R / 229C	77/1001R / 39C	Nissan Murano
2018	71/1003R / 310C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Mazda CX-5 scored 87/100 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 Mazda CX-5 vs the Nissan Murano?

Choose the CX-5 if you want lower running costs and fewer shop trips. Target the 2022 model year, one of its strongest, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Ask for proof of oil-leak inspections and test the touchscreen for random inputs. Cracked heads cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, so a car in that range deserves a close look. Choose the Murano if you want a car with far fewer owner complaints on file and can accept a higher yearly repair average. Target 2018 or 2021, its strongest years, and avoid 2025 and 2020, its weakest. On a long test drive, watch for the forward collision warning shutting off, check that the passenger airbag light behaves, and feel for hesitation when the transmission engages. If intermittent brake or driver-assist faults worry you most, the CX-5 looks safer on the repair numbers, though it has its own brake and radar reports.

Mazda CX-5 vs Nissan Murano: Common Questions

Is the Mazda CX-5 more reliable than the Nissan Murano?: Yes, slightly. The CX-5 rates excellent and the Murano good. The CX-5 needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.3 a year against 0.5, and its repairs are less often major. Its cracked cylinder heads keep the lead narrow.
Which has more recalls, the CX-5 or the Murano?: The CX-5 has more. Federal recall records show 11 recalls across 9 model years for the CX-5 and 5 across 8 model years for the Murano. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which is cheaper to repair, the CX-5 or the Murano?: The CX-5 is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $447 a year against $507 for the Murano, roughly $300 less over five years. A major repair is also less likely on the CX-5, at 8% against 14%.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda CX-5?: Cracked cylinder heads. They leak oil onto the hot exhaust side, causing a burning smell, white smoke, or pooled oil, and often no warning light appears until oil runs low. Failures cluster between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and quotes reach $8,000.
Does the Nissan Murano have brake problems?: Some owners report them, though complaints are few. In one, the pedal sank to the floor while the car rolled before braking returned. In another, a dealer warned braking might fail intermittently and replaced the ABS motor. Two brake complaints are crash-linked.

More Mazda CX-5 comparisons

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More Nissan Murano comparisons

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Decided between Mazda CX-5 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 Mazda CX-5 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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