Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Nissan Murano
RELIABILITY SCORE: 82/100 (EXCELLENT)

2021 Nissan Murano Reliability Report

The 2021 Nissan Murano rates excellent for reliability, but owners report cruise control and automatic braking faults in its collision system.

Recalls

0

Complaints

14

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

$507

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,600–$2,700

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Excellent standing with no recalls and far fewer complaints than 2020, though owners report cruise control and automatic braking faults.

Top Issues to Watch

  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5)
  • SEAT BELTS (1)
  • STRUCTURE (1)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2021 is 1 year after the minor updates refresh.

  • Year 7 in the Third generation (Z52) (2015–2024).
  • Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
  • 3rd generation Murano (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2015: Third generation (Z52) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2021: This Model Year

2021 is 1 year after the minor updates refresh.

Should You Buy the 2021 Nissan Murano?

Reliability is a strong point here. This year stands as excellent, well above average among 2021 SUVs and among the stronger of the eight scored Murano years. It has no federal recalls and a 5 of 5 crash-test rating. The 2020 rates worse, with 41 complaints and 2 recalls, while the 2022 rates about the same.

Of 14 owner complaints, five concern forward collision avoidance. Cruise control does not hold the set speed downhill, and speed can climb 13 mph or more until the driver brakes. Others report automatic emergency braking slamming on with nothing ahead, including on a parking garage ramp, which risks a rear-end crash. One owner said the system failed to brake before a minor collision at 35,000 miles. Dealers often can't reproduce these faults.

Test the cruise control on a downhill grade and ask for dealer records on any collision system complaints. If a car checks out poorly, the 2022 is a comparable option.

Compared to the 2022 Nissan Murano, which scored the same. See also the 2020 Nissan Murano for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Strong reliability score
  • +$14 cheaper to maintain than avg compact SUVs
  • +Low major repair risk (14%)
  • +No recalls issued
  • +Low complaint frequency

Cons

  • −FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: Cruise control doesn't hold the set speed on downhill grades, even gentle ones (5 complaints)

Compare 2021 Nissan Murano With

Common Problem Categories

Other

HIGH RISK
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5)
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

0

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2021 Nissan Murano — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

14

complaints
LowAvgHigh
Very Low

Safety Incidents

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2021 Nissan Murano? Check its history first

Forward collision avoidance problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Nissan Murano, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2021 Nissan Murano NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 15.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (N/A)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Not Available)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Not Available)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Nissan MuranoRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$507

vs $521 avg for compact SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.5

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

14%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Murano
$507
Category Avg
$521
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Nissan Murano Resale Value

The Nissan Murano is estimated to retain about 56.8% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Nissan Murano model overall and is not specific to the 2021 model year.

Value Retained
56.8%

after 5 years

Depreciation
43.2%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
121

U.S. used-car listings

Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Nissan Murano depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

22–23 MPG

Running cost: $3,100–$3,200/yr

Fuel + repair

20 city / 27–28 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Murano FWD 3.5L 6-cylFront-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S7)202823$2,600
Murano AWD 3.5L 6-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S7)202722$2,700

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Nissan Murano.

  • Set cruise control on a long downhill grade and watch whether speed creeps above the set speed.

  • Drive in steady traffic and on the highway, and watch for false automatic braking with nothing ahead.

  • Drive up a parking garage ramp and note any sudden braking with nothing ahead.

  • Watch the dash for a crash or collision warning light that comes on while driving or parked.

  • Check the headliner, A-pillars, and floor carpets for water stains, dampness, or a musty smell.

  • Pour water into the sunroof channels and confirm it drains away instead of pooling or leaking inside.

  • Hold the brake at a stop and watch for engine revving or the car pushing forward.

  • Ask for service records showing repeat dealer visits for braking, cruise control, or collision-system complaints.

2021 Nissan Murano Common Problems by Component

14 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

5
2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)SEAT BELTS (1)STRUCTURE (1)EXTERIOR LIGHTING (1)BACK OVER PREVENTION (1)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)VISIBILITY (1)Other (1)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

5 complaints

Cruise control doesn't hold the set speed on downhill grades, even gentle ones. Speed climbs until the driver brakes, in some cases by 13 mph or more. Other reports describe automatic emergency braking slamming on with nothing ahead, both on the highway and on a parking garage ramp, which creates a rear-end crash risk. A crash sensor warning also lights up repeatedly. One report describes the opposite problem: at 35,000 miles the system failed to brake before a minor collision. Dealers often can't reproduce these faults or call them normal.

5 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

Water leaks into the cabin through the panoramic sunroof when its drain hoses clog and stop working. The water soaks the A-pillars and floorboards and leaves a musty smell. In one case, at about 45,000 miles, a dealer also found corrosion in an electrical connector. Another report describes the car speeding up on its own at a traffic light with the brake pressed. The engine revved, and the driver had to pump the brakes to avoid hitting the car ahead.

2 complaints total

SEAT BELTS

1 complaint
2025-04-01

The driver side rear seat belt buckle does not engage, the red button on buckle does not pop up

STRUCTURE (1 complaints)

STRUCTURE

1 complaintSafety-related
2025-01-15Crash reported

On Jan 15, 2025, my vehicle exhibited an unintended sudden acceleration event while applying the brakes to slow the vehicle. Shortly after applying the brakes, the vehicle's engine revved very high and the car launched forward despite my foot on the brake and then struck another vehicle in front of me. The automatic emergency braking did not trigger. The air bags did deploy. No significant injuries, but both cars were damaged, my Murano likely totaled. I am confident that I did not accidentally hit the gas pedal.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING (1 complaints)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint
2024-09-09

The component of the vehicle is the passenger headlight. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time.I was unable to see at night clearly with the use of only one headlight because the other headlight went out. At the time that the headlight went out I was on a 2 Lane Rd. with no street lights and it became very dark and difficult to see.The defect has been confirmed at a Nissan dealership on September 23. The dealership found separation of the assembly, causing the condensation in the passenger side headlight causing it not to work. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other entity, besides the certified Nissan dealership. The system warning message appeared only when the headlight went out.

BACK OVER PREVENTION (1 complaints)

BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint
2023-06-07

Back up system sensors alarms when nothing is behind vehicle and sometimes does not alarm when there is something behind me. I bought the car 5/31/2023 the problem started right away, I took my car to the dealership for repair on 6/7/2023 for the first time. They were unable to reproduce the issue, I have had my car at the dealership 6 times since, they have seen and videoed my car giving false warning lights and sounds like something is behind me even though nothing is behind me. They have replaced all 4 backup sensors and most recently the left blindside warning sensor and tail light, I still have the same issue. I have asked for a loaner car because I am worried I am going to back into something, they tell me this is not a safety issue and I am to drive the car even though there is a problem with the backup system. They have a specialist scheduled for 10/10/2023 to see if he can figure out what is wrong. Both the dealership and Nissan consumer affairs tell me the car is safe to drive with a malfunctioning camera system.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint
2021-07-03

Car stalls and dashboard goes blank or backup warning lights or other warning lights randomly coming on. I don't feel safe. My car could stall and cause accidents. 2 dealership inspected and said they could not find anything wrong.

VISIBILITY (1 complaints)

VISIBILITY

1 complaint
2022-04-07

The contact rented a 2021 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, the rear windshield suddenly shattered. The contact indicated that during the failure, no object had struck the windshield to cause it to shatter. The manufacturer was notified but vehicle was a rental and would not discuss the defect. Also, Pennsylvania State Attorney but manufacturer declined to engage about the damage to the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint
2021-06-02

A specific cruise control feature of the 2021 Nissan Murano, in my opinion, is dangerous to operate and may or may have already caused a serious injury/accident. I have brought this concern to the people at the Dealership in Tucson, AZ on several occasions. I have also contact the Nissan North America Consumer Affairs Office in Franklin, TN. Both of these parties have told me the cruise control system is working properly. So what is my concern? The last four cars that I have owned had cruise control systems. Two of the cars were Nissan Muranos. A 2010 Nissan Murano and a 2014 Nissan Murano Platinum. All four the cars' cruise control systems operated the same. Unfortunately, the 2021 Nissan Murano's cruise control does not operate the same as my last four cars, The 2021 Murano has one feature that is very dangerous and needs looking into. Example of the four previous cars: Let's say you set the cruise control at 40mph and decide to increase to 50mph by pressing and holding the RESUME/+ lever. All of the other cars that I owned would allow me to do this and when the speed odometer reached 50mph I would release the RESUME/+ lever and the cruise speed would be 50mph.The 2021 Nissan Murano Platinum does not do this. Example of 2021 Murano: Let's say I set the cruise control speed at 40mph by pressing and holding the RESUME/+ lever to increase to 50mph and I release it when my speed odometer reached 50mph. The 2021 Murano does not stop at 50mph it would go to approximately 80mph unless the driver steps on the brake. FYI, I did drive two other 2021 Nissan loaners neither of which were Muranos, Both of those cars' cruise control operated as my previous four cars' cruise control system. The car's manual and videos' documents that the cruise control should operate differently.

Best & Worst Nissan Murano Years

Best Nissan Murano Years to Buy

Nissan Murano Years to Avoid

Nissan Murano Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Nissan Murano reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201882/100Excellent
201977/100Good
202074/100Good
202182/100Excellent
202282/100Excellent
202382/100Excellent
202574/100Good
202682/100Excellent

Nissan Murano Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202682/100+8Excellent01
202574/100-8Good214
202382/1000Excellent06
202282/1000Excellent05
2021(selected)82/100+8Excellent014
202074/100-3Good241
201977/100-5Good139
201882/100—Excellent014

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Murano reliable?
Yes. Its reliability standing is excellent, well above average among 2021 SUVs and among the stronger of the eight scored Murano years. Federal records show no recalls, and it earned 5 of 5 stars in federal crash testing. Owners filed 14 complaints, and the main issue involves the forward collision avoidance system.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Murano?
Forward collision avoidance is the main problem, with 5 of 14 complaints. Cruise control fails to hold set speed downhill, automatic emergency braking can engage with nothing ahead, and a crash sensor warning light comes on repeatedly. Dealers often can't reproduce these faults or call them normal.
Does the 2021 Nissan Murano have automatic braking problems?
Some owners say so. Reports describe the system braking hard with nothing ahead, on the highway and on a parking garage ramp, creating rear-end crash risk. One owner reported the opposite: at 35,000 miles it failed to brake before a minor collision. Ask the seller for any service history on the system.
Does the 2021 Nissan Murano have any recalls?
No. Federal recall records list no recalls for this model year. That differs from the 2020 Murano, which has 2 recalls. A clean recall record does not rule out the collision system complaints, so still check the car's service history and test the cruise control.
Is the 2021 Nissan Murano better than the 2020 or 2022?
It rates better than the 2020, which has good reliability, 41 complaints, and 2 recalls. It rates about the same as the 2022, which is also excellent with 5 complaints and no recalls. The 2022 is newer, so its lower complaint count partly reflects less time on the road.

Don’t buy a 2021 Nissan Murano without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2021 Nissan Murano

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Nissan Murano does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). 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.

Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Nissan Murano.

No spam. Only data updates for this model.

See incorrect data? Report an issue