Last updated: 2026-10-10

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
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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)
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

2021 Mazda CX-5
Reliability: 83/100

2021 Honda CR-V
Reliability: 77/100

2021 Jeep Cherokee
Reliability: 67/100

2021 Hyundai Tucson
Reliability: 78/100

2021 Chevrolet Equinox
Reliability: 74/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
HIGH RISK- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (5)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)
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
complaintsSafety 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.
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.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Nissan Murano NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 15.9%
Safety Technologies
Nissan MuranoRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based 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
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%
- Depreciation
- 43.2%
- Listings Analyzed
- 121
after 5 years
over the same period
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.comMPG & 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
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murano FWD 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,600 |
| Murano AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 20 | 27 | 22 | $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.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
5 complaintsCruise 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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaintsWater 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.
SEAT BELTS
1 complaintThe driver side rear seat belt buckle does not engage, the red button on buckle does not pop up
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintSafety-relatedOn 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 complaintThe 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 complaintBack 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 complaintCar 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 complaintThe 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 complaintA 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
Based on reliability index score2023
2022
2021
(Current Model)
Nissan Murano Years to Avoid
Nissan Murano Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Nissan Murano Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Nissan Murano reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Murano?
Does the 2021 Nissan Murano have automatic braking problems?
Does the 2021 Nissan Murano have any recalls?
Is the 2021 Nissan Murano better than the 2020 or 2022?
Don’t buy a 2021 Nissan Murano without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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.
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