Is the Chevrolet Equinox 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 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Nissan Murano?

The Chevrolet Equinox has more recalls (32) 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 Chevrolet Equinox or the Nissan Murano?

The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 1623 for the Chevrolet Equinox. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Nissan Murano?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Murano is cheaper to maintain at $507/year versus $537/year for the Chevrolet Equinox.

Is the Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Murano safer?

Both the Chevrolet Equinox 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

Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Equinox

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Murano

Good

Choosing between the Chevrolet Equinox 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 72/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Murano Generations Compare?

As of today, the Chevrolet Equinox is in its fourth generation, introduced in 2025. Having just launched, it may encounter typical first-year issues as new platforms often do. The previous third generation, lasting from 2018 to 2024, saw a 2022 refresh that likely addressed earlier bugs, offering a more reliable experience towards its end. Conversely, the Nissan Murano entered its fourth generation in 2025 as well. The third generation, running from 2015 to 2024, received a minor update in 2020, which likely enhanced its reliability as it matured. Buyers considering reliability might find the late-cycle models of the third-generation Murano more refined compared to the newly launched fourth-generation models of both vehicles.

Verdict

The Nissan Murano is more reliable than the Chevrolet Equinox, scoring 79/100 vs 72/100.

The Nissan Murano demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 79/100 compared to the Chevrolet Equinox's 72/100. The Murano has faced only 5 recalls over 8 years, while the Equinox has had 32 over 9 years, highlighting a significant difference in recall frequency. Although the Murano's repair costs are slightly lower at $507 annually versus the Equinox's $537, the Equinox does have a lower complaint rate of 3.7 per 10,000 units sold. Overall, the Nissan Murano is the more reliable choice, particularly due to its lower recall count and higher reliability score.

Key Differences

1Nissan Murano costs $30 less per year to repair
2Nissan Murano has 27 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Murano scores 7 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Chevrolet Equinox

—

4Nissan Murano

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Equinox	Nissan Murano
Reliability Score	72/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	32	5
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	1623	134
Annual Repair Cost	$537/yr	$507/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	14%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0	7

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Murano?

The Chevrolet Equinox exhibits a significantly higher number of complaints, particularly in the service brakes category, with 250 complaints, including 24 linked to crashes, indicating a potential safety concern. In contrast, the Nissan Murano has a notably lower complaint volume across all categories, with the most frequent issue being related to unknown or other problems, totaling just 24 complaints. The Equinox also shows a substantial number of issues in the electrical system and power train, whereas the Murano's complaints are more evenly distributed, with no single category exceeding 24 complaints. Both models have crash-linked issues, but the Equinox's higher totals in critical systems like brakes and steering may represent a more pronounced risk profile compared to the Murano.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Equinox	Nissan Murano
SERVICE BRAKES	250	9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	198	8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	163	24
POWER TRAIN	168	6
VISIBILITY/WIPER	143	4
ENGINE	132	—
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	130	—
STEERING	63	4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	34	21
AIR BAGS	32	5
FUEL SYSTEM	33	—
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	24	4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	12	4
WHEELS	11	—
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	10	—
SEAT BELTS	2	2
STRUCTURE	3	—
EQUIPMENT	—	2
LANE DEPARTURE	—	2
SUSPENSION	—	2

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Murano?

Based on independent repair cost data, the Chevrolet Equinox incurs an annual repair cost of $537, which is $30 more than the Nissan Murano's $507. Over five years, this difference amounts to $150. However, the Equinox has a lower repair frequency of 0.3 visits per year compared to the Murano's 0.5 visits, potentially indicating less frequent inconvenience. Despite this, the Equinox carries an 18% risk of major repairs, higher than the Murano's 14%. For cost-conscious buyers seeking lower risk and slightly reduced annual expenses, the Nissan Murano may offer better value, despite its more frequent visits to the repair shop.

How Does Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Equinox	Nissan Murano	Edge
2025	72/1005R / 288C	74/1002R / 14C	Nissan Murano
2023	76/1003R / 70C	82/1000R / 6C	Nissan Murano
2022	71/1005R / 137C	82/1000R / 5C	Nissan Murano
2021	74/1004R / 75C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano
2020	70/1004R / 255C	74/1002R / 41C	Nissan Murano
2019	71/1004R / 273C	77/1001R / 39C	Nissan Murano
2018	69/1005R / 382C	82/1000R / 14C	Nissan Murano
2026(predicted)	75/100(predicted)	79/100(predicted)	Nissan Murano

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox 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 Chevrolet Equinox vs the Nissan Murano?

If you prioritize a more reliable option with fewer recalls and complaints, the Nissan Murano might be your best choice. With a reliability score of 79/100 and only 5 total recalls, the Murano stands out for its dependability. The major repair risk is lower at 14%, and the annual repair cost is slightly more affordable at $507. This makes it ideal if you want peace of mind and lower ongoing expenses. On the other hand, if you are budget-conscious regarding repair frequency, the Chevrolet Equinox could be a viable option. Although its reliability score is lower at 72/100, it boasts a lower repair frequency of 0.3 times per year. However, be aware of its history of 32 recalls and a higher major repair risk of 18%. This might suit you if you don't mind addressing occasional issues in exchange for less frequent visits to the shop.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Nissan Murano: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox 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 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Nissan Murano?: The Chevrolet Equinox has more recalls (32) 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 Chevrolet Equinox or the Nissan Murano?: The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 1623 for the Chevrolet Equinox. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Nissan Murano?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Murano is cheaper to maintain at $507/year versus $537/year for the Chevrolet Equinox.
Is the Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Murano safer?: Both the Chevrolet Equinox 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 Chevrolet Equinox comparisons

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More Nissan Murano comparisons

Nissan Murano vs Honda CR-V reliability Nissan Murano vs Mazda CX-5 reliability Nissan Murano vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester reliability Nissan Murano reliability by year Nissan Murano years to avoid

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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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