Is the Nissan Murano more reliable than the Subaru Forester?

Based on our data, the Nissan Murano is more reliable with an average score of 79/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Nissan Murano or the Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester has more recalls (13) 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 Nissan Murano or the Subaru Forester?

The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 2301 for the Subaru Forester. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Nissan Murano or the Subaru Forester?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Murano is cheaper to maintain at $507/year versus $632/year for the Subaru Forester.

Is the Nissan Murano or Subaru Forester safer?

Both the Nissan Murano and Subaru Forester 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: 2026-07-17

Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Nissan Murano

Good

Subaru Forester

Good

Choosing between the Nissan Murano and the Subaru Forester? 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 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Nissan Murano and Subaru Forester Generations Compare?

As of April 2026, the Subaru Forester is in its sixth generation (SL), introduced in 2025. The Forester's previous generation (SK) ran from 2019 to 2025, with a facelift in 2022, suggesting that it was a mature and well-sorted platform by the end of its cycle. Newer generations, like the current SL, may exhibit first-year issues as they settle into production. The Nissan Murano is in its fourth generation (Z53), also starting in 2025. The prior third generation (Z52) spanned from 2015 to 2024, with a minor update in 2020, indicating a stable and reliable phase by the end. Both SUVs are early in their current generation cycles, which can mean potential teething problems typical of new platforms.

Verdict

The Nissan Murano is more reliable than the Subaru Forester, scoring 79/100 vs 74/100.

The Nissan Murano outperforms the Subaru Forester in reliability with a higher average reliability score of 79 out of 100 compared to 74 for the Forester. The Murano also has significantly fewer recalls, with only 5 across 8 years, while the Forester has 13 across 9 years. Furthermore, the Murano's estimated annual repair costs are lower at $507 compared to the Forester's $632, and it experiences fewer owner complaints per 10,000 vehicles sold. While both vehicles have similar common issues, these factors make the Murano a more reliable choice overall.

Key Differences

1Nissan Murano costs $125 less per year to repair
2Nissan Murano has 8 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Murano scores 5 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Nissan Murano

—

2Subaru Forester

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester: Which Is More Reliable?

Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Nissan Murano	Subaru Forester
Reliability Score	79/100	74/100
Years Tracked	8	9
Total Recalls	5	13
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	134	2301
Annual Repair Cost	$507/yr	$632/yr
Repair Frequency	0.5/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	14%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	7	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Nissan Murano and Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester shows a significant number of complaints in the VISIBILITY/WIPER category, with 819 issues reported, as well as a notable concern in the VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL category, which has the highest crash-linked complaints at 26. Additionally, the Forester's AIR BAGS category has 121 complaints, with 22 related to crashes, indicating a potential safety risk. In contrast, the Nissan Murano has fewer overall complaints, with the most frequent issues being in the UNKNOWN OR OTHER category, with only 1 crash-linked incident, and the FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE system. The Murano's problem profile suggests fewer severe safety concerns compared to the Forester, particularly in categories with high crash-linked incidents.

Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester common problem areas comparison
Component	Nissan Murano	Subaru Forester
VISIBILITY/WIPER	4	819
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	24	327
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	8	307
AIR BAGS	5	121
ENGINE	—	115
POWER TRAIN	6	99
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	4	61
STEERING	4	53
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	21	26
VISIBILITY	—	45
SERVICE BRAKES	9	34
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	4	11
STRUCTURE	—	10
SUSPENSION	2	2
LANE DEPARTURE	2	2
SEAT BELTS	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: Nissan Murano or Subaru Forester?

The Subaru Forester incurs an annual repair cost of $632, translating to $3,160 over five years. In contrast, the Nissan Murano costs $507 annually, totaling $2,535 over the same period. This results in a $625 savings with the Murano. Despite the lower cost, the Murano's repair frequency is slightly higher at 0.5 visits per year compared to the Forester's 0.4. Additionally, the Murano has a 14% risk of major repairs, slightly above the Forester's 13%. For cost-conscious buyers prioritizing lower expenses, the Nissan Murano offers better value, though it comes with a marginally higher likelihood of repairs.

How Does Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester Reliability Compare by Year?

Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Nissan Murano	Subaru Forester	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 1C	77/1001R / 0C	Nissan Murano
2025	74/1002R / 14C	79/1002R / 48C	Subaru Forester
2023	82/1000R / 6C	79/1001R / 61C	Nissan Murano
2022	82/1000R / 5C	77/1001R / 86C	Nissan Murano
2021	82/1000R / 14C	76/1000R / 196C	Nissan Murano
2020	74/1002R / 41C	71/1000R / 584C	Nissan Murano
2019	77/1001R / 39C	63/1003R / 825C	Nissan Murano
2018	82/1000R / 14C	66/1003R / 475C	Nissan Murano

Best years to cross-shop: The 2026 Nissan Murano scored 82/100 and the 2025 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Nissan Murano vs the Subaru Forester?

If you prioritize low running costs and fewer recalls, the Nissan Murano could be the better choice. With a higher reliability score of 79/100 and only five total recalls, it suggests fewer potential issues down the line. Additionally, the Murano has a lower estimated annual repair cost of $507, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. However, keep in mind its major repair risk is slightly higher at 14%, and it has a repair frequency of 0.5 times per year. On the other hand, if you value a vehicle with a longer history of reliability and can tolerate slightly higher maintenance costs, consider the Subaru Forester. Despite a lower reliability score of 74/100 and 13 recalls, it has fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold at 8.7 compared to Murano's total of 134. The Forester's estimated annual repair cost is $632, but with a lower repair frequency of 0.4 times per year and a 13% major repair risk, it might offer peace of mind for those concerned about frequent visits to the mechanic.

Nissan Murano vs Subaru Forester: Common Questions

Is the Nissan Murano more reliable than the Subaru Forester?: Based on our data, the Nissan Murano is more reliable with an average score of 79/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Nissan Murano or the Subaru Forester?: The Subaru Forester has more recalls (13) 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 Nissan Murano or the Subaru Forester?: The Nissan Murano has fewer owner complaints (134) versus 2301 for the Subaru Forester. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Nissan Murano or the Subaru Forester?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Murano is cheaper to maintain at $507/year versus $632/year for the Subaru Forester.
Is the Nissan Murano or Subaru Forester safer?: Both the Nissan Murano and Subaru Forester 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 Nissan Murano comparisons

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More Subaru Forester 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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