Midsize and three-row SUVs · model years 2014 to 2017
Nissan Murano vs Nissan Pathfinder: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Pathfinder looks better on 3 and the Murano on 2, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 6, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2017 | Murano | Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 4.8% | 3.8% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 36,000 | 50,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 1.8 | 3.2 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 0 | 3 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Murano owners complain about most is transmission and drivetrain, and it is the same for the Pathfinder. Complaints citing steering make up 6.4% of all Murano complaints, against 1.8% on the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder leans the other way on engine: 21% of its complaints, against 7.3% for the Murano.
Nissan MuranoNissan Pathfinder
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Murano is airbag problems (12% of its complaints), and the Pathfinder shares it (14%).
| Problem | Murano | Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or recall | 12% 65most in 2015 · 15k mi | 14% 163most in 2014 · 18k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 11% 62most in 2015 · 30k mi | 7.6% 86most in 2014 · 53k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 6.6% 3747k mi | 11% 130most in 2014 · 55k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 6.1% 3481k mi | 7.9% 90most in 2014 · 55k mi |
| Transmission fails or needs replacement | 3.6% 2064k mi | 3.9% 44most in 2014 · 70k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 5.5% 3135k mi | 1.8% 2033k mi |
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 6.6% 3737k mi | 0 |
| A/C blows warm or the compressor fails | 0 | 6.2% 70most in 2015 · 49k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Murano owners report problems earlier. Half the Murano complaints that give a mileage come before 36,000 miles; for the Pathfinder the halfway point is 50,000. 63% of Murano reports and 50% of Pathfinder reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Nissan MuranoNissan Pathfinder
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 353 for the Murano and 742 for the Pathfinder.
Worst and best years
The 2015 Murano draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Murano year for its age. The 2014 Pathfinder draws 1.8 times the complaints of a typical Pathfinder year for its age.
Nissan MuranoNissan Pathfinder
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Pathfinder draws more recalls: 3.2 campaigns per model year against 1.8 for the Murano. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Nissan Murano
7 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: service brakes, hydraulic (5), steering (1) and airbags (1).
- 18V-601 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 3 model years
- 16V-636 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 3 model years
Nissan Pathfinder
13 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (3), service brakes, hydraulic (3) and exterior lighting (2).
- 16V-244 (airbags) covers 3 model years
- 22V-420 (latches/locks/linkages) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE21022: Hood latch/bell crank assembly (closed, led to a recall)
- EA15004: Occupant classification system failure (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ15001: Occupant classification system failure (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Murano complaints report a crash: 4.8%, against 3.8% for the Pathfinder. Fire reports: 8 for the Murano and 5 for the Pathfinder. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Murano and 0 in the Pathfinder for these model years.
Nissan MuranoNissan Pathfinder
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Nissan Murano or the Nissan Pathfinder more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Pathfinder looks better on 3 and the Murano on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Murano has 560 complaints and the Pathfinder 1,133 for model years 2014 to 2017, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Murano or the Pathfinder?
The Murano has 7 recall campaigns and the Pathfinder 13 across model years 2014 to 2017. The Pathfinder draws more recalls: 3.2 campaigns per model year against 1.8 for the Murano.
What are the most common problems on the Murano and the Pathfinder?
The most reported problem on the Murano is airbag problems (12% of its complaints), and the Pathfinder shares it (14%).
More comparisons
- Nissan Murano vs Nissan Rogue2014 to 2018
- Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Highlander2014 to 2023
- Nissan Pathfinder vs Honda Pilot2014 to 2026
- Nissan Pathfinder vs Kia Telluride2022 to 2023