2021 Nissan Murano Safety Report

The 2021 Nissan Murano presents a generally strong safety profile based on NHTSA data, achieving a perfect 5-star overall safety rating, including 5 stars for frontal and side crash tests, and 4 stars for rollover. However, despite a low total of 14 complaints, several patterns emerge that warrant attention. A significant concern is the 'FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE' system, which accounts for 5 complaints, including instances of unintended sudden acceleration and phantom braking. This system's erratic behavior led to at least one reported crash and multiple near-misses, indicating a potential software or sensor issue that could compromise active safety features. Beyond the forward collision system, other issues, though less frequent, point to potential manufacturing or design flaws. There are reports of vehicle speed control malfunctions, specifically cruise control failing to maintain speed downhill, and an instance of a driver-side rear seat belt buckle not engaging. Electrical system anomalies, such as random dashboard warnings and stalling, also appear. The vehicle has no open recalls, which is positive, but the nature of the complaints, particularly those related to unintended acceleration and braking, suggests that some critical safety systems may not be performing as reliably as expected. The low number of total complaints (14) for a vehicle of this age and sales volume might suggest these are isolated incidents, but the severity of issues like unintended acceleration and braking, which directly led to 1 reported crash, cannot be overlooked. While the Murano's passive safety (crashworthiness) is excellent, the active safety systems, particularly the forward collision avoidance, show concerning inconsistencies. Potential buyers should be aware of these reported issues, especially regarding the vehicle's electronic safety aids.

Our recommendation: While the 2021 Nissan Murano boasts strong crash test ratings, potential buyers should be aware of reported issues with the Forward Collision Avoidance system and cruise control; consider a pre-purchase inspection focusing on these electronic systems.