There is no defensible, complete ranking of every Nissan car and truck by reliability in the available evidence. The clearest current picture is a combination of Consumer Reports’ 2026 brand and model forecasts and J.D. Power’s 2025 awards for three-year-old vehicles. On that evidence, the Frontier and Kicks have favorable Consumer Reports forecasts; the Rogue, Murano, and redesigned Sentra are forecast around average. Separately, J.D. Power named the 2022 Kicks and Murano segment winners in its 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study. Those findings use different methods and model-year cohorts, so they should not be merged into one ordered list.
What the available rankings say about Nissan reliability
Consumer Reports ranks Nissan sixth among brands for new-car reliability in its 2026 ranking. It also describes reliability across Nissan models as uneven: a brand position is a broad comparison, not a guarantee for an individual vehicle. Consumer Reports’ Nissan brand rankings and its reliability methodology provide the brand-level context.
At model level, the retrieved Consumer Reports forecasts do not cover every Nissan. They show favorable predictions for the 2026 Frontier and Kicks, and about-average predictions for the Rogue, Murano, and Sentra. J.D. Power offers a separate, backward-looking result: its 2025 study named the 2022 Kicks and Murano most dependable in their respective SUV segments. Neither source supplies a complete ranking of Nissan’s current lineup.
Consumer Reports’ 2026 model forecasts
Consumer Reports uses owner-survey information to forecast reliability. The model-year evidence behind each forecast matters: a prediction supported by several years of model-specific data is not as dependent on inference as one based on a recent redesign or limited history. Consumer Reports says its latest model pages draw on a survey of about 380,000 vehicles; that describes the scale of its survey, not a census of all vehicles on the road.
#1 Best Overall
- Plastic Model Kit-Assembly Required
- Glue and Paint sold separately
- Manufacturer Item #: 24087
- Package Weight: 0.6 pounds
| 2026 Nissan model | Consumer Reports forecast | Evidence qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier | More reliable than average | Based on 2023–2025 model years. Consumer Reports’ Frontier reliability page. |
| Kicks | More reliable than average | Based on limited 2025 data plus Nissan’s brand score, so the model-specific history is comparatively thin. Consumer Reports’ Kicks reliability page. |
| Rogue | About average | Based on 2023–2025 model years. Consumer Reports’ Rogue reliability page. |
| Murano | About average | Based on the 2025 model plus Nissan’s brand score. Consumer Reports’ Murano reliability page. |
| Sentra | About average | The 2026 model is redesigned; the forecast relies on limited previous-generation data and Nissan’s brand score. Consumer Reports’ Sentra reliability page. |
These are forecasts, not records of long-term ownership outcomes for 2026 vehicles. In particular, the Kicks and Sentra predictions have limited model-specific history behind them, and the Murano forecast also incorporates the brand score. The available evidence does not justify filling in ratings for Nissan models not listed here.
What J.D. Power’s dependability awards measure
J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study evaluates problems reported by original owners of 2022 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study included 34,175 original owners. It named the 2022 Nissan Kicks the most dependable small SUV and the 2022 Nissan Murano the most dependable midsize SUV. These are segment awards for that study’s three-year-old vehicle cohort—not a ranking of new 2026 models or proof that all Nissan vehicles share the same reliability.
Rank #2
- Licensed product from Fast & Furious
- ICONIC BRANDING: Attention to detail and expert styling enhances this 2002 Nissan Skyline R-34 vehicle
- Detailed interior, engine compartments and chassis
- Quality heavy diecast metal body with highly detailed wheels and chrome accents
- Suitable for ages 8+
J.D. Power describes the study’s results and categories in its 2025 Dependability Awards and Ratings and 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Nissan’s announcement confirms the two awards, but is a manufacturer release rather than independent evidence: Nissan senior vice president Vinay Shahani called the results a sign of the company’s commitment to quality and reliability. Nissan’s award announcement.
Why the two sources cannot be combined into one ranking
- Different evidence: Consumer Reports forecasts model reliability from its annual member survey; J.D. Power’s VDS records problems reported by owners of three-year-old vehicles during the prior year.
- Different vehicle ages: The J.D. Power awards concern 2022 models reported on in 2025. Consumer Reports’ 2026 model ratings are predictions informed by earlier model years, with less direct history for some models.
- Different scope: Consumer Reports’ sixth-place result is a brand comparison. J.D. Power’s Kicks and Murano results are wins within specific SUV segments. Neither source orders every Nissan car and truck against one another.
J.D. Power’s 2026 study is a newer industry-wide reference, but it concerns a different cohort: 33,268 original owners of 2023 model-year vehicles. It reported an industry average of 204 problems per 100 vehicles, two problems per 100 vehicles higher than the prior year. That figure is industry-wide, not a Nissan result, and should not be used to alter Nissan’s model or brand ratings. See the 2026 study release and J.D. Power’s VDS methodology and profiled-model information.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Tamiya Nissan Skyline
- GT-R R34 V-Spec Model Set
- Scale 1:24
- Plastic model kit
How to use the rankings when choosing a Nissan
If you are buying new
Use the model forecast as one screening tool, not a promise about the specific vehicle you will own. Give more weight to ratings supported by several model years of evidence, and treat forecasts for redesigned or data-limited models as less settled. Compare the particular model year you are considering; a favorable result for one year does not automatically transfer to another.
If you are buying used
Use segment awards and model ratings to narrow candidates, then investigate the individual vehicle. Check its maintenance and ownership history, confirm open recalls by VIN, and arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection. A model-level ranking cannot reveal how a particular vehicle was maintained or what condition it is in.
Rank #4
- Plastic model kit-assembly required
- Glue and paint sold separately
- Manufacturer item #: 24258
Reliability ratings and recalls answer different questions
A reliability forecast estimates the likelihood of problems; a recall identifies a safety-related defect or noncompliance that requires a remedy. Consumer Reports’ 2026 Sentra page lists a March 13, 2026 NHTSA recall involving seat frames on certain 2026 Kicks and Sentra vehicles. Because the campaign applies to certain vehicles, check the VIN with NHTSA or a Nissan dealer to establish whether a specific vehicle is affected. The existence of a recall alone does not establish a model’s overall reliability rank.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
