Nissan Murano Problems | Avoid These Year Models

By Max Anthony •  Updated: 04/23/21 •  9 min read

The Nissan Murano is a crossover SUV. It is manufactured and sold by Nissan. It was first introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model year vehicle.

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The Murano features a 4-wheel drive, all-wheel steering, and an available V6 engine. The Nissan Murano is one of the most popular cars on the market, but recent reports have shown that this car may not be as safe to buy. Here is our detailed list of Nissan Murano problems and model years to avoid.

Most Common Nissan Murano Problems

With the Murano going through a tumultuous time, it’s hard to tell which years were good and bad. But by comparing models from 2005-2016 on Nissan Murano problems such as fuel economy, crash test scores, etc., you can get an idea of what year is best for your needs.

Problems With 2005 Nissan Murano

Nissan Murano problems
Nissan Murano 2005 | Flickr

The 2005 Nissan Murano is a midsize crossover SUV. It has been redesigned for the 2018 model year, and it now comes with more power than ever before. The Murano offers seating for up to five passengers, as well as plenty of cargo space.

Common problems with the 2005 Nissan Murano include: 

-Excessive oil consumption (due to faulty piston rings).

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-Intermittent power steering (caused by a defective valve cover gasket).

-Faulty airbag sensors and seat belt pretensioners (due to an electrical short circuit).

Moreover, the 2005 Nissan Murano tends to overheat, which can lead to major engine issues. The cabin of the car is not well insulated and it’s difficult for drivers to tell if they’re overheating. There are also complaints about the brakes and steering system.

2006 Nissan Murano Issues

The 2006 Nissan Murano is a mid-sized crossover SUV that seats up to seven passengers. It has four doors and five seatbelts in the second row of seating.

The Murano’s engine is a 3.5 liter V6, which generates 260 horsepower with 270 ft/lbs of torque. This vehicle was built for drivers who need plenty of cargo space as well as passenger room.

Nissan Murano problems
Nissan Murano SL 2006 | Flickr

The 2006 Nissan Murano has a high repair cost. There are many complaints about the electrical system, including lights and power windows. It is not rated well for safety by the NHTSA. The 2006 Nissan Murano has been recalled for issues with airbags, fuel lines, and seatbelts. Also, there are reports of the engine leaking oil and smoking excessively. Some owners have reported problems with the timing belt, which can lead to costly repairs or even total engine failure.

2007 Nissan Murano Issues

The 2007 Nissan Murano is a mid-size SUV. It has four doors and seats five people. It comes with two engine options: a 2.5 liter I4 or 3.5 liter V6. The Murano has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 18/25 mpg city/highway.

2007 Nissan Murano problems include transmission and engine issues. The car’s brakes can also have issues, including premature wear or failure to stop the vehicle in an emergency braking situation.

Other common complaints are that the power steering is too sensitive or not enough, as well as a lack of response from the ABS when it kicks in.

Problems With 2009 Nissan Murano

The 2009 Nissan Murano has seating for five people and the passenger compartment is large enough to accommodate three child safety seats in the backseat. 

The Murano comes with either front or all-wheel drive, depending on which model you choose. Two engine choices are available: a 3.5 liter V6 that produces 260 horsepower or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that generates 170 horsepower.

Nissan Murano problems
2009 Nissan Murano Automatic 3.5 Rear | wikimedia

The 2009 Nissan Murano has a design flaw that makes it more likely to roll over in an accident. There is a recall for the airbags on some models of the car.

Some drivers have reported transmission problems with their cars, which can lead to expensive repairs. The tires are prone to wearing out quickly and require frequent replacement.

2010 Nissan Murano Issues

The 2010 Nissan Murano is available in two trim levels: S and LE. This vehicle has a front-wheel-drive with an automatic transmission. The Murano seats up to five people and can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The 2010 Nissan Murano has been recalled for a problem with the transmission. The recall was issued in September of 2017 and affects about 8,000 vehicles.

Nissan Murano problems
Nissan Murano LE 2010 | Flickr

The Murano’s engine is underpowered and noisy. There are reports of the vehicle shaking when driving on rough roads or over bumps. It tends to pull to one side when braking. Some drivers report that their brakes squeak, grind, or vibrate excessively.

Problems With 2011 Nissan Murano

The 2011 Nissan Murano is a mid-size crossover SUV that seats up to five people. It has a 3.5 L V6 engine and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive system available for the SL trim level.

The 2011 Nissan Murano is known for having high brake problems. Drivers should press all the way down on their brakes to stop or slow down, which can be a problem due to feeling the sponge and not giving up when you press it hard. This problem usually means that your ABS sensor module needs repairs that cost about $ 2,000.

2012 Nissan Murano Issues

The 2012 Nissan Murano is a midsize crossover SUV. It has four-wheel drive and front-wheel drive options. The engine can be either a 2.5 L I4 or 3.5L V6. It seats up to seven people, with the second row being the captain’s chairs.

Nissan Murano problems
NISSAN MURANO Z51 2012 | WIKIMEDIA

The 2012 Nissan Murano suffers from two major problems. Drive problems are characterized by a non-overdrive transfer, at a speed of more than 60 miles per hour. This leads to an unusually high RPM and can impede the speed of the car if it continues for a long time.

 Airbag issues plague this vehicle as well: they have been known to deploy without warning during minor collisions or even when parked on a steep driveway\; such deployment has resulted in one death so far (and nine injuries) due to airbags deploying suddenly before crashing into objects like trees or poles that could cause further injury had there been no airbags deployed first.

Problems With 2013 Nissan Murano

The 2013 Nissan Murano is a mid-size crossover SUV with seating for up to five passengers. It has four trim levels, the S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The Murano’s engine choices are a 2.5L 4 cylinder or 3.5L V6 engine.

Nissan Murano problems
Nissan Murano LE 2013 | wikimedia

The 2013 Nissan Murano has a lot of problems that need to be addressed. There are many complaints about the transmission, which is known to have issues with shifting and jerking.

Some people complain of engine knocking when they accelerate quickly or drive uphill. The front suspension is also an issue for some drivers, as it can make a clunking noise while turning corners.

2014 Nissan Murano Issues

The 2014 Nissan Murano is a crossover SUV with seating for up to seven passengers. It has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft of torque. The Murano comes in three trim levels: S, SV, and SL.

The Nissan Murano’s steering system was significantly less reliable in the 2014 model than it had been previously, with a vast amount of complaints lodged against its power steering.

2014 Nissan Murano | Wikimedia

 A common complaint is that there would be periodic popping and clicking noises coming from the wheel while turning to either side when standing still or at low speeds on soft surfaces such as parking lots. 

The power assist could also simply cut out without warning; this requires not only replacing an entire section of wiring but sometimes even engine components like spark plugs due to damage incurred by insufficient lubrication after hours spent waiting for repairs!

Problems With 2015 Nissan Murano

The 2015 Murano has a history of mechanical problems that have been reported to the NHTSA. Customers are complaining about issues with engine systems, drivetrains, and seatbelts in this new model year.

The engine system experienced slow acceleration, lack of vehicle speed control, and engine cooling problems.

Some users have reported that while driving they have noticed that their cruise control is malfunctioning and causes a sudden drop – this can be dangerous for drivers traveling on highways or other busy roads!

The ABS headlamp is known to come when you are still moving – some people say it makes the car stop or shut down completely.

Airbags are designed to protect passengers in a car, but the airbag may not work properly if sensors aren’t working. This could be deadly for your passenger! Airbag replacements can cost up to $700 and even more depending on where it needs replacement. So make sure everything is operating correctly before you take off when driving next time around.

2016 Nissan Murano Issues

The 2016 Nissan Murano is a midsize crossover SUV that seats up to seven passengers. It features an advanced all-wheel-drive system, 3rd-row seating, and a powerful V6 engine. This vehicle has been named one of the best SUVs for families by the U.S News & World Report. The Murano comes in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum.

Nissan Murano problems
Nissan Murano 3.5 Advance AWD 2016 | Flickr

The 2016  Murano has a lot of problems with the engine, transmission, and suspension. There are also many reports that the car’s airbags have failed to deploy in accidents. The Murano is not very fuel-efficient either. All these issues combined make it an unreliable vehicle.

This year, the company fixed a problem with a drivetrain that could cause an accident. However, they’ve also had to deal with another issue: emergency braking systems becoming unintentionally turned off while driving and only remedied when you stop your vehicle and turn it off before restarting again.

 Although this is less dangerous than previous years’ car problems has been reported as being caused by the unintentional turning of the system on or off – which can be common for drivers who have all their other settings adjusted correctly but might forget about changing one more thing – it’s still important to keep in mind these dangers so you can work towards fixing them if need be.

In the past decade, Nissan has made a huge effort to improve its quality. They’ve been doing pretty well too! The number of problems with Murano has declined over time and most recently they were rated as one of the top brands for reliability in 2018 according to JDPower.

Is Nissan Murano Reliable?

The 2009 model was rated the worst because of a high repair cost and more problems at lower mileage. This is despite an increase in user confidence from 2010 to 2017, with fewer issues reported since then.

It may be due to Nissan’s increased quality control efforts or that these vehicles are aging out faster than newer models as time goes on; however, this remains unclear for now until further research can analyze how age affects vehicle reliability over long periods!

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Max Anthony

Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.