Most common 2003 Nissan Murano problems
Share of the 800 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Murano complaints by model year
Best Murano years: 2022, 2023, 2021. Years to avoid: 2015, 2025, 2005, 2003, 2006. Compare all years →
2003 Nissan Murano recalls (6)
Engine and engine cooling
Nissan is recalling 362,891 my 2003-2007 murano vehicles. The intake air ducts, which are connected to the intermediate resonator in the air intake system of the engine, May separate from the resonator with engine movement.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace/repair the appropriate components free of charge. The recall began on September 24, 2009. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Seat belts › Rear/other
On some sport utility vehicles, in certain high speed frontal crashes, the webbing of a rear outboard seat belt May contact the rear seat back hinge where it can be cut by the sharp edge of the metal portion of the hinge.
Remedy: Dealers will install protectors over the webbing of the rear seat belts. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
On certain sport utility vehicles, due to the location of the forward edge of the fuel tank, in the event that a vehicle front tire runs over a small, sharp object in the road, catches it and propels it towards the rear of the vehicle, it May strike and puncture the fuel tank.
Remedy: Dealers will install protectors in front of the tank free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
On certain sport utility vehicles, there is a possibility that a wire breaking inside the alternator could stop the battery from charging.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the alternator with a new version which has been modified to prevent movement of the coil. The recall began on August 1, 2005. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor May have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s).
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
On certain sport utility vehicles, the nut that attaches the transmission gear selector shaft to the control valve lever in the transmission May not be adequately tightened. This could result in the transmission not actually being in the gear indicated by the gear selector lever.
Remedy: Dealers will check the affected nut in the transmission shift lever linkage, and tighten it if necessary. Owner notification began April 15, 2003.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2003 Nissan Murano:
Driver seat anchor failure
This investigation concerns structural failure of the anchor/bracket on the left rear side of the driver's seat.the concern is that such failures May alter the driver's seated position so as to reduce effectiveness of the occupant protection system or potentially compromise vehicle control.failure of the subject anchor bracket results from metal fatigue and causes rearward tilting of the driver's seat.these failures…
Fuel tank punctures from road debris
Odi opened a preliminary evaluation based on four vehicle owner questionnaires (voq's) indicating that the fuel tanks werepunctured by road debris under normal, non off-road driving conditions.as of November 30, 2005, the complaint total increased to 12.Nissan supplied odi with 31 complaints of fuel tank punctures, including 26 not previously known to odi from the voq records.
Alternator failure/ engine stalling
Odi opened pe04-077 based on 14 reports of alleged engine stalling due to alternator failure.all of the complaints reported that the vehicle could not be restarted after the stall occurred.during pe04-077, additional failure data was identified as noted in the failure report summary above .
Alternator failure / engine stalling
Odi received 14 reports of alleged engine stalling due to alternator failure on my 2003-2004 murano (subject) vehicles.all of the complaints reported that the vehicle could not be restarted after the stall occurred.based on these complaints, odi opened pe04-077 and later upgraded to ea05-006 for the subject vehicles.during ea05-006, additional failure data were identified as noted in the failure report summary…
What 2003 Nissan Murano owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 265 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Nissan Murano. While driving various low speeds, the contact's vehicle independently accelerated in reverse and crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact shifted into park to avoid a potential crash, but the vehicle failed to stop. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent and first occurred two years ago. An independent mechanic was notified, but the failure could not be duplicated. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000. Consumer stated failure happened several times. Updated 12/11/18
The problem with my Nissan Murano like so many others is the transmission. I took it to the dealer and I wasted $125 dollars. I also contacted Nissan cooperate and they have not did anything. Nissan knows this is a manufactory problem and they will not acknowledge the problem. I am so frustrated with this problem I seen that they extended the warranty but I am 20,000 miles over it I need help
Electrical system all 187 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Nissan Murano. While reversing, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle on the first attempt after assistance from an eyewitness with jumper cables; however, the vehicle failed again. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator failed due to a burned wire. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V319000 (electrical system). In addition, the contact stated that the fuel sensor indicator illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who stated that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced due to the location of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 06V003000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). …
The car stops in traffic with no warning. It stalls in traffic there is a recall for this but my VIN is not included this is so dangerous and Nissan doesn't care. They have a recall for my year and model for the same thing my car is doing but because my VIN # is not on there they won't fix it so I guess someone has to die before something is done. So many people have the same situation as I do. It is disgusting that you pay all this money for a reliable car and they n know there is an extremely dangerous situation and they don't care. The electrical system is bad engine light going on all the time alarm going off all the time. Engine burnes oil very quickly. All these things are wrong with this year car it is just a lemon that u have to keep pouring money into ands it dangerous on top of it.
Engine & cooling all 137 →
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was shifted into PARK and restarted however, after driving for several miles, the failure recurred. The contact pulled over to side of the roadway and waited for several minutes before restarting the vehicle and slowly drove to the residence. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.
While driving down the highway with my infant child the vehicle lost power I could not accelerate went from 75mph to a struggling 5mph. No matter how far I pressed the gas pedal there was no acceleration no revving of engine just complete nothing just pure panic. I was able to pull off to the side of the freeway in a not so safe place however I had no choice. I out hazard lights on and turned off the car. After waiting approx 5 min. I attempted to start car to no avail. The battery light as well as abs light stayed on. I again waited for another 5 -10 min and tried again nothing but same warning lights. I eventually had to wait for approx 45-_60 min when it finally started however I was only allowed to go no fastethan 5 mph. I was able to exit freeway where I parked car for several hours and walked home. Upon retrieving vehicle it still had same results. I drove home @ 5mph. …
2003 Nissan Murano engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | CVT | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Nissan Murano a good car?
Based on 800 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Murano rates avoid: 5.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Murano at the same age. It is one of the Murano years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Nissan Murano?
The transmission & drivetrain — 265 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (187) and engine & cooling (137).
How many recalls does the 2003 Nissan Murano have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2003 Nissan Murano, the most recent from May 19, 2009 (engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Murano?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2023 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2025, 2005, 2003 and 2006. See the full Nissan Murano years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Nissan Murano problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.