Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Nissan Murano owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The driver's seat in my 2003 Nissan Murano suddenly, without warning broke away from the anchor point on the left side. I heard a loud snap or crack and the seat sagged perceptively down and to the left. Fortunately I was traveling in a straight line at a moderate speed. I believe that if I had been negotiating a sharp turn with any more speed I would have been in significant jeopardy. I believe this defect in the seat attachment represents a significant hazard to the public and should be corrected by Nissan. When I took the car to the dealer I was informed that the cost to repair the seat was $700.00. While this May not seem like a lot of money to pay in order to keep your car safe it surely May prevent some people from having the repairs done and as a result keep unsafe cars on the road. …
I heard a loud "pop" pulling into my driveway and the seat began to rock. After exiting the vehicle, I look under the seat to try to ascertain where the sound I heard originated. It was dark outside, so seeing nothing amiss it wasn't until the next morning that discovered that the seat was rocking and bouncing 4-6 inches under weight. I discovered that there is a broken weld under the seat. From its appearance, seems that shouldn't be hard to fix... (sighs) if only that were true. I purchased Nissan for the reputation it once had, I was very disappointed to find numerous complaints about this same issue and no move by Nissan corp to recall or reinforce these shoddy welds. I am currently riding with this seat partially supported by rock because the dealership is quoting a $4000 to replace the entire chair. Even tried a salvage yard, to no avail. …
My 2003 Murano drivers seat was repaired in 2005 for the rocking symptom I paid $660.00. Four years later, the bracket on the seat frame broke again, and this time the dealer charged $1100 to repair it. When I asked them whether it was the same parts that failed, they said no. Turns out that was not true. In 2005, the dealership followed the TSB for the seat repair which involved replacing two parts - 87458-ar06a (lifter link assembly) and 87454-ca61a (lift motor). Now, those two parts have been combined into one part number - 87450-ca68a. Actually, the most recent part is 87450-ca68b (I guess b suggests a revision). In either case, the dealer argued that since its a different part number, its a different part. Its actually the same thing. …
I was driving my 2003 Nissan Murano on the highway in normal traffic and I heard a pop and my driver seat dropped slightly to the right. Once I stopped the vehicle I looked under the seat to investigate, I didn't see anything loose or broken off. I then tried to move the seat and the seat easily moves off of the floor and up to the left side of the vehicle. I immediately felt that this was a safety issue in driving the car. I was thankful that the seat did not move dramatically while I was driving as I am sure this would have caused an accident. The failure occurred the one time but the seat now continually moves if making a fast stop. We have taken the vehicle to the dealership for repair and at this point we have been told the cost will not be covered by warranty or recall and will be at least $1000. The dealer explained the problem as a cracked seat frame. …
2003 Nissan Murano. Driver's seat squeaked from time to time since 2005. It has been seen at a dealership on several occasions, but always referred as normal wear and tear. Some added lubrication to stop it from making noise and it stopped for a time. In August of 2009 I moved to virginia from florida. The roads in va have far more curves and hills than those in fl. Today the seat back fell backwards as I was driving. I pulled over and noticed that the lower support bracket, just above the seat track, for the seat had split in half. I called my local dealer and was told I had to make an appointment to look it over. Online I was quickly able to find many websites speaking of similar incidents and some had the exact outcome as that of my seat. I also noted NHTSA action number pe08065. I was extremely disappointed in my car, which upto this point I had full confidence in. …
My driver's seat of my 2003 Nissan Murano started leaning. I took it into the dealership and they said the seat adjuster was broken. They would not return the car to me without completing the repair, sitting safety issues. Nissan refuses to pay for the repair, so the car was held hostage until I paid for the repair. Nissanusa says the dealership was correct in not returning the car without completing the repair, but they do not consider the repair covered under the extended warranty as a covered component, nor a manufacturers defect. While the car has 77K miles, they are primarily highway miles driven by me. I can count on my two hands the number of times the seat has been adjusted. The dealership said a piece of metal in the seat adjuster broke and it would soon puncture the seat and possibly cause the seat to malfunction. Doesn't this sound like metal fatigue?
I was parked at work and was getting out of my car when there was a loud pop noise. At that time the drivers seat dropped on the back left corner. My friend was parking beside and asked what the noise was. When you sat in the seat it dropped backwards to the left. I called and made a appointment with lake Nissan-leesburg florida. Driving this vehicle was very scary because everytime you hit a bump it through you backwards. I felt it was a safety issue. They said the whole rack assembly had to be replaced $689.95 and of course I had no warranty left (2003 model) they didn't think it was a safety issue. I had contacted other Nissan dealers and they thought it was a issue and that this same thing had happened before to other muranos. If I had of been driving this vehicle I know that I would have wrecked or caused someone else to wreck. Luckily I was parked.
My wife was driving and all of the sudden her seat (drivers seat) dropped (towards the drivers door) about causing her to lose control of the vehicle. After inspecting the seat, with no weight on it, attempting to raise the seat it would only raise on the side towards the middle of the car. This is a very dangerous situation for someone who raises the seat in order to see over the hood. We purchased this vehicle because she felt safe, because she could raise the seat to see over the hood and sit higher than other traffic. Looking through this list, if you have it sort for "seats" it pulled up 82 complaints. Most of which were broken frames that they (Nissan) had to redesign. I don't know why I would need to pay the estimated $800 plus dollars to have the chair frame replaced if Nissan redesigned it because they knew it was defective.
I own a 2003 Murano and the driver seat just broke one day. Now when I drive, I am thrown against the door. Any bump in the road relocates my driving foot due to a rocking motion.the dealership said it was the track assembly and could fix it. (part alone is $641) called Nissan headquarters and was given the excuse it was out of warranty and no recalls have been listed. I believe this a design flaw that Nissan won't live up to. The internet is full of complaints about this same exact problem. I have never had a driver's seat break in all my years of driving and owning cars. The mileage of my car should not matter. (I have a1936 truck and the seat has never broken. ) any type of movement is dangerous. Please help me and other owners by making Nissan face-up to this design flaw and have a recall on this particular issue.
Driver seat on 2003 Nissan Murano has breaking seat frame. Seat tilts toward driver door on turns making it extremely hard to control the vehicle. Nissan refuses to acknowledge there is a safety or manufacturing problem when contacted. Have found over a thousand reports of same condition on 2003-2006 models. This condition almost created a head-on collision while I was at the wheel. Dealership cannot repair without Nissan approval and as I stated Nissan refuses to acknowledge there is a problem. It is either a design problem or a quality control issue for the manufacturer Nissan. If this is not a legitimate safety issue then I guess I don't know what one really looks like. It appears that Nissan is holding out until there are some fatality accidents before acting .. Seems like then it will be too late.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Seat complaints in other Murano years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2003 Nissan Murano?
NHTSA has 111 complaints about the seats of the 2003 Nissan Murano, 14% of the model year's 800 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › power adjust (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Nissan Murano seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2003 Nissan Murano, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Nissan Murano seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 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.