Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Nissan Murano owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
this is the second transmission i have put in this.. these cvt's are complete garbage and nissan is aware of it. Stand behind your product for once and replace this transmission on your dime. Will drive perfect sometimes and then randomly 3k-5k rpms and wont shift. sometimes i can shut it off and restart it and it will work fine again. sometimes it wont and i have to drive around with excessively high rpms. Also what is this annoying air suction noise i hear under throttle, sounds like an intake or blow off valve. there are zero vaccum leaks,
We first started having issues with the ignition coils and spark plug going bad, causing our car to stop and shake. Had them replaced and a month later the car started making an ungodly rattle noise. Almost like a loud fan type noise. It gets louder the more you drive it. The several different shops that looked at it. All said the same thing, the lifters needed to be replaced and fast. And said unfortunately it was just a matter of time. Before my axle and navigation system went out mid drive. And I should contact you because this was Nissan issue to fix. And that we need to get rid of this death trap. Before it killed me and our family.
Nissan has replaced three transmissions in our car and now the fourth one needs to be replaced they are telling us to bad and they're not responsible we travel down the highway and the car racks out we have to pull it over wait for a bit and restart it then it will run Nissan told us that this transmission was new and it's doing exactly what the other transmissions were doing Nissan says they only warranty this transmission for 12000 miles this has about 25000 on it this is so dangerous we would appreciate any help with this I've been told a lot of other people are having the same issues thank you
Codes p1778 (sep motor function) and p00845 (transmission fluid pressure) for the CVT transmission. In researching these, I found many complaint trails concerning these transmissions and various related codes. Nissan's answer is always to replace the transmission at high costs to owner. Mine continues to run but in a kind of crippled mode called "safe mode" that is an attempt to reduce major transmission damages. Codes occurred during driving on side streets under 45 MPH. Vehicle can no longer be used at highway speeds as the "safe mode" limits RPM and speed.
My CVT transmission slips when I first start to drive (cannot go over 20 miles an hour.) after warming up it starts to respond. When driving on expressway you can feel the transmission slip and the car lags/lunges. Nissan repair cannot get an "error code" from their machine when testing but acknowledges the problem. They refuse to service the car until it codes. Nissan consumer affairs acknowledges the problem and will not provide assistance.
Immediately after I had the cat fluid flushed/replaced at my local Nissan dealer, there would be a smell of burning liquid from underneath the car. Usually the smell is stronger when coming to a stop from moving
Transmition will not shift gears. According to Nissan dealer vehicle needs transimition replaced. Nissan corp. Will not admit problem. They claim it is my responsibility to replace transmition at my expense.
*** driver seat bolt broken and unstable *** temperature gauge needle moves up toward "overheat" when cruising at 50mph *** transmission stalled and had to be replaced after 60K miles {odometer reading]
A few days before aug 31st the Murano started slipping gears. It was taken to a dealership on aug 31st where the error code, stepper code, came up which is part of the CVT, the transmission. They replaced the transmission, under extended warranty and this did not fix the problem. They replaced the valve body again, the control module, and the wire harness, none of which has fixed the problem. We are 10 weeks in the shop and they cannot find the problem. A Nissan engineer is now coming out to look at it wanting to replace the valve body for the third time. They have replaced this now going on three times with new parts and it is not fixing the problem. This car is not a safe car to drive anymore. The dealership told me last week that we would have resolution, whether this was a buyback or whatever by last Friday. …
2006 Nissan Murano, after driving 85 miles continuously on the interstate, when I slowed to merge to another interstate lost all power while trying to accelerate. I was stopped with no emergency lane in a construction area and was lucky to have avoided the others merging and traveling by at 70 m.p.h.! It eventually gave me some power which I used to exit the interstate and called the local Nissan dealer in des moines. I was able to "limp" the car the 20 minute drive on back roads in des moines where within an hour, the dealer told me I would need a new transmission. After Nissan extends the warranty on this transmission and I have a failed one, it strikes me that a repair/recall should be done on these before an incident like mine occurs. I had three children in the car, with other cars racing by me at high speeds, and I was very fortunate to not have been rear ended. …
Transmission complaints in other Murano years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Nissan Murano?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Nissan Murano, 5% of the model year's 803 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Nissan Murano transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Nissan Murano, though it has 4 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 2006 Nissan Murano transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.