Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 24% | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 20% | 4,000 miles |
| 2020 | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2018 | 5 | 4% | 52,000 miles |
| 2017 | 14 | 13% | 13,000 miles |
| 2016 | 15 | 14% | 62,000 miles |
| 2015 | 53 | 26% | 39,000 miles |
| 2014 | 31 | 21% | 96,000 miles |
| 2013 | 13 | 18% | 88,000 miles |
| 2012 | 30 | 22% | 75,000 miles |
| 2011 | 37 | 25% | 90,000 miles |
| 2010 | 40 | 21% | 88,000 miles |
| 2009 | 69 | 11% | 83,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 60% | 65,000 miles |
| 2007 | 63 | 9% | 84,000 miles |
| 2006 | 43 | 5% | 94,000 miles |
| 2005 | 56 | 6% | 80,000 miles |
| 2004 | 143 | 21% | 87,000 miles |
| 2003 | 265 | 33% | 86,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
[redacted] at 1378 miles received a malfunction warning light for lane departure. [redacted] at 1875 miles pulling out from my home to Railroad Street the engine started sounding really loud like a motorcycle engine and started to decelerate which could have caused an accident. Video was taken, vehicle was taken to Matt Bowers Nissan 7/11/25 and states issue could not be duplicated and that the engine noise is normal. Engine sounds really loud each time the vehicle is started and again was told by Service Technician Foreman Ken that he has seen similar vehicles with the same problem, and this is normal and preceded to tell me about other noises that I will here that is also normal. Here a sound like valves is tapping. New vehicle should be quiet, and this one is very noisy.
Sluggish engine, delayed engine engagement, delayed throttle response. Engine noise under acceleration. My safety is being put at risk when pulling out into oncoming traffic on the highway, engine is not shifting, vehicle not moving as fast as it should. Technical Expert sent out by Arbitrator with the BBB Autoline who confirmed multiple issues with the engine. Vehicle has been to Nissan dealerships, but one dealership said it was a normal characteristic of the vehicle and other states unable to duplicate. Going up railroad track vehicle shifts really hard coming down. Keep receiving warning light for sensor malfunction, also had issue with pumping fuel, driver's front door bolt coming out, video to prove and paperwork from dealership.
While parallel parking, we backed into the space and when we put the car into Drive, it lurched forward at an incredible speed. We hit and pushed the car parked in front of us, hopped up onto the sidewalk, knocked down a street light, and moved a huge concrete planter. The airbags over the windshield and under the dashboard deployed. The bags under the dash exploded with such force that they injured my husband's legs, and he has been seeing a wound doctor for the past five weeks. The car was towed to a repair shop. I reported the incident to Nissan NA; they sent a representative to retrieve information from the EDR. Nissan has advised that no mechanical problems were recorded but we are absolutely certain the car malfunctioned. We think it might have been a problem with the CVT.
It has happened twice since we purchased our Murano 8 months ago. When pulling onto a divided highway you have to slow down then you accelerate to get into the lane....the transmission hesitates around 2 or 3 seconds then grabs the gear and you take off. This is very worrysome for us, both being retired and it could cause an accident.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started shuddering. The contact had changed the air filter however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the continuously variable transmission had failed and the CVT needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact became aware of a recall campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 51,812.
No warning lights,no issues that car was having any problems 4/20/25, next day I backed out driveway, put into drive, transmission would not engage drive? Managed to roll and park it. Then steering wheel lost power, bunch of warnings appeared, car shut down? Turned on today, 4/22/25 but no power steering? And no drive engagement. Called nissan tunersville, also received LETTER LAST WEEK ABOUT CTV, but cant find letter yet? Saw tons of same issue on line? Dealer said not recall? Yet all over internet coverage problems? I havnt had it towed yet for mechanic to check out.
The contact's mother owns a 2017 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after a few hours, the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure could not be duplicated; however, the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the catalytic converter was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
I bought the car used from a used dealership on February 28. On May 12th, I brought it to the shop for a few things but mainly due to the battery being corroded along with a battery light that comes and goes, but also for there being a slight skip in the transmission. The car would buckle when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. The shop called me back on May 23rd and said the car was ready and they found nothing wrong with the transmission. They claimed they found no codes or could not recreate the issue. I brought the car back a week or two later due to the battery light still flashing randomly. While taking the car for a test drive with the mechanic, it buckled pretty hard and I told the mechanic that's what I had been talking about and he just brushed it off. On July 23, while driving home, my car bucked REALLY hard 5 times and then stopped accelerating past 20 miles per hour. …
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Murano years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (265), 2004 (143), 2009 (69), 2007 (63) and 2005 (56) model years. Transmission complaints make up 33% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Nissan Murano transmission problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 03V-123 (gear position indication (prndl), Mar 31, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Murano transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles; 18% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (249 mentions), followed by the transfer case (4-wheel drive) (26).
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.