Nissan Murano: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Murano problems by model year, from 1,247 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2015 (43%, 71 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (40%, 44 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (34%, 46 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 10 Nissan Murano years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2019 (3%), 2020 (12%) and 2017 (21%). 2019 and 2020 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (71 of 318 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Murano year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Murano | no elevated signal | 25% | 44 | 193 | 7/10 | 0 |
| 2011 Murano | elevated | 34% | 46 | 148 | 3/10 | 0 |
| 2012 Murano | high | 40% | 44 | 135 | 2/10 | 1 |
| 2013 Murano | no elevated signal | 30% | 19 | 74 | 5/10 | 1 |
| 2014 Murano | no elevated signal | 31% | 41 | 145 | 4/10 | 1 |
| 2015 Murano | high | 43% | 71 | 204 | 1/10 | 5 |
| 2016 Murano | no elevated signal | 29% | 27 | 107 | 6/10 | 5 |
| 2017 Murano | no elevated signal | 21% | 20 | 107 | 8/10 | 3 |
| 2018 Murano | too few to score | – | 3 | 15 | – | 2 |
| 2019 Murano | no elevated signal | 3% | 1 | 43 | 10/10 | 1 |
| 2020 Murano | no elevated signal | 12% | 5 | 46 | 9/10 | 2 |
| 2021 Murano | too few to score | – | 1 | 16 | – | 0 |
| 2022 Murano | too few to score | – | 0 | 6 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Murano | too few to score | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Murano years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Murano recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns across the Nissan Murano years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2012 | 12V068000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2012 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V364000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V193000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V244000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2015–2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V636000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2015–2017 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V184000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2013–2014 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V601000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2015–2017 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V807000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2015–2017 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V170000 | steering: linkages | 2020 |
| May 2021 | 21V402000 | suspension: rear: axle: spindle | 2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Murano
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Murano
What are the worst years for the Nissan Murano?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Murano years are the 2015 (43% of relevant complaints, high), the 2012 (40% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2011 (34% of relevant complaints, elevated). 3 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Murano?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Murano years are the 2019 (3%), the 2020 (12%) and the 2017 (21%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Murano have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 318 of 1,080 relevant NHTSA complaints (29%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Is the Nissan Murano reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 10 Nissan Murano years we score have an elevated complaint share and 7 do not. Pooled across those years, 29% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Murano?
No. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns across the Nissan Murano years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.