Nissan Murano 2003–2007 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (Z50) · Nissan FF-L / Z50
NHTSA data through 18 October 20263,944 complaints, 3,329 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2003 Nissan Murano
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 800
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2003
- Transmission and driveline265 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Electrical system187 reports · median 35,000 mi
- Seats111 reports · median 71,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Seat belts — rear/other · Fuel system, gasoline — storage
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2004 Nissan Murano
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 678
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2004
- Transmission and driveline143 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Visibility equipment124 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Electrical system110 reports · median 40,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Seat belts — rear/other · Fuel system, gasoline — storage
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2005 Nissan Murano
Close- Median failure report
- 66,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 987
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2005
- Seats456 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Visibility equipment124 reports · median 59,000 mi
- Latches and locks118 reports · median 69,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Steering — column locking · Fuel system, gasoline — storage
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2006 Nissan Murano
Close- Median failure report
- 66,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 803
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2006
- Seats402 reports · median 68,000 mi
- Visibility equipment150 reports · median 50,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline43 reports · median 93,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Steering — column locking · Seat belts — rear/other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2007 Nissan Murano
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 676
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2007
- Seats221 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Suspension94 reports · median 142,000 mi
- Body structure69 reports · median 128,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system — software
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2007; earliest: the 2006, and the 2006 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 2003–2007 Nissan Murano reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 70,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 135,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 3,329
- Recalls
- 9
Most reported
- Seats32.6% of complaints · median 69,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline14.5% of complaints · median 86,000 mi
- Visibility equipment12.3% of complaints · median 55,000 mi
Owners filed 3,944 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003–2007 Nissan Murano; seats leads with 32.6% of them, and half of the 3,329 that record an odometer reading came by 70,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 47,000 to 100,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2003–2007 Nissan Murano last?
On the 2003–2007 Nissan Murano, half of the 3,329 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 70,000 miles and 90% by 135,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
221 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 30 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Murano reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Nissan Murano 2003–2007 · 3,329 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
5,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 211 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 30 complaints (0.9%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 27,000
- 25%
- 47,000
- Median
- 70,000
- 75%
- 100,000
- 90%
- 135,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 99 | 3.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 55 | 1.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 61 | 1.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 45 | 1.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 52 | 1.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 55 | 1.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 82 | 2.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 129 | 3.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 167 | 5.0% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 148 | 4.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 199 | 6.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 143 | 4.3% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 211 | 6.3% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 195 | 5.9% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 163 | 4.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 155 | 4.7% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 173 | 5.2% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 120 | 3.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 119 | 3.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 109 | 3.3% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 121 | 3.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 74 | 2.2% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 77 | 2.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 57 | 1.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 87 | 2.6% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 31 | 0.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 58 | 1.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 45 | 1.4% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 42 | 1.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 36 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 41 | 1.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 22 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 26 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 25 | 0.8% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 22 | 0.7% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 17 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 13 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 9 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 11 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 30 | 0.9% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Murano problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Nissan Murano 2003–2007
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Visibility equipment487 reportsmedian 55,000middle half 41,000–74,000
- Electrical system479 reportsmedian 55,000middle half 22,000–104,000
- Engine and its cooling system181 reportsmedian 65,000middle half 39,000–87,000
- Latches and locks204 reportsmedian 67,000middle half 50,000–80,000
- Seats1,284 reportsmedian 69,000middle half 51,000–94,000
- Transmission and driveline570 reportsmedian 86,000middle half 65,000–110,000
- Engine203 reportsmedian 117,000middle half 87,000–153,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 1,284 | 32.6% | 69,000 | 51,000–94,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 570 | 14.5% | 86,000 | 65,000–110,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 487 | 12.3% | 55,000 | 41,000–74,000 |
| Electrical system | 479 | 12.1% | 55,000 | 22,000–104,000 |
| Latches and locks | 204 | 5.2% | 67,000 | 50,000–80,000 |
| Engine | 203 | 5.1% | 117,000 | 87,000–153,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 181 | 4.6% | 65,000 | 39,000–87,000 |
| Body structure | 175 | 4.4% | 95,000 | 60,000–138,000 |
| Suspension | 172 | 4.4% | 124,000 | 84,000–152,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 148 | 3.8% | 105,000 | 52,000–135,000 |
Known problems with the 2003–2007 Murano
Transmission — Xtronic CVT 2003–2007
Early-generation JATCO CVT failures: judder, delayed or absent engagement, loss of drive. Nissan extended the CVT warranty to 10 years / 120,000 miles on 2003-2010 CVT-equipped vehicles following a class action, which is the clearest public acknowledgment of the defect scope.
Before you buy a 2003–2007 Murano: the 3-minute check
Generated from 3,329 mileage-tagged complaints, 9 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 9 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check transmission — xtronic CVT on 2003–2007 cars. What it looks like: Known problems.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Murano problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi37% below | At 90k mi68% below | At 120k mi84% below | At 150k mi93% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 51,000–94,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 65,000–110,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 41,000–74,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 22,000–104,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Latches and locks | 50,000–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 87,000–153,000 | later | in window | in window | in window | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 39,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Nissan Murano 2003–2007 · 3,329 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 37% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 68% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2003–2007 Nissan Murano recalls (9)
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the engine and its cooling system (2), the electrical system (2), the fuel system (2) (why one area can repeat).
May 2009 · 2003–2007 · Engine and Engine CoolingEngine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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. This separation occurs due to the…
What can happen. Engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Oct 2008 · 2007 · Electrical SystemThis could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection…
The defect. Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 altima, altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 Murano, and Infiniti my 2007-2008 G35 sedan, my 2008 G37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems'…
What can happen. This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will test the signal between the ocs and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (containing ocs hardware) will be…
Oct 2006 · 2005–2006 · SteeringIf the key is turned to the "off" position without the transmission being in the "park" position, it is…
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "Theft protection." During an inspection of some vehicles at the assembly plant, it was found that the steering wheel was locked with the…
What can happen. If the key is turned to the "off" position without the transmission being in the "park" position, it is possible that the steering wheel can lock when turned to the right.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel lock assembly free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Feb 2006 · 2005 · Fuel System, GasolineThis could result in the malfunction indicator light in the instrument panel coming on and may result in some…
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles, a fitting for vapor recirculation, which is welded on the fuel tank, may come off the fuel tank because incorrect material was used.
What can happen. This could result in the malfunction indicator light in the instrument panel coming on and may result in some fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel tank with a new one free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2006. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Feb 2006 · 2003–2006 · Seat BeltsIf the webbing is completely separated, it can increase the risk of injury to an occupant in a crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If the webbing is completely separated, it can increase the risk of injury to an occupant in a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Jan 2006 · 2003–2006 · Fuel System, GasolineA punctured tank could increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. A punctured tank could increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. 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.
Jul 2005 · 2003–2005 · Electrical SystemIf this happens, the charger warning and brake warning lamps will immediately come on and the battery will…
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles, there is a possibility that a wire breaking inside the alternator could stop the battery from charging.
What can happen. If this happens, the charger warning and brake warning lamps will immediately come on and the battery will begin to discharge. After a short time, the engine will go into a "fall safe" condition…
The free fix. 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…
Nov 2003 · 2003 · Engine and Engine CoolingThis could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. This could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are…
Mar 2003 · 2003 · Power TrainIf the gear displayed is different from the gear engaged, this could result in unexpected vehicle movement…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. If the gear displayed is different from the gear engaged, this could result in unexpected vehicle movement and a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will check the affected nut in the transmission shift lever linkage, and tighten it if necessary. Owner notification began april 15, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 3,944 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 59 (1.5%)
- Fires
- 17
- Injury reports
- 60
- Fatality reports
- 1
Murano problems by model year
The 2005 drew the most complaints of this generation, 987, most of them about seats, and the 2007 the fewest, 676. A typical year drew about 800.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 800 | 689 | 72,000 | Transmission and driveline (265) | 6 |
| 2004 | 678 | 567 | 72,000 | Transmission and driveline (143) | 4 |
| 2005 | 987 | 845 | 66,000 | Seats (456) | 6 |
| 2006 | 803 | 686 | 66,000 | Seats (402) | 4 |
| 2007 | 676 | 542 | 80,000 | Seats (221) | 2 |
What Murano owners reported
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that on several occasions, while driving or while idling, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. On one occasion, while making a left turn, the sound from the engine compartment became louder, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The…
2007 · 167,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while closing the rear liftgate door, the front driver’s and passenger’s side air bags inadvertently deployed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it remained pending a diagnostic test. The local…
2005 · 100,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and became aware that the rear subframe of the…
2007 · 156,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted on the first attempt occasionally; however, several…
2004 · 65,000 miles · Engine
Built from 3,329 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Murano generations
- Murano 2009–2014 1,012 reports with mileage, most about the brakes
- Murano 2015–2024 364 reports with mileage, most about problems owners could not categorise