The Nissan Murano, which has been plying the streets since 2002, happens to be a reliable family car.
The roomy interiors, adequate cargo space, and the affordable price tag make it one of the best crossover SUVs in the midsize category.
The rides are refined and quiet, delivering a comfortable experience to the families.
The robust V6 engine and the abundance of space make this car a top pick for automobile enthusiasts.
It’s natural to be curious about the longevity of this car, given that you are eyeing one of its models.
In this article, we have extensively discussed its lifeline, maintenance cost, common problems, and reliability.
How long does Nissan Murano last?
The Nissan Murano comes with an average lifespan of 200K miles.
This lifeline is based on the average driving habits of Americans.
If you drive around 15K miles on average each year, the car should last at least 13 years.
One of the owners states that the car is running perfectly even at 265K miles on the odometer.
Therefore, your care and upkeep largely define how long these cars would last.
Gentle handling, defensive driving, and following up the recommended maintenance schedule hold the secret for a long lifeline of your Nissan Murano.
Is the Nissan Murano a reliable car?
The Nissan Murano is a highly reliable commuter car.
Prioritizing luxury features, comfort, and safety, this car happens to be a great choice at the cost it comes at.
While RepairPal and J.D. Power rated this car 3.5 out of 5, Consumer Reports have rated it 4 out of 5.
Well, this might not be the best Japanese SUV or even the best model that Nissan has launched till date.
However, the usability, features, and practicality of the car make it an intelligent pick.
As per the standards of a compact SUV, the Nissan Murano has proven to be a reliable SUV in the compact category.
In terms of reliability, you have other cars from different brands showing better figures.
For instance, cars like the Subaru Crosstrek, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue Select, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Mitsubishi Outlander, Jeep Cherokee, and Kia Sorento.
Some cars that share the same reliability rating as the Nissan Murano include the Subaru Forester, GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Equinox, Fiat 500L, and the Jeep Wrangler.
A statistic reveals that the chances of your Nissan Murano requiring unscheduled repairs a year is 0.51%.
The chances of the car encountering severe problems are 14%.
Around 4.17% of the Nissan Murano cars reach the milestone of 150K miles, while 10.17% make into the range between 100K and 149K miles.
Considering the standards of reliable SUVs, these figures look quite impressive.
Are used Nissan Murano reliable?
A used Nissan Murano is capable of delivering a great driving experience even beyond the 100K mile mark.
So, if you are planning to get one of these cars from the second-hand automobile market, you can benefit from the depreciated value.
In North America, some of the Nissan Murano models that hit the roads even before 2009 are still plying in good conditions.
The reliability of a used Nissan Murano significantly pivots on the quality of maintenance it received from the first owner.
Other factors to consider include the intervals of fluid change, maintenance, and how frequently the car traveled off roads.
Does Nissan Murano have a lot of problems?
All the generations of the Nissan Murano have problems, as the users reported over the years. So, before you buy one of the models, it’s imperative to know the common drawbacks of these cars.
1. Damage in the seat adjuster assembly
Just after Nissan launched the Murano, users complained of damage in the seat adjuster assembly.
This problem came back in some of the newer models as well.
Most cars with this technical issue found their way to the streets between 2003 and 2007.
Later, some 2009, 2010, and 2016 models also experienced similar issues.
The damage in the seat adjuster assembly leads to the emission of squeaking sounds from the seats.
2. Failing engine mounts
Several models between 2003 and 2015 had problems with the car’s engine mounts.
Due to this technical glitch, the engine can freely move around.
This results in unusual noises, abnormal vibrations, and damage to the engines.
Given that the engine wouldn’t remain secure, it would damage the other components, causing problems that would affect the performance and safety of the car.
In case you find that your Nissan Murano has some problems with failing engine mounts or loose parts, hire a mechanic to check the same.
When you know that faulty engine mounts are the culprit, you need to get them replaced.
This would prevent the car from sustaining further damage, leading to more expensive fixes.
3. Problems with the brakes
Problems related to the braking system were most common in the 2004 model.
These problems grew severe, and eventually, the 2019 model turned out to weigh heavily on the owners in terms of repairs.
Most of these issues involved malfunctioning of crucial components in the brakes like the ABS controller, brake pedal, and master cylinder.
Some owners have complained of the brake pedals going soft suddenly, sometimes reaching the floorboard.
While replacing the ABS actuator resolved this issue in some of the cars, other owners had to replace the booster, master cylinder, and brake pads.
It was in February 2019 that Nissan recalled as many as 86,265 models that it launched in 2009 to work on the defective elements in the ABS.
The brand offered a zero-cost replacement to the owners, which fixed this issue to a large extent.
Certain Nissan Murano owners also complained of ABS controller issues as well as the failure of the master cylinder.
Replacing different components of the brake helped in resolving this issue.
Factors that can impact the longevity of Nissan Murano
The longevity of your Nissan Murano largely depends on your maintenance and handling. Here’s how you can keep your Murano in good shape.
- Make sure not to overlook the recommended schedule for maintenance.
- Use quality fluids and parts during maintenance schedules and repairs.
- Carry out regular observations and check the fluid levels, topping up the same.
- Inspect the cooling system and keep the coolant topped up.
- Inspect the tire pressure of your Nissan Murano at regular intervals. Keep an eye on the engine oil every couple of weeks.
- Soft braking, controlled acceleration, and smooth drives can help you prolong the durability of the brakes.
- If you reside around the salt belts, make sure to keep your car out of the snow contact. Storing your car in a covered space or garage can work out well. To remove snow, salt, and other corrosive elements from the car, wash the Murano regularly.
- To secure the car from moisture and rust, go for rust-proofing solutions like a ceramic coating.
What is the best year for Nissan Murano?
Considering the records, it would be logical to go for any model of Nissan Munro that the brand launched from 2017 onwards.
These cars do not have the brake pedal or other issues that haunted the older models.
As per NHTSA, the number of complaints each year between 2017 and 2020 is less than 30.
Therefore, you can go for any of the recent models in case you are purchasing a used Murano.
What is the worst year for Nissan Murano?
While the 2004 model of the Nissan Murano has the maximum number of complaints, 2009 happens to be the worst model year altogether.
The users lodged as many as 118 complaints in 2009. So, it would be wise to avoid purchasing a used 2009 model.
As we discussed, the 2009 model experiences brake pedal issues.
This is a serious concern for drivers since a malfunctioning brake pedal can lead to collisions.
On average, this issue affects vehicles just over the 90K mile mark. Repairing the car can cost you more than $2000.
Among the other years to avoid, you should consider 2004, 2006, 2005, and 2007.
How Long Do the Tires Last?
At 60K miles, the lifeline of the Nissan Murano tires looks impressive.
So, if you drive around 15K miles on average each year, the tires should serve you at least 4 years.
Be careful and take guard against elements that can shorten the lifeline of your tires.
These include frequent braking, poor road conditions, adverse weather, and aggressive driving.
How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?
The average durability of the spark plugs of your Nissan Murano would be between 30K and 40K miles. After this, you need to get them replaced.
How Long Do the Batteries Last?
Typically, you can expect the battery of your Nissan Murano to last for 3 to 5 years.
However, this longevity largely depends on your driving habits, weather conditions, type of the battery, and the battery size.
How Long Do the Brakes Last?
With careful driving, you can get a long service up to 70K miles from the brake pads of your Nissan Murano.
On the other hand, aggressive driving or frequent braking can lower this lifeline to just 30K miles.
Whether or not you drive through off-roads or rough terrains also determines the durability of the brakes.
In case you navigate city roads frequently, you need to stop your car more often.
Applying hard brakes or bringing the Murano to a complete halt would shorten the life of the brakes.
How Long Do the Transmissions Last?
With the recommended maintenance, you can get 130K to 180K miles of service from the transmissions of your Nissan Murano.
How expensive is the Nissan Murano to maintain?
Owners need to shell out $507 a year on average to repair the car.
This is lesser compared to the average yearly cost to maintain compact SUVs, which is $521.
So, purchasing one of these cars wouldn’t weigh heavy on your wallet.
The average cost to insure your Nissan Murano is $2,028 annually, which brings the monthly expense to $169.
While comparing the probability of severe repairs with similar models, you would come across a number of cars. For instance, the Nissan Murano is 14% likely to encounter such issues.
The Subaru Crosstrek, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4 are 7%, 9%, and 10% likely to face severe problems.
Other cars with lower chances of problems include the Chevrolet Captiva, Nissan Xterra, Subaru XV Crosstrek, Ford Escape, Jeep Patriot, and the Honda Element.
However, the Nissan Murano fares better than cars like the Chevrolet Equinox, Fiat 500L, and Jeep Wrangler when you consider the chances of severe problems.
The average probability of these problems affecting a compact SUV is 11%.
So, the Nissan Murano is marginally more susceptible to these issues. This also implies that the car demands more unscheduled repairs each year.
Conclusion
Now that you know the perks and drawbacks of the Nissan Murano in and out, it’s time to decide whether it’s worth purchasing one.
There are better models to go for in terms of potential mileage and maintenance.
However, Nissan has addressed most of the problems and recalled several models over the decades.
The models that Nissan launched from 2017 onwards are more reliable than the previous ones.
Looking beyond the common problems, the car seems to be a decent purchase at its cost.
In case you are going for a used model, avoid the years we have already mentioned.
A thorough technical inspection would also tell you whether the car has got any of the common problems that deteriorate its reliability.
It would be logical enough to go for a Murano with a low reading on the odometer.
If you want to bank on the depreciated value (51% in just 5 years), it would be wise to explore the used car market.
