2011 Nissan Murano

In July 2023, at 55,496 miles on the odometer, the original CVT transmission failed and was replaced at Port City Nissan (120 Spaulding Tpke N, Portsmouth, NH 03801), an authorized Nissan dealership, with a Nissan-supplied rebuilt CVT transmission at a cost of approximately $7,000. The rebuilt transmission was warranted for one year. Approximately 2.5 years and only 26,500 miles after installation, the rebuilt CVT transmission has failed again at approximately 82,000 miles. CVT transmission failure while driving presents a serious safety hazard, as the vehicle may lose power unexpectedly, particularly dangerous at highway speeds, during merges, or in intersections. Pattern of Defect: Nissan’s CVT transmissions have been the subject of widespread consumer complaints and multiple class action lawsuits across various model years. Significantly, Nissan recently updated its warranty on rebuilt CVT transmissions from one year to three years with unlimited mileage for replacements performed after July 2024. This warranty extension strongly suggests Nissan is aware of systemic premature failures in its rebuilt CVT units. The failure of a rebuilt transmission at only 26,500 miles indicates a fundamental quality control or design deficiency in the rebuilt units Nissan is supplying to dealerships. Safety Concern: Sudden CVT failure causes immediate loss of propulsion and can result in loss of vehicle control. This is particularly hazardous on highways, in heavy traffic, and during adverse weather conditions. Given the pattern of premature failure in Nissan’s rebuilt CVT units, I believe this constitutes a safety defect affecting a population of vehicles and warrants investigation. I request that NHTSA investigate Nissan’s rebuilt CVT transmission program and the adequacy of Nissan’s response to known premature failures.

35 complaints on the CVT transmission failing for the 2011 Nissan Murano, which could be a major safety issue while driving. We experienced 3 episodes and have not heard back from Nissan nor the NHTSA on recalling this car and having Nissan repair their known defect that could result in injury. We know the CVT transmission is known by Nissan to have reliability issues as they have recalled other years of CVT transmissions. Does someone have to be hurt before a fix is communicated to the owners of this vehicle. What a shame!

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), the transmission made an abnormal sound, and the vehicle shook before moving forward. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become a recurring failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the check engine and the transmission warning light had illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer on multiple occasions and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin Number: AT20-005B NTB20-060B CVT Transmission Shake/Shudder (Power Train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

While driving car several times on the highway, when accelerating all power went out from the CVT transmission (like running out of gas), rendering the car without power on the highway. This was and continues to be a big concern as we were left on a high speed road with no power to move the car. This has occurred several times and we have been fortunate to be in the right hand lane to get off the main road and not cause an accident. This condition is known by Nissan and other repair facilities as the Infiniti dealer in Orlando, Fla conducted a diagnostic test and noted the car needed a transmission replacement at approximately 88,000 miles. This replacement was for $12,220 dollars, which was far more than the car was worth and with a car that should have many more miles left to operate and maintained very well. As this is a major safety issue, one of several with this car, we are submitting another incident report indicating our concern with this car, which there are many (rear subframe rusting, rear passenger door locks). The car got towed approximately 200 miles to our local mechanic who knew of these issues, but after a few days of test driving could not duplicate the issue on local roads. We still operate the car on local roads below highway speeds, but are concerned that at any point power will be lost. Even selling the car is an ethical dilemma for us as we know of several safety issues submitted to the NHTSA and Nissan has not issued any recalls or corrections to this year vehicle. Someone from the NHTSA should take action with Nissan to recall this vehicle for safety issues! As with other incidents, we have all the documentation from these events.

2011 Nissan Murano, transmission issues. This is the second time I have had to report this problem, please also refer to my first complaint #11474221 on this vehicle for the same problem. When at a stop, and pushing the gas pedal to move forward, there is a hesitation or two before the vehicle moves forward. This is a big problem when trying to enter a highway, after a stop sign. With giving enough distance to merge, having the hesitation issue has almost caused an accident. This hesitation occurs in town driving and hi-way. The dealership Crown Nissan (Greensboro, NC) diagnosis indicated that the transmission was failing and needed to be replaced. Our local Nissan shop ordered a new transmission directly from Nissan, and installed into our car, by mechanics that were trained by Nissan. Received Murano back with replaced new transmission, and within two days it was hesitating again. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and it was confirmed that the ‘new’ transmission that was installed, was defective and when driving, also had the hesitation issue. A 2nd new transmission was ordered from Nissan, installed by Nissan trained mechanics, and delivered two weeks later. We received our Murano back on Oct.12, 2022 and when driving it there was a slight hesitation, but then started to buck very hard… I’m surprised that I don’t have whiplash. The 2nd new transmission installed is a ‘lemon’ as it is worse than the original AND the 1st new replacement, by bucking as well as the hesitation. Our Nissan Murano appears to be unfixable, as the company keeps sending transmissions that have serious flaws and will eventually hurt or kill someone. Where do we go from here, especially since we have paid off the loan a year ago.

For over a year, I have experienced hesitations of movement when needed to have acceleration from a complete or rolling stop. When driving, I’ve pushed on the gas pedal to accelerate & there was a long two second hesitation (lack of propulsion) before the Murano resumed forward movement. There was also a loss of acceleration (speed/movement) while merging into very heavy traffic on a busy main road, & that could have caused an accident. Every time there was a hesitation of movement when pushing on the gas pedal, it could have been a disaster. I have been having this ‘hesitations of movement’ for over a year. I have insisted that mechanics need to drive it, so they too can experience this problem. They have driven the Murano many times, but haven’t been able to experienced it. After bringing the Murano into my service station for months about this problem, today after an oil change at Oakview Auto Service, the head mechanic took my Nissan Murano for a test drive & the ‘hesitation’ happened to him. So if needed Chris at Oakview Auto can confirm that this problem has been happening, that we have asked about diagnosing this problem, & he experienced as well. This Service Station has been in business for over 40 years, and they have had many other customers bring their Nissan Murano to them, with the complaint of ‘hesitation of movement. While there has been problems documented (& recalled) with Nissan’s transmissions in the past, they have yet to include the 2011 Murano. Nissan needs to address this hesitation issue now.

2011 MURANO STALLS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND IS SUPER DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON 2010 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2011. DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $5500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CODES BEING PULLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION ARE THE SAME ONES THE LED NISSAN TO 'EXTEND' THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND 120K MILES. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE PULLED OFF THE ROADS. I CONTACTED CONSUMER CONCERNS FOR NISSAN AND WAS TOLD BY A VERY RUDE REPRESENTATIVE NAMED JOHN - NOTHING THEY WILL DO AND REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE ON THIS MATTER.

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR MY SO AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO WARRANTY TO COVER IT. WE JUST FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER IT'S EXCEEDED THE 120,000 MILE DEALER WARRANTY. WE'RE WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED BY NISSAN BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR HIM TO DRIVE IT.

VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHOW LOSS OF POWER IN 2019 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ENTERING.A HIGHWAY. VEHICLE ALSO WOULD JERK WHEN POSITIONED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GIVE MORE POWER, ASNIF IT WAS STALLED I PARKED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FEAR OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.AND BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED.