Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Nissan Murano problems

Owners filed 799 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Murano with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Jul 2021. The most-cited component is power train (265).

Complaints
799
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train265
  2. Electrical system187
  3. Seats111
  4. Engine and engine cooling98
  5. Vehicle speed control58
  6. Engine45
  7. Visibility42
  8. Fuel system, gasoline30
  9. Latches/locks/linkages24
  10. Structure21
  11. Equipment20
  12. Suspension17
  13. Steering17
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic11

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200320
200470
200590
200640
200735
2008104
2009109
201095
201184
201243
201321
201424
201515
201614
201713
20188
20194
20203
20217

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

265 reports6 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“THE CAR SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE FREEWAY . ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH . IT DID IT SUDDENLY I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER .I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH WHILE THE A/C WAS BLOWING IT COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2019Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11205429

Electrical system

187 reports1 fire1 related recall
“ABS STAYS ON THEN THE (BRAKE WARNING LAMPS WILL IMMEDIATELY COME AFTER A SHORT TIME, THE ENGINE WILL GO INTO A "FALL SAFE" CONDITION WHICH WILL LIMIT VEHICLE SPEED. THE ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING AND TURN OFF ON ME. ALSO MY SUBFRAME IS ROTTEN AND IS NOW DISCONNECTED THE MECHANIC QUOTED ME $2,600 TO REPAIR JUS THE SUBFREAME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2021Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11423979

Seats

111 reports
“DRIVER SEAT REAR METAL SUPPORT FRAME BROKEN. I NOTICED WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THAT THE SEAT WAS SHIFTING. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER SEAT LEFT REAR SEAT SUPPORT FRAME BROKEN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2019SeatsODI 11230756

Engine and engine cooling

98 reports1 crash1 fire2 related recalls
“ON 6/15/15, WHILE ON HIGHWAY MY CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. STARTED UP AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. I SCANNED FOR ERROR CODE AND I'VE GOT P0340 (CRANK POSITION AND/OR CAMSHAFT SENSOR(S)). ON 6/26/15 I TOOK THE CAR TO HILTON HEAD NISSAN DEALER IN HARDEEVILLE, SC - THEY SCANNED IT POSITIVE FOR CODE P0340(CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT FAILURE) AND THEY REPLACED THE TWO SENSORS. THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT NISSAN RECALL FOR SENSORS (NHTSA #03V4550000). I FOUND TODAY ABOUT THIS RECALL AND CALLED NISSAN DEALER ON 6/27/16 - THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS TO OLD TO APPLY THE RECALL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT NISSAN MURANO 2003 IS SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL AND DESPITE HAVING THE SAME COMPLICATION IDENTIFIED BY NISSAN AND NHTSA WHICH NECESSITATED THE RECALL. IN ADDITION, LETTER WRITTEN BY THE TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT OF NISSAN TO THE NHTSA, DATED 12/4/03, CLEARLY STATES THAT MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES. NO UPDATED LETTER OR OTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION FOUND STATING THAT CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CAR REPAIRED. THIS IS A GROSS SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM NOT CLEAR AS TO WHY THEY REFUSED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10882163

Vehicle speed control

58 reports3 crashes
“While driving down the highway with my infant child the vehicle lost power I could not accelerate went from 75mph to a struggling 5mph. No matter how far I pressed the gas pedal there was no acceleration no revving of engine just complete nothing just pure panic. I was able to pull off to the side of the freeway in a not so safe place however I had no choice. I out hazard lights on and turned off the car. After waiting approx 5 min. I attempted to start car to no avail. The battery light as well as abs light stayed on. I again waited for another 5 -10 min and tried again nothing but same warning lights. I eventually had to wait for approx 45-_60 min when it finally started however I was only allowed to go no fastethan 5 mph. I was able to exit freeway where I parked car for several hours and walked home. Upon retrieving vehicle it still had same results. I drove home @ 5mph. I took car in for repairs and was told I needed a new battery wiring harness. I had that ordered a d repaired. Car drove home just fine however the following day the same incident occurred. Took car back in and was told I needed a new alternator which I replaced. However the following day…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2021Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, EngineODI 11417746

Engine

45 reports
“The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was shifted into PARK and restarted however, after driving for several miles, the failure recurred. The contact pulled over to side of the roadway and waited for several minutes before restarting the vehicle and slowly drove to the residence. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2021Service brakes, EngineODI 11424485
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.