The demand for midsize SUVs has only been growing and the major factor is the practicality that such a format offers to the users. Nissan has been selling cars that always revolved around factors like practicality and reliability, and hence, the Nissan Murano has been a good vehicle in a market that is very competitive. Nissan sold over 56,700 units of the Murano in 2012 and the brand only expects the numbers to grow in the following years. In terms of problems, the 2012 Nissan Murano has just 113 complaints and a single recall registered officially. Even though Nissan is a preferred brand when it comes to budget-oriented vehicles, the car faces tough competition from the Buick Enclave, the Hyundai Santa Fe, and the Honda Pilot.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Power door actuator – The doors on the Murano automatically lock when driving over 15 MPH as a safety feature but if the locks are manually locked, they fail to unlock when pressing the button. Users got the vehicle diagnosed by a dealer and it was found that the power door lock switch was dead and needed to be replaced.
- Battery – The users complained about the car running out of power as they found the cluster lights and digital gauges to stop working without any warning. This also meant that the car found it difficult to start and users often rely on jump-starting the vehicle. Users suspected a weak or dead battery but they soon found out that the connectors on the battery were corroded, causing the battery to lose power. Dealers replaced the connectors and the issue was resolved.
Mechanical Problems
- Steering – A user was driving on the highway when he noticed the steering to feel hard while switching lanes. The dealers were contacted and the user was requested to drive the car to the dealer. The stiffness on the steering wheel only got harder, making it difficult to drive the car. The mechanics inspected the vehicles and they found that one of the power steering assembly hoses had come off, causing the steering fluid to leak. The dealers replaced the missing hose and the steering felt normal.
- Engine – Users reported hearing a squealing noise from the front of the vehicle and it was also stated that the car would hesitate to pick speeds when the gas pedal is engaged. The vehicle was immediately brought to the mechanics and they stated that the timing chain had lost tension and caused the engine to miss a few teeth. Dealers replaced the timing chain and the issue was resolved.
- Transmission – The CVT transmission on certain cars was said to make the drive feel jerky and the users also stated that the car would not go past 20 mph on depressing the gas pedal. The dealers checked the vehicle and declared the transmission to be faulty. Rebuilding the transmission was not an option and hence, they had to replace the transmission.
- Brakes – The users tried to slow the vehicle down and they realized that the brake pedal felt spongy. This reduced the braking ability of the vehicle and also exposed the occupants to a high risk of a crash. The vehicle was inspected and it was found that the ABS actuator assembly was faulty as it stays engaged at random times. This was noticed to be a common issue and the entire assembly had to be replaced.
Safety Problems
- Airbags – Users noticed the passenger airbag warning light to always stay on. The airbag was said to be off even when a heavy passenger occupied the seat. The mechanic’s suspected a faulty sensor and as expected, the under-seat sensor had to be replaced.
Miscellaneous Problems
- Door latch – The Rear passenger door latch was said to freeze during the cold weather, making it impossible for passengers to enter the car. The vehicle was taken to the dealers and they warmed the car, post which the doors were functional. This was said to be a common issue with the Murano in cold weather and this was caused to moisture seeping in through the door handles and freezing the internals.
2012 Nissan Murano recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
22nd February 2012 |
12V068000 |
Tire pressure monitoring system/FMVSS 138 |
During assembly, the TPMS was not activated. Thus, these vehicle does not comply with the requirement of the FMVSS and will fail to alert the drivers if the tire pressure is low. |
All of the affected vehicles are in the dealer’s inventory and Nissan has instructed them to activate the TPMS. |
Should you buy the 2012 Nissan Murano?
It is definitely worth considering the 2012 Nissan Murano when planning to buy a midsize SUV as this car comes packed with easy-to-maintain equipment and a very limited set of issues. The only recall the car underwent was fixed even before the vehicle was delivered to its users as Nissan was able to identify the issue very soon. The dealers were informed about the flaw and were accordingly instructed to fix the problem. We recommend parking the car indoors during winters as the cold weather has been reported to freeze the rear doors but apart from that, there aren’t major concerns even though certain cars reported their transmissions to fail, which was later confirmed by Nissan to be a problem with only a certain batch of vehicles.
