2005 Nissan Murano: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 986 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is seats (46% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 986 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,230.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2025
“Not sure when it started bc I just purchased this vehicle a month ago. While driving one evening the head lights went off and I had to turn them off and back on. Now a few weeks later and after I've changed the bulbs and made sure the fuse wasn't blown it is doing it ALOT. I'm not sure if it is a wiring problem or if it is in the on and off switch.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2023
“Noticed severe negative camber on the rear wheels at ~225k miles. Marks Auto Svc, Rockford, IL confirmed the rear k-subframe had rusted all the way through from the inside-out. The frame had completely separated at two places on each side near the wheels - SEVERE SAFETEY HAZARD!!!!! 1. Website forums indicate many consumers conclude this problem is due to inferior design (hole in frame allows water to condensate/pool & rust the frame from the inside-out). 2. I conclude this part failed prior to the standard benchmark-life of automotive parts of 20-years. 3. A similar subframe design used on the 2002-05 Atimas & Maximas - produced a SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN - Ref. NTB05-114c.”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“Sub frame rusted so bad the sway bar detached from the sub frame nearly causing an accident and breaking the sway bar link in half.”Owner report · Suspension · May 2023
“While driving the vehicle will suddenly stop moving, loses acceleration ability & all the dashboard lights turn on. I had work done back in Feb 22 replacing cam shaft sensors. Now Dec 22 the same thing began happening again.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2022
“I've had my car for seven months now and since then it's been problem I've spent way over money to fix problems both sides driver and passenger side axle popped twice my brake fluid keeps running out but mechanic can't find leak my lights inside the car comes on and off one day it's saying I need oil or my brake lights come on than another day they goes off and it always sounds like something dragging on the bottom of the car my kids was hurt because I was driving when the passenger side axle broke while I was driving in traffic”Owner report · Service Brakes, Air · Oct 2022
“The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown part on the driver's side front seat fractured, causing the seat to wobble. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.”Owner report · Seats · Oct 2022
“Rear subframe rusted to failure. Vehicle has 143,000 miles. Dealer service manager says the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to the posibility of the rear wheels detaching from the vehicle. This is the third vehicle with the same condition the service department has seen in the last two weeks”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2022
“I bought the car not knowing that the seat bracket driver side was already broken the dealership would not do anything I looked into this and there are several thousands of other complaints on the same safety issue I'm only a hundred and fifteen pounds and I'm bouncing all over the place and I'm terrified I don't have the extra 2,000 $3,000 is going to cost to replace and this is a major thing it has happened several times this needs to be recalled now”Owner report · Seats · Aug 2021
“The drivers seat frame is broken at the right rear lift arm. The seat frame is electrically adjustable. The seat wobbles causing the driver to move around at random. Loss of control of vehicle is possible as seat moves left and right as vehicle is being driven. As this just occurred within the past 24 hours it has not been inspected by anyone other than myself.”Owner report · Seats · May 2021
When filing, owners marked a crash in 12 of these complaints and injuries in 17 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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 IGNITION KNOB IN THE "OFF" POSITION BUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Remedy: 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.
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 PREMATURE AGING OF THE MATERIAL USED IN THE INTAKE AIR DUCTS WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE SHRINKING.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A WIRE BREAKING INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR COULD STOP THE BATTERY FROM CHARGING.
Remedy: 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 1-800-647-7261.
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 PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Murano by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Nissan Murano reliable?
NHTSA has 986 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Nissan Murano. The most complained-about area is seats (46% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Murano problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 67,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Nissan Murano have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning steering:column locking:anti-theft device. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.