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2012 Nissan Murano
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age — inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
134 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor — almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Complaint reports have faded — early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Nissan Murano, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Visibility & wipers (19) · Electrical system (13) · Brakes (13) · Engine (13)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
22%30 complaints · typically near 93k mi
“CVT FAILURE AVAIL FOR INSP IMMEDIATE SLOWING IN HIWAY TRAFFIC CONFIRMED BY ED MARTIN NISSAN 317 359 9231 OBD II CODE P1778 CVT STEP MOTOR FUNCTION (CVT XMISSION) NO OT…”
Airbags
19%26 complaints · typically near 89k mi
“Airbags have malfunctioned. I was told the whole passenger seat needed to be replaced which costs more than the car is worth. No safety recall for this year. I know I’…”
Visibility & wipers
14%19 complaints
“The driver side sun visor suddenly broke and is floppy, hanging down and will not stay up. This is hindering my line of vision restricting my view of the road.”
Electrical system
10%13 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“The installation of Intoxalock for safety has caused the car to completely lose power while driving and it is safety device. The device drains the battery and causes c…”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Tires · 12V068000
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 MURANO AND ROGUE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2012. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138,TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.
Risk: A NON-ACTIVE TPMS CANNOT WARN A DRIVER THAT A TIRE IS UNDERINFLATED. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.
Fix: ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER INVENTORY. DEALERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Nissan MURANO beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Murano model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Nissan Murano against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.