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2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid
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 26, 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.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#54 of 510Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid ranks #54, scoring higher than 84% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2012 Nissan Murano SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 19%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid, 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. Treat them as a rough guide.
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…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 134 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 7 crash/fire/injury reports →
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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Nissan before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 93k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 89k miles). Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
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 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Nissan MURANO HYBRID beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Murano Hybrid model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid 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.