Home · 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid · Complaints

What 134 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (134)Crash / fire / injury (7)Transmission & drivetrain (30)Airbags (26)Visibility & wipers (19)Brakes (13)Electrical system (13)Engine (13)Body & structure (6)Steering (5)Suspension (4)Fuel system (3)

30 of 134 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jul 25, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

This car I purchased two months ago has the Cvt transmission in it and has proven unsafe for regular traffic let alone highway driving. It randomly “lurches” , has a loss of power and hesitates when accelerating or lane changing .

NHTSA ODI 11534342

Aug 6, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

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 OTHER INSP NO WARNING LIGHTS/NO SYMPTOMS ON 02/AUGUST/2021

NHTSA ODI 11428016

Sep 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO WITH 111,000 MILES. THE CVT TRANSMISSION STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST MECHANIC REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS AGAINST NISSAN DUE TO THE CVT TRANSMISSION. BECAUSE OF LEGAL JUDGMENTS AGAINST NISSAN, THE COMPANY EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON MANY VEHICLES UP TO 10 YEARS AND 120,000 MILES. MY 2012 MURANO WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THOSE JUDGMENTS. I GOT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR A TOTAL COST OF $5,696.06. I CONTACTED NISSAN DIRECTLY, PROVIDED THE DOCUMENTATION THEY ASKED FOR AND ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. NISSAN DID CONTACT ME, BUT REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED BY NISSAN BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE CVT TRANSMISSION. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION FOR MY MODEL YEAR BASED ON THE OBVIOUS DEFECTS AS HAVE BEEN PROVEN BY MULTIPLE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI 11353296

Oct 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AT 105,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT REMAIN ENGAGED IN OVERDRIVE AT GREATER THAN 60MPH RESULTING IN HIGH RPM OVER 3200. DEALER INSPECTED AND STATED PAST DTC CODE OF P1778 (STEP MOTOR ISSUE/CVT SLIPPING). DEALER REFLASH CAR COMPUTER BUT SAID IF THAT DIDN'T FIX IT THE CAR WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SEEMS ODD IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS HAPPENING WITH 2003-2010 TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT ISSUE WAS RESOLVED IN LATER MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11269803

Oct 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING A CANYON ROAD, MY CAR WAS WORKING NORMALLY AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PUSHED ON THE GAS AND THE RPMS WENT UP, BUT NO RESPONSE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND I FINALLY GOT OUT OF TRAFFIC, WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER SETTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE CAR WORKED WITHOUT THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SINCE I GOT HOME, IT RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS WARMED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11268078

Oct 5, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakes

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THIS DATE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO HAD DONE THE REPAIR 5 DAYS EARLIER NISSAN OF OURSMAN OF LAUREL MD . THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ONCE AGAIN PERFOM THE SAME WAS IT DID THE 2 WEEK EARLIER WHEN THE INCIDENTOCCURRENCE ON I 295 N BOUND DEOARTIBNG WASHINGTON DC , THIS SATURDAY THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING ERRATICLY IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY LOACK FOOD LION GROCERY STORY ON 197 IN LAUREL MD, AS I DEPATED THE PARKING LOT I EXPERIENCE THE GRINDING SOULD ON AND OFF AND THE SHAKKING / VIRBRATING OF THE STEERING WHEEL TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT ME DIRECTING IT TO DO SO...THEREFORE I HEADED OUT THE LOT TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY CLOSED AT 3PM... I GOT THEIR ABOUT 1230PM, AND WASN'T RECEIVED BY THE STAFF FAVORABLE BASED .TGHIS WOULD BE A RETAKE BASED ON POOR AND INCOMPLETE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THE WEEK BEFORE WHEN SAME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO SAME DEALERSHIP WITH RESPECT TO ABS ACTUATOR , WHICH I FELT THE SAME ISSUES AND CONCERN BUT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE PULLED ABRUTLY TO THE LEFT IN TRAFFIC AND I ALMOST SIDE -SWIPED THE VEHICLE NEST TO ME IN THE LANE BESIDE ME.

NHTSA ODI 11266511

Sep 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. IT SLIPS BETWEEN GOING 35 MILES PER HOUR AND OVER. I JUST LEARNED THAT NISSAN CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A RECALL NOTICE AND WAS CONSIDERED A LEMON. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. I JUST EXCEED THE MILES. BUT NISSAN SHOULD RECALLED THE TRANSMISSINS AND FIXED THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11258699

Jul 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

ON JUNE 25TH I WAS GOING DOWN A VERY STEEP HILL IN GUTTENBERG NJ,07093 WHEN ABOUT THREE QUARTERS DOWN THE HILL MY 212 NISSAN MURANO CONVERTIBLE'S ENGINE STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. THANK GOD THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS GREEN AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL JUST ENOUGH TO AVERT CRASHING INTO A FENCE AND GO OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP AND I WOUND UP IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHOSE LIGHT WAS THEN GREEN COMING AT ME FROM NORTH AND SOUTH.. I WROTE TO THE US GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA AND SPOKE SEVERAL TIMES TO NISSAN'S REGIONAL OFFICE IN TENNESSEE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP SINCE JUNE 25 AND THEY SAY IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO TAKE CAR . BUT THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE AND I CANNOT IN GOOD FAITH SELL IT TO ANYONE ELSE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME. I AM A PROFESSOR AT TEACHERS COLLEGE IN NYC AND USE THE CAR TO TRAVEL TO THE COLLEGE IN THE SPRING AND FALL SEMESTERS. I HAVE SPECIAL PARKING PRIVILEGE BECAUSE I CANNOT TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DUE TO A DISABILITY. I SINCERELY HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, [XXX] P.S. I FOUND 20 OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO REPORTED THEIR ENGINES STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION - I SEND COPIES TO ALL PARTIES AT NISSAN BUT THEY SAID OH THEY ARE DIFFERENT MODELS (NO THEY WERE NOT - ALL MURANO'S AND DIFFERENT YEARS (BUT 2012 WAS INCLUDED AMONG THEM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ODI 11233036

Jun 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THE OIL CONSUMPTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGE ON BOTH VEHICLES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11220554

Jun 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR 5-10 SECONDS. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS AND WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. FIRST EXPERIENCED PROBLEM AT 98K AND TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR RECREATE PROBLEM. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS INDICATED. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED INTERMITTENLY AND IS NOW HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS. AT 121K, TOOK TO DEALER EVEN THOUGH NO SERVICE LIGHTS ON AND WAS TOLD THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AS WELL, THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND FRONT BUSHING CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALL 3 OF THESE ITEMS ARE REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS. CVT WAS OFFERED TO OWNERS WITH 2003-2010 MODELS; HOWEVER, THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING IN LATER MODELS, INCLUDING MY 2012. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THESE YEARS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11218237

Sep 11, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: LOSS OF POWER AT HIGH SPEED, A WHISTLING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING, AND A GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ONE. THE LOSS OF POWER AT A HIGH SPEED RESULTED IN AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11128825

Sep 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION STALLS OR HESITANT WHEN ACCELERATING AND WAS TOLD BY THE TRANSMISSION SHOP IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11124084

Sep 1, 2018SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainEngine

2012 ALL MURANO, LOWER CONTROL ARMS BUSHINGS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WENT BAD AT 50,000 MILES COATS OUT OF POCKET $900.00 , AND NOW AT 60,000 MILES THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BAD CAN WIN HERE THE SUV IS ONLY 6YRS OLD I'M TOLD LADOR AND PARTS $1400, TO $1900.

NHTSA ODI 11123978

Aug 31, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. I MAY TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE NORMALLY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS PRESENT AND NO CODES CAN BE OBTAINED BY AN OBD2 SCAN.

NHTSA ODI 11123778

Aug 8, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, THEN SUDDENLY STARTED SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. AS I CONTINUED ACCELERATING, IT SMOOTHED OUT, BUT AS I CAME TO MY NEXT STOP AND STARTED ACCELERATING, THE SHUDDERING HAPPENED AGAIN, THEN I HEARD A POP AND LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV AS I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR CVT TRANSMISSIONS, FOR WHICH THE MOST COMMON REMEDY SEEMS TO BE FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ASSIST THOSE OF US EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY AND COSTING OWNERS SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I WAS IN A RELATIVELY REMOTE AREA, SO NEITHER I NOR OTHER DRIVERS WERE IN DANGER...HOWEVER, HAD I BEEN IN A MORE POPULATED AREA IT COULD HAVE MADE FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11118586

Jul 18, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. CAR WOULD GO TO HIGH RPMS BECAUSE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. CAR NEEDED TO GET TOWED. CVT FAILED

NHTSA ODI 11112082

Jul 6, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR WOULD HESITATE 4 TO 5 SECONDS WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE, AS I WAS AT A LIGHT, WENT TO TURN, AND THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. IT FINALLY LUNGED FORWARD. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, IF I HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND CAUSED ME TO TURN IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING CAR. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A ROAD WITH 50 MPH TRAFFIC INTO A SUBDIVISION. I TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION (CVT) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE, BUT UNACCEPTABLE FOR ONLY 62,000 MILES. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME $4500 TO FIX. NISSAN IS STATING THIS IS MY FAULT, AS I NEVER HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. IN THE BOOK, THE FIRST SERVICE FOR TRANSMISSION REQUIRED IS 60,000 MILES, BUT IT STATES TO INSPECT THE FLUID. THERE ARE OPTIONAL SERVICES AT 30K MILES, BUT IT DOES NOT INDICATE THEY ARE REQUIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11109878

Jul 2, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

CVT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11105107

May 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN TAKING OFF AT TIMES. IT HAS HAPPENED PULLING INTO MOVING TRAFFIC AS WELL AS PULLING AWAY FROM A GREEN LIGHT. SOMETIMES WHILE MOVING YOU WILL FEEL A LAPSE OF POWER AS WELL. ONE DEALER TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS THE TIRES...NOT THE CASE. ANOTHER SUGGESTED IT IS THE CVT, WHICH IS WHAT WE THOUGHT. HOWEVER, NISSAN IS SNEAKY AND HID THE ABILITY TO FULLY DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM SINCE NO ERROR CODE IS PRESENT WITH THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR, SO I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING IT ALL TOGETHER.

NHTSA ODI 11091573

Jan 2, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED A COUPLE YEARS AGO. LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND I COULDN'T GO OVER 20 MILES AN HOUR. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSIONS WAS A CVT TRANSMISSION AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED OR REBUILT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT $4,100+. THEY SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH CVT AND NISSAN WAS AWARE OF IT AND HAD OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100K (AT A COST). THE TRANSMISSION ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE WARRANTY ON THE NEW TRANSMISSION I WAS TOLD THE TRANS WAS ONLY GUARANTEEDED FOR 12,000 MILES OR ONE YEAR. IT'S SAD THAT A COMPANY IS AWARE OF A SITUATION LIKE THIS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE THING TO HAVE TO PAY $1,500 TO HAVE IT REBUILT BUT TO HAVE TO PAY $4,100+ AND IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR A YEAR IS ANOTHER THING. NOW I'M IN A BIND. DO I (1) HANG ON TO IT AND RISK HAVING TO PAY FOR ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN A YEAR OR TWO, (2) SELL IT AND HAVE SOMEONE ELSE FALL INTO THE SAME SITUATION OR (3) TRADE IT IN AND LOSE BIG TIME DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11058027

Dec 7, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 70000 WHEN CVT TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER, AND AT TIME ENGINE WOULD REV AT 4000 RPM. VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVEABLE AT THIS TIME, BUT IS SLOW TO ACCELERATE, AND SHUDDERS AT TIMES. WE DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ANY LONGER FOR FEAR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COMPLETELY STOP WORKING. WAS INSPECTED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND BOTH CONFIRM THAT TRANSMISSION CODES INDICATE CVT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE NISSAN MURANO TRANSMISSION HAD IN THE PAST WHICH LED TO A RECALL WHICH COVERED MODEL YEARS FROM 2003 TO 2010.

NHTSA ODI 11052985

Aug 7, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

2012 NISSAN MURANO WITH 90K MILES HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE CVT TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SUDDENLY STOPPING THE CAR TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50-65 MPH. DUE TO THIS UNEXPECTED AND SEVERE LOSS OF CAR POWER I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE CVT TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11013591

Aug 1, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET ABOVE 10 MPH AND SOMETIMES BUCKS WHEN ACCELERATION STARTS. THERE ARE 117K MIKE'S ON MY CAR AND I'M SO FRUSTRATED.

NHTSA ODI 11012190

Mar 13, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

2012 NISSAN TRANSMISSION CVT FAILURE AND NEEDING REPLACE. I WAS DRIVING AND MOVING FORWARD AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE VEHICLE ONLY MOVED AT 5MPH

NHTSA ODI 10960283

Jun 20, 2016Transmission & drivetrain1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED AWAY. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS STRUCK BY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, FOUR CRACKED RIBS, A BROKEN FINGER, AND A LIVER LACERATION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10875337

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Working with the data? Download all 134 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Nissan Murano Hybrid verdict →