The 2003 Nissan Murano has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transfer case cracking and failure.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2003 Nissan Murano.
POWER TRAIN
17 NHTSA complaints · 2011-07 → 2015-06
“THE TRANSFER CASE BLEW UP, BROKEN TEETH, WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. COST OF REPAIR WAS $3500. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL, DESPITE THIS BEING A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN MURANOS. *TR”
“MY 2003 NISSAN MURANO REQUIRED THE CVT TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO FAILURE, AT 55K AND 95K MILES. *TR”
“LOUD BANGING NOISE, LOUDER AS I INCREASE SPEED, NEW TRANSMISSION 3/2013. *TR”
SEATS
23 NHTSA complaints · 2011-06 → 2019-07
“MY DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE LOOSE AND IS LIKE RIDING IN A ROCKING CHAIR. THE DEALER STATES THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. I STARTED SEARCHING ON LINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF NISSAN MURANOS (MOST APPEAR TO BE 2003 TO 2005) WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. CLEARLY THIS IS A SERIOUS”
“WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, ON VERY WINDY ROADS, I WAS IN A TURN TO THE RIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT DROPPED TO BACK AND TO THE LFT, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE AND NEARLY IMPACT THE MEDIAN. I PULLED OVER AND LOOK UNDER THE SEAT AN SAW THAT THE REAR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME FRACTURED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, PUSHING THE DRIVER TOWARD THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE”
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
9 NHTSA complaints · 2012-03 → 2021-07
“REAR SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED CANT BELIEVE NISSAN USED SUCH CHEAP STEEL”
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME SHAKY AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL NEARLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO GO OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME HAD NEARLY RUSTED”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHENEVER GOING OVER A BUMP. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNSTABLE VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
51 NHTSA complaints · 2011-06 → 2021-07
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A NISSAN 2003 MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AS NEEDING A NEW CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS”
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
24 NHTSA complaints · 2011-07 → 2017-10
“FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE DOESN'T MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN ENGAGES AND JOLTS FORWARD. BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. ALL FLUIDS ARE REGULARLY REPLACED AND MAINTAINED ON SCHEDULE. NO IDEA WHAT TO DO, IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM SO TRADE IN VALUE IS VERY”
“CVT TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ACCELERATE AFTER DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS...IE LIKE THRU A PARKING AREA OR WHILE IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THAN WHILE PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC WILL NOT NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL WHILE PRESSING DOWN THAN IT WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. I”
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MURANO LOST ACCELERATION, GAS PEDAL WASN'T WORKING AT ALL. SOME HOW I PULLED OVER AND TURN IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WORKED FINE. NOW WHEN IS A STOP AND GO SITUATION IT DOES THE SAME THING WON'T ACCELERATE UNTIL”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
17 NHTSA complaints · 2011-07 → 2021-05
“A WIRE BROKE INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE BATTERY TO STOP FROM CHARGING. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CHARGER WARNING AND BRAKE WARNING LAMPS CAME ON. THE BATTERY BEGAN TO DISCHARGE AND THE CAR LOST POWER. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE TO 30 MPH AND DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ALTERNATOR BECAME INOPERABLE SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V123000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
57 crashes 1990–2024
How the 57 occupant deaths break down
41
driver deaths
16
passenger deaths
57
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2003 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
14
complaints mentioning a crash
5
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2003 Nissan Murano reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.