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2004 Nissan Murano Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Nissan Murano has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Rear subframe corrosion and fracture.” 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.

Save this car as:

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.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Nissan Murano.

Reported to NHTSA

Rear subframe corrosion and fracture

SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

11 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2024-08

“I CONTACTED NISSAN ON 12/20/17 AFTER I DROVE MY 2004 NISSAN MURANO (PURCHASED 8/18) AND I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AS MY SON AND I WERE ON A COLLEGE TOUR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11064938
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10980916
“Rear subframe broke Confirmed by a mechanic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11470143

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver's seat bracket and frame fracture

SEATS

24 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2024-10

“FROM NORMAL USAGE, THE FRONT SIDE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE (IN 2016) FROM WHAT I BELIEVE IS A DEFECTIVE SEAT BRACKET. NOW THE SEAT WOBBLES AND ROCKS WHENEVER I AM DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR MOVES SIDE TO SIDE AT ALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10981382
“WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN I HEARD A SNAP AND THE DRIVERS SEAT FELL TO THE SIDE. UPON MECHANIC INSPECTION FOUND BROKEN FRAME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10568749
“REAR LEFT ANCHOR BRACKET SHEERED OFF CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST WRECKED THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10862380

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver-side sun visor failing to stay up

VISIBILITY/WIPER

10 NHTSA complaints · 2013-11 → 2016-05

“I HAVE A 2004 MURANO AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. YOU WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT FALLS DOWN IN YOUR FACE AND BLOCKS YOUR VISION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10864852
“THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR RANDOMLY FALLS DOWN OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW WHICH CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10610726
“THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR RANDOMLY DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN WANTS 400.00 TO REPLACE THE SUN VISOR. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10569172

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power door lock actuator failure

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

10 NHTSA complaints · 2013-10 → 2019-11

“THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS; USING THE REMOTE, USING THE KEY AND USING THE INTERIOR LOCKS. THE REMOTE DOES NOT LOCK NOR UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S NOR THE FRONT PASSENGER DOORS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10621239
“I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP TODAY BECAUSE THE DOORS ARE NOT LOCKING OR UNLOCKING. MY HATCH ONLY WORKS SOME OF THE TIME AS WELL. I FOUND OUT THAT THE ACTUACTOR IS OUT ON ALL THE DOORS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10704842
“MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, FOR 3 TIMES NOW MY DOORS HAVE LOCKED WHILE RUNNING AND THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. MY CAR LOCKED MY GRANDSON, WHICH IS 6 YEARS OLD IN, AND THE LAST TIME WAS YESTERDAY ON 10/09/2019”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11279253

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT hesitation and surge on acceleration

POWER TRAIN

76 NHTSA complaints · 2013-05 → 2024-01

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE RPMS INCREASED, BUT DID NOT AFFECT THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10884120
“I PURCHASED MY MURANO FROM A USED CAR DEALER 9 MONTHS AGO. UNTIL RECENTLY THE CAR WAS WORKING GREAT, HOWEVER RECENTLY, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING.. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND RESTARTING THE ACCELERATION ISSUE APPEARS TO BE SOLVED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10851940
“CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AND WOULD MOVE AND STALL ALL OF A SUDDEN. CAR MECHANIC INDICATED THE CODE IS P0776 INDICATING DEFECTIVE CVT TRANSMISSION. NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THIS TRANSMISSION AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10559137

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Alternator failure causing stall and power loss

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

24 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2021-12

“I HAD THE EXACT SYMPTOMS APPEAR IN MY MAKE/MODEL AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID #36089. THIS WAS A RECALL PUT OUT BY NISSAN MANY YEARS BACK ON SIMILAR VEHICLES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10715919
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE ABS AND BATTERIES WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOST POWER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11417804
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11256819

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transfer case fracture and fluid leak

POWER TRAIN

8 NHTSA complaints · 2013-06 → 2015-08

“WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE VERY LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN TO STALL. HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC AT WHICH TIME IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSFER CASE WAS CRACKED. AS I RESEARCHED THIS, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS MURANO OWNERS WITH THIS ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10525329
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10547981
“MY CVT HOUSING TRANSFER CASE IS CRACKED. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM ACCELERATING MY CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOME YESTERDAY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10637554

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

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.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

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.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

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.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

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.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

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.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

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.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

70 crashes 1990–2024

How the 70 occupant deaths break down

54

driver deaths

15

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

70

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 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.

Why we show driver deaths too

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

6

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

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 2004 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.

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