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2005 Nissan Murano Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2005 Nissan Murano has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Driver seat frame or bracket fractures and wobbles.” 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.

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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 2005 Nissan Murano.

Reported to NHTSA

Driver seat frame or bracket fractures and wobbles

SEATS

56 NHTSA complaints · 2013-09 → 2022-11

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME DETACHED AND LEANED TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT PLACED A STACK OF BRICKS TO KEEP THE SEAT STEADY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10970778
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME BECAME FRACTURED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10651454
“DRIVING, HEARD LOUD POP AND DRIVER'S SEAT TILTED BACK. THE RIGHT REAR BRACKET BROKE ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT NISSAN INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE FIRST ONE THAT BROKE ON 01/30/2009 AT 62,853 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10593353

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear subframe rust perforation

SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2023-10

“Rear subframe rusted to failure. Vehicle has 143,000 miles. Dealer service manager says the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to the posibility of the rear wheels detaching from the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11456888
“SUBFRAME BROKE BETWEEN THE REAR WHEELS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND SUBFRAME IS RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11129645
“FOUND REAR SUB FRAME IS ROTTED TO A POINT THAT RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER QUOTE TO REPLACE REAR SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARMS AND MOUNTS IS APPROXIMATELY $4000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10644940

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door and hatch lock actuator failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

18 NHTSA complaints · 2013-09 → 2020-10

“WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MURANO THAT HAS HAD THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAIL REPEATEDLY SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE CAR. WHEN THE LOCKS FAIL, THE DOORS AND REAR HATCH CAN NOT BE OPENED OR LOCKED WITH EITHER THE REMOTE FOB OR THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS ON THE DOORS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10626367
“DOOR LOCKS STARTING WITH DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER AND NOW THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK UNLESS MANUALLY CHANGED WITH LEVER OR KEY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PASSENGER DOORS ARE RANDOM HOWEVER ARE STARTING TO SHOW SIMILAR SIGNS THANKS IN ADVANCE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10609061
“DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED. DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO LOCK AND UN-LOCK. OCCURRED AT VARIOUS TIMES, USING ANY MEANS AVAILABLE TO LOCK AND UN-LOCK THE DOORS: THE KEY FOB, INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE LOCKS BUTTON ON DOOR, AND MANUAL MANIPULATION OF THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK(S)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10542978

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver-side sun visor falls down while driving

VISIBILITY/WIPER

11 NHTSA complaints · 2013-12 → 2018-05

“DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN ITS PLACE. IT CAN AND DOES FALL OUT OF THE RETAINING MECHANISM, CAUSING DRIVER'S VIEW TO BE INSTANTLY OBSTRUCTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10767344
“THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR IN MY 2005 NISSAN MURANO DOES NOT STAY UP AND IS CAUSING A DRIVING HAZARD. I HAVE IT HELD WITH VELCRO RIGHT NOW, BUT IT DOES NOT WORD WELL AND WHILE DRIVING WILL FALL AND BLOCK THE ENTIRE FRONT VIEW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10746225
“I HAVE AVOIDED ONE ACCIDENT AND HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS WHEN MY DRIVERS SIDE VISOR DROPPED IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11047232

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Alternator failure triggers stall and warning lights

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

34 NHTSA complaints · 2013-09 → 2022-12

“BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET, LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF. AFTER DRIVING FOR AROUND AN HOUR CAR TAKES AROUND 30 SECONDS TO ACTUALLY GO WHEN PRESSING ON GAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11245256
“THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10724221
“I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND HESITATED. I SAW THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COME ON, SO I DROVE THE CAR SLOWLY DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT, AND PARKED IT THERE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10747738

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission and transfer case failure

POWER TRAIN

15 NHTSA complaints · 2013-11 → 2020-12

“TRANSMISSION FAILURE. $173K MILES. WILL COST $4K TO REPLACE. ALL TRANSMISSION FLUIDS IN GOOD ORDER AND GOOD LEVELS. LARGE NOCKING ON THE CASE, DEALER SAYS COULD GO OUT ANY MOMENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10906102
“THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE TRANSFER CASE PART OF THE AWD TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. MY MURANO IS ON IT'S 3RD TRANSMISSION (REPLACED AROUND 25K AND AGAIN AROUND 106K), AND THIS POSSIBLY WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10713705
“MY 2005 NISSAN MURANO BEGAN EXHIBITING A STRONG BURNING OIL SMELL APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 2013 AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. THEY SAID A SEAL IN THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT FOR A TUNE OF $1800”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10637690

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light flashes or SRS sensor fault

AIR BAGS

12 NHTSA complaints · 2014-04 → 2021-09

“THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS FLASHING. I READ ON LINE THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON AND HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A FAULTY SWITCH. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED FOR SAFETY REASONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11173475
“AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH, AND HORN STOPPED WORKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11056181
“APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO DUE TO NO FAULT OF OUR OWN AS WE WERE DRIVING OUR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA. THEY TOLD US OUR AIR BAG CONTROL MONITOR WAS BAD AND OUR AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10577116

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)

94 crashes 1990–2024

How the 94 occupant deaths break down

73

driver deaths

21

passenger deaths

94

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2005 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.

12

complaints mentioning a crash

1

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 2005 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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