Wrench.Pro

2009 Nissan Murano Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Nissan Murano has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake pedal travels to floorboard, ABS actuator 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.

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 2009 Nissan Murano.

Reported to NHTSA

Brake pedal travels to floorboard, ABS actuator failure

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

45 NHTSA complaints · 2018-05 → 2026-06

“The contact stated that occasionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brakes had become inoperable However, moments later the brakes became operational”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11625137
“The contact stated that upon the depression of the brake pedal, additional brake pedal travel time would be required to stop the vehicle as the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11445560
“MY 2099 NISSAN MURANO HAS 67,000 MILES, 2 DAYS AGO WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM A LOCAL STORE IN THE RAIN TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11132069

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear subframe corrosion and structural rust

STRUCTURE

20 NHTSA complaints · 2018-05 → 2025-07

“The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while having routine brake service performed, the mechanic notice that the rear subframe was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11517920
“MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE AND HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE CAR. IT IS A MIRACLE SHE MADE THE 4 HOUR DRIVE WITHOUT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11164289
“Right rear subframe rusted out - suspension has become disconnected from chassis. Car is unsafe to drive. The car is available for inspection”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11451546

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission slipping and transfer case leaks

POWER TRAIN

21 NHTSA complaints · 2018-05 → 2025-05

“The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission started slipping. There was no warning light illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11660467
“THE CVT TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS AND VEHICLE ENTERS FAILSAFE 'LIMP' MODE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS AT PEAK OPERATING TEMPERATURE (APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES OF STOP AND GO ACCELERATION FROM A COLD VEHICLE)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11322061
“BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2009-2014 MURANO AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ACROSS SEVERAL FORUMS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11316439

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire pressure monitoring system warning light stays on

WHEELS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2020-03 → 2023-08

“Tire pressure monitoring system is not working although the air pressure is kept as requested. The light is always ON which makes identification of loss of air pressure difficult to dictate, and can cause loss of vehicle control and serious damage in highways”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11537851
“TPMS light always ON. The tire pressure are all good but still shows the sign”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11494248
“TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. TIRE PRESSURE IS WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN THEY SAID IS A SENSOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11399667

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger seat airbag sensor / OCS warning light

AIR BAGS

40 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2026-06

“Nissan has a voluntary recall for faulty air bag sensors on 2009 Nissan Murano but when you take it in they say your vin is not included”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11513684
“AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STARTED BLINKING AND WILL NOT STOP. TOOK 2009 MURANO TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG SENSORS WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT TO FIX IT, AT A COST OF OVER $5,000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11342722
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH IS FLASHING. INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM MAYBE FAULTY NISSAN WANTS $120. FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OF THE SYSTEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11090420

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden engine stall and loss of power, alternator failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

25 NHTSA complaints · 2018-06 → 2026-02

“This has happened on two different occasions. While driving the vehicle the alternator has gone out and there is no warning that there is any problem but you lose your throttle control and the car loses power and is unable to accelerate”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11558828
“I WAS DRIVING IN CITY HEIGHTS ON 43 AND UNIVERSITY WHEN MY 09 URANO JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11376302
“THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE OR COMPLETELY DIE WHEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. LIGHTS WILL START FLASHING AND POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11265670

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)

62 crashes 1990–2024

How the 62 occupant deaths break down

50

driver deaths

12

passenger deaths

62

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2009 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.

24

complaints mentioning a crash

4

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 2009 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.

Check another vehicle →