2012 Nissan Murano Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2012 Nissan Murano carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering pressure monitoring and regulating systems. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Sunroof glass spontaneously shatters while driving or parked.” 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.

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Campaign #12V068000 · Feb 22, 2012

Issue: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 MURANO AND ROGUE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2012. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138,”TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.”

Risk: A NON-ACTIVE TPMS CANNOT WARN A DRIVER THAT A TIRE IS UNDERINFLATED. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.

Fix: ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER INVENTORY. DEALERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2012 Nissan Murano.

Reported to NHTSA

Sunroof glass spontaneously shatters while driving or parked

VISIBILITY

22 NHTSA complaints · 2012-10 → 2023-01

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN WE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THEN SAW PIECES OF THE SUNROOF FLYING BACK BEHIND US. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, WE LOOKED AT THE SUNROOF TO DETERMINE IT HAD SHATTERED AND BLOWN OFF
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10972198
Driver sunroof exploded while driving. Nothing impacted the glass to my knowledge. Occurred on 1/21/23, 54xxx miles on the vehicle, no previous accidents
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11503122
VEHICLES MOON ROOF INEXPLICABLY EXPLODED FROM INSIDE OUT WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10478938

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Sun visor drops and will not stay up

VISIBILITY/WIPER

9 NHTSA complaints · 2015-10 → 2022-09

I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY, SUN WAS IN MY EYES SO I LOWERED THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR. IT IMMEDIATELY BECAME FLOPPY AND I COULDN'T GET IT TO RAISE BACK UP
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10785297
TAKATA RECALL - DRIVERS SIDE VISOR DOES NOT SAY UP - DROPS DOWN AN IMPAIRS VISION - VERY DANGEROUS!! AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NISSAN MURANO OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11229640
While driving, the driver's side visor fell down and would not go back up and stay in place. I contacted the Nissan dealer about this issue and was told it was my problem to replace it
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11454635

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CVT transmission hesitation, jerking, and failure

POWER TRAIN

22 NHTSA complaints · 2014-12 → 2023-07

AT SPORADIC TIMES, MY 2012 NISSAN MURANO WILL HESITATE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED FOR 5-10 SECONDS IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10667445
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
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11013591
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
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11534342

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Passenger seat occupant sensor disables airbag (code B1018)

AIR BAGS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2013-01 → 2024-04

SRS/AIRBAGS LIGHT FLASHING PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF. The airbag will not deploy if in a crash. Nissan code B1018 is diagnosed as needing the whole passenger seat replace due to the occupancy sensor in passenger seat. Nissan quoted repair at $5000.00 to replace
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11450426
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT ENGAGED. INDICATOR IS ON APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME, WHEN MY 84 POUND DAUGHTER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS MEANS THAT 50% OF THE TIME, MY DAUGHTER IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10491161
VEHICLE IS MOSTLY STATIONARY IN THE GARAGE, ONLY 46K MILES FOR 2012. AIR BAG STARTING FLASHING AND WILL NOT RESET. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS, TECHNICIAN STATED LIGHT CAUSED BY FAULTY AIR BAG SENSING UNIT
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144856

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Brake pedal travel to floor tied to ABS actuator

SERVICE BRAKES

12 NHTSA complaints · 2016-06 → 2022-01

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE LOST BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND HAD EXCESSIVE TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR REQUIRING EXTRA DISTANCE IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP ABS TO AVOID A COLLISION
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11372373
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE WAS DETECTED AND THE ABS AND ANTI-SKID WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11258170
WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FIND IT WAS SPONGY AND TRAVELED VERY FAR BEFORE THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11254576

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Vehicle stalls while driving and fails to restart

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-02 → 2026-06

While driving, vehicle just quits and all dashboard lights flash quickly and then the car stalls out and won't restart. This has happened 4 times now. Had battery replaced, alternator replaced for a 2nd time, sensor replaced
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11702102
1ST INCIDENT- DRIVING ON MAIN STREET OF TOWN HWY 31 S, CAR SIMPLY QUIT WHILE IN MOTION, WHILE DRIVING- NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS. COULD NOT MOVE, START ETC
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11066887
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED; HOWEVER, THE STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY STILL OPERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11103359

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific 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

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: 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)

42 crashes 2010–2024

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

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.

4

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls 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 2012 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.