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2016 Nissan Murano Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2016 Nissan Murano carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Sunroof or moonroof shattering while driving.” 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.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Campaign #18V601000 · Jul 9, 2018

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Campaign #16V636000 · Feb 9, 2016

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016. The affected vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board.

Risk: A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Campaign #16V193000 · Jul 4, 2016

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Murano vehicles manufactured December 17, 2015, to February 11, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to February 12, 2016 and equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). The ABS actuator may have a damaged O-ring that may result in a lack of brake fluid pressure.

Risk: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ABS actuator, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 16, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Campaign #16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Campaign #19V807000 · Aug 11, 2019

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Nissan Murano.

Reported to NHTSA

Sunroof or moonroof shattering while driving

VISIBILITY/WIPER

7 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2026-01

“The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 55 MPH at 12:30 AM with no other vehicles on the road, he observed aloud bang and the sunroof shattered”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11708786
“MOON ROOF EXPLODED/SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WE DROVE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM 12 DAYS EARLIER. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF IN MY EAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10924150
“SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. NO OBJECTS FELL ONTO THE CAR. WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE LOUD BANG/EXPLODING SOUND WAS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND EVALUATE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10893526

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Hood design reflects sunlight into driver's eyes

STRUCTURE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2016-12 → 2022-11

“THE HOOD HAS ABOUT A 3 INCH PORTION NEAR THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS ANGLED TOWARDS THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. ON SUNNY DAYS, THE SUN REFLECTS INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING A BLINDING REFLECTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11079075
“WHEN I AM DRIVING AT ABOUT NOON, WHEN THE SUN IS DIRECTLY OVERHEAD, THERE IS A TERRIBLE, BLINDING GLARE PRODUCED BY THE "RIDGE" ON THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10930171
“THE PHOTO SHOWS HOW THE SUN REFLECTS OFF THE RIDGELINE OF THE HOOD AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PARTIALLY BLIND THE DRIVER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11047990

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loss of motive power and stalling while driving

POWER TRAIN

30 NHTSA complaints · 2016-05 → 2026-05

“The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that on two occasions while making a left and right turn, the vehicle lost power and the vehicle was drifted to a safe location on the side of the road while advising others to go around her”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11739551
“The Nissan Murano’s were recalled back in 2020 stating their CVT was causing stalling issues mid driving and overheating in extreme weather (heat). I complained to Nissan prior to this recall and was told it was filter issue then a battery issue”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11605560
“Vehicle randomly quits running while driving. Once stopped, it will typically restart after being put in park and usual parking, stopping, end running operations are performed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11423793

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger airbag off warning light illuminated

AIR BAGS

10 NHTSA complaints · 2016-04 → 2023-06

“Both driver and passenger airbag lights have been on for about a year. This vehicle has never been involved in a car accident”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11529410
“THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS FAULTY. WHEN MY 67 LB DAUGHTER SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS OFF INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS ACTIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10945718
“THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE 150 POUND PASSENGER RIDING IN THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10862335

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver seat heater wiring harness melting

SEATS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2018-01 → 2022-05

“I recently brought my 2016 Nissan Murano to the Nissan service department and asked them to check the driver's side heated seat as it was not working”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11449318
“2015-2019 NISSAN MURANOS HAVE AN ON-GOING ELECTRICAL HAZARD WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROLLED SEATS. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS CONNECTOR DIRECTLY UNDER THE SEAT WILL FAIL AND ACTUALLY GET SO HOT IT WILL MELT THE PLASTIC PIECES!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11404458
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MURANO. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ACTIVATING THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT FAILED TO WORK CORRECTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11062234

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ABS actuator failure and brake warning light

SERVICE BRAKES

12 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2021-10

“ABS actuator failed. In case of a sudden stop the anti lock brakes would not work The problem was confirmed after my brake and ABS light stayed on after suddenly coming on while I was driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11436514
“STARTED VEHICLE UP IN THE MORNING AND WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I REACHED THE STREET TO COME TO A STOP AND PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE, MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND I ALMOST HIT A PILLAR OUTSIDE OF MY DRIVEWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10915245
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MURANO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET BEFORE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10885664

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Forward collision warning and cruise control disengagement

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

13 NHTSA complaints · 2016-05 → 2024-04

“The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The failure resulted in another vehicle rear-ending his vehicle in a collision”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11498018
“Forward Collision Warning lamp in dashboard lights up and cruise control is disabled. This consistently happens at 10.8 miles in the morning when the vehicle is driven for the first time of the day”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11497703
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND COLLISION MITIGATION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11363002

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

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)

27 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.

3

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 2016 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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