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2020 Nissan Murano Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2020 Nissan Murano carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering spindle and linkages. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Panoramic sunroof glass 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.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

Campaign #21V402000 · May 27, 2021

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Nissan Murano, INFINITI QX60, 2021 Nissan GT-R, INFINITI QX50, and Q50 vehicles. The front steering knuckle or rear axle housing may have insufficient strength due to improper heat-treatment.

Risk: The steering knuckle or rear axle could deform upon impact, such as from hitting a curb, resulting in a loss of steering control, or possible wheel separation. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckle and rear axle housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2021. Nissan owners may contact customer service at 1-800-867-7669. INFINITI owners may contact customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

STEERING:LINKAGES

Campaign #21V170000 · Nov 3, 2021

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Nissan Murano vehicles. The left and/or right-hand transverse link may not have been manufactured correctly, which could result in it separating from the ball joint.

Risk: Ball joint separation can cause a loss of vehicle control, and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transverse link's lot codes, and if necessary, replace them and perform a vehicle alignment, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 6, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC797.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Nissan Murano.

Reported to NHTSA

Panoramic sunroof glass shattering while driving

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 NHTSA complaints · 2021-09 → 2024-10

“My sunroof exploded but I don't know why. There was no warning. Might have been a rock but I didn't see one. I had the sunroof closed but the fabric cover was open for light. I heard an explosive noise and then glass started raining in”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11620490
“I was driving my vehicle on the freeway at a speed of 60 mph when all of a sudden the sun roof part of my panoramic roof shattered all over my interior of my car and myself”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11553966
“On Feb 26, 2022; my wife and I were driving down a Hwy in SW Georgia at approximately 60 mph and our 2020 Nissan Murano Sunroof literally exploded. The roof was fully closed at the time and the sun shade was also closed. It was like a shot gun blast”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11456422

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Control arm and steering knuckle wear

SUSPENSION

7 NHTSA complaints · 2022-03 → 2026-05

“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while the vehicle was at Now Auto Care for a service appointment, the contact was informed that the driver's and passenger's side control arms were unusually worn and failing”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11740299
“This is a 2020 Nissan Murano S. The vehicle has been well maintained and taken to the dealership for maintenance periodically. I usually take my vehicle to either Antwerpen Nissan Clarksville or Antwerpen Nissan Security”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11501886
“Subject: Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2020 Nissan Murano, VIN [XXX] Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a formal Vehicle Safety Complaint regarding my 2020 Nissan Murano (VIN: [XXX] ) due to unresolved safety defects that match existing recalls”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11682497

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight assembly moisture intrusion

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2 NHTSA complaints · 2023-08 → 2026-01

“My 2020 Nissan Murano SV driver side headlight failed. This headlight is suppose to be a “sealed for life” unit. This failure created an immediate driving hazard”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11713967
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while having a routine service check on the vehicle at the dealer, the mechanic became aware that the front passenger’s side headlight assembly was moist, and that water was entering the headlight assembly”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11539309

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt latch sticking

SEAT BELTS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2025-07

“The seatbelts are starting to stick so it makes it hard to try and pull it to latch”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11671350
“Driver seat belt latch starting to stick and not latch properly”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11621436

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission hesitation and delayed engagement

POWER TRAIN

3 NHTSA complaints · 2021-06 → 2026-07

“CVT Transmission failed at 82k miles. Diagnosed at Midas, specific Transmission shop and local Nissan dealership as needing full replacement. Notified Nissan Consumer Affairs, they created a case but refused to fully replace it, offered to pay only 50% of approximately $9k”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11750646
“It has happened twice since we purchased our Murano 8 months ago. When pulling onto a divided highway you have to slow down then you accelerate to get into the lane....the transmission hesitates around 2 or 3 seconds then grabs the gear and you take off”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11516958
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into park, the vehicle continued rolling forward. The failure occurred intermittently”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11420111

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic emergency braking with no obstruction present

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

11 NHTSA complaints · 2020-10 → 2026-04

“I HAVE A 2020 NISSAN MURANO THAT HAD 3 OCCURRENCES IN A 48 HOUR PERIOD WHERE THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSED MY CAR TO STOP IMMEDIATELY WITH NO WARNING OR OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11406535
“Vehicle routinely triggers the automatic emergency braking system when approaching a certain overpass. Speeds are usually around 40 to 50 MPH. Occasionally triggers at other locations where no obstacle should be triggering it”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11485520
“WE'VE HAD THE VEHICLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET USED TO THE FORWARD AND BACKWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE EMERGENCY BRAKING, AS IT SEEMS TO ACTIVATE FOR NO REASON AT ALL. MULTIPLE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE, THE PRIMARY DRIVER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11454164

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden unintended acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2021-12 → 2023-08

“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving with adaptive cruise control mode engaged and set at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently as he was approaching a hill. The local dealer was notified of the failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536283
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11507190
“While parallel parking, we backed into the space and when we put the car into Drive, it lurched forward at an incredible speed. We hit and pushed the car parked in front of us, hopped up onto the sidewalk, knocked down a street light, and moved a huge concrete planter”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11444676

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)

18 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.

1

complaints mentioning a crash

0

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 2020 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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