The 2005 Nissan Murano has 986 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is visibility at 137 complaints, typically surfacing around 61,896 miles (~$350 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
5
Severe
1
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2005 Murano?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average
6 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2005 Nissan Murano? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
visibility — 137 owner reports
· tends to show around 61,896 mi · ~$350 to fix
electrical — 89 owner reports
· tends to show around 87,156 mi · ~$850 to fix
powertrain — 51 owner reports
· tends to show around 84,303 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
airbags — 43 owner reports
· tends to show around 72,679 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 72,679 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2005 Murano· visibility
The driver's side sun visor falls down and will not stay up. This distracts the drivers ability to see and is a serious safety concern that will directly result in accidents. This is a common problem on this vehicle and an issue that has been reported by many murano owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Nissan murano. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the alternator wires had failed and the battery was unable to be charged. The…
Transmission seized up without any prior warning. I was traveling on interstate 81 at about 65 miles per hour when I had no power. Engine was working fine, but, as I found out later, my CVT transmission have self destruct, due to a code sent from the TCM module. I was in heavy…
Issue with the sun visor on both sides. The passenger side has been falling for the past 6 months and now the driver side is starting to fall. Poor workmanship on the part of Nissan and it should be corrected. *tr
Had a problem with your 2005 Nissan Murano?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Nissan is recalling 362,891 my 2003-2007 murano vehicles
Engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace/repair the appropriate components free of charge. The recall began on september 24, 2009. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
On certain sport utility vehicles, a fitting for vapor recirculation, which is welded on the fuel tank, may come off the fuel tank because incorrect material was used
This could result in the malfunction indicator light in the instrument panel coming on and may result in some fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank with a new one free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2006. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
On some sport utility vehicles, in certain high speed frontal crashes, the webbing of a rear outboard seat belt may contact the rear seat back hinge where it can be cut by the sharp edge of the metal portion of the hinge
If the webbing is completely separated, it can increase the risk of injury to an occupant in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install protectors over the webbing of the rear seat belts. The recall began on march 20, 2006. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 986 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Nissan Murano has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2005 Nissan Murano?
The 2005 Nissan Murano is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2005 Nissan Murano?
Inspect the visibility first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 137 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 61,896 miles. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2005 Nissan Murano a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 986 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is visibility. Typical failure occurs around 61,896 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2005 Nissan Murano?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is visibility, with 137 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 61,896 miles. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The visibility is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 61,896 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Murano has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Nissan Murano?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 986 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $350, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 21 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Nissan/Murano.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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