Engine problem. Oil kept leaking on other part and make them go bad. Car was taken to different location, all said the same things.
2006 Nissan Murano engine problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
1fire
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Murano shows a pattern of stalling without warning, ranging from loss of power to complete shutdown—sometimes while driving on highways. Owners also report unexplained coolant leaks, coolant odors, motor mount weakness, transmission failures, and one catastrophic engine fire, with dealers often unable to diagnose or repair the issues.
The 2006 Murano generates the most complaints around sudden stalling while driving. Owners describe the engine cutting out at highway speeds (30–60 MPH) with no warning light or minimal warning. In several cases the vehicle stalls multiple times and restarts briefly before dying again. One owner crashed into a cement wall when the vehicle jerked and stalled during parking. After stalling, the engine typically restarts but the failure repeats. NHTSA Recall 09V169000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) was issued but does not cover all VINs; dealers cite the recall exclusion when denying repair assistance.
A separate group of complaints centers on coolant smell and depletion. Multiple owners report a persistent coolant odor when the engine is hot and have experienced significant reservoir loss on long drives. Dealers have inspected these vehicles repeatedly (up to seven times in one case) without finding the source or performing repairs.
Motor mount weakness is acknowledged by a Nissan service manager as an industry-wide issue on the Murano, yet no recall exists. One owner reports the dealer blamed motor mount failure for an air intake issue, replaced the mounts, and the stalling problem persisted.
A catastrophic engine fire occurred in one vehicle—burning completely in a matter of minutes with no dashboard warning. A transmission failed and was replaced under warranty; within a week, transfer case seals leaked smoke. The dealer replaced seals once, but they failed again; Nissan then refused warranty coverage.
Other complaints cite engine tapping on cold start, oil leaks fouling adjacent components, piston melt from running lean, and rusty exhaust bolts.
Same Nissan Murano engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling / Loss of Power While Driving
Engine stalls, jerks, or loses power without warning while the vehicle is in motion at highway and city speeds. The vehicle either shuts down completely or experiences jerking before shutdown. Incidents occur repeatedly in some cases and pose safety hazards, including near-collisions and inability to move to a safe location.
When: 40,800 miles to 183,000 miles; occurs while driving at various speeds (30–60 MPH)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Loss of power during acceleration; Vehicle jerks before stalling; Check engine light illuminates (in some cases); No warning light on dashboard (in other cases); Engine restarts after stalling; Repeated failure
Codes mentioned: P0101, P0172
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #2 mentions motor mounts were replaced (did not resolve air intake stalling issue); Narrative #3 lists over $2,500 in needed repairs; Narrative #4 reports fuel filter and catalytic converter replacements; Narrative #9 documents dealer inspection after recall repair; Narrative #15 mentions fuel injection system cleaning and loose 'bello boot' (bellows boot)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign 09V169000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); Some owners' VINs not covered by recall; Dealer denies liability when VIN not in recall database; Recall repair performed in Narrative #9 but stalling continued
Engine Fire (Undiagnosed Electrical/Fuel System Failure)
Interior cabin fire originating between the front passenger seats, total loss of vehicle. No warning indicators on dashboard before fire onset. Fire developed approximately 5 minutes after owner stepped away from parked vehicle.
When: 5/29/10; approximately 64,000 miles (purchased 11/07/09, fire on 5/29/10 is roughly 6 months of ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell when starting engine; Heat felt on front passenger armrest area minutes before fire; Trunk hatch melted; Interior fire between front seats
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was total loss; no repairs attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealer (Nissan Passport) directed owner to contact Nissan manufacturing; owner unable to reach Nissan consumer affairs after repeated attempts
Coolant Smell and Possible Coolant Leak
Persistent coolant odor from engine bay when motor is hot. Coolant reservoir depletes significantly over long drives. Dealer unable to diagnose or repair the issue after multiple visits.
When: Multiple visits documented; long trips show significant coolant loss
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant smell from engine when motor is hot; Coolant reservoir level drops significantly on long drives; No visible leak identified by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspected multiple times (5 times documented, 2 undocumented) with no repair or replacement performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued for coolant leak/smell; Nissan refused to replace or repurchase vehicle per Narrative #11
Motor Mount Failure
Weak motor mounts that fail prematurely. Service manager acknowledged across-the-board weakness in Murano motor mounts, yet replacement was not recalled. Owners report having to replace motor mounts multiple times—unusual for vehicles with lower mileage.
When: Not specified in narratives; recognized as widespread issue by dealer service manager
Symptoms owners cite: Poor engine performance; Near accidents caused by performance issues
Repairs/costs cited: Motor mounts replaced in Narrative #2; did not resolve the air intake issue despite dealer claim it would
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite service manager acknowledging weakness is industry-wide, not vehicle-specific
Loud Engine Tapping/Rattling on Cold Start
Loud tapping or rattling noise from front of engine bay on cold start. Noise increases with acceleration until 40–45 MPH, then diminishes. Noise nearly disappears once engine warms up. Also associated with difficult left-turn power steering.
When: Cold start conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Loud tapping or rattling from front of engine; Noise increases with acceleration; Noise diminishes at 40–45 MPH; Noise disappears when engine warms; Difficulty turning steering wheel left (possible unrelated symptom)
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #7 indicates vehicle scheduled for dealer inspection but no resolution reported
Oil Leak Causing Secondary Damage
Oil leaks from engine and contaminates other engine components, causing them to fail. Multiple repair shops identified the same issue.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from engine; Oil contaminating other engine parts; Damage to components contacted by oil
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #17 reports multiple repair locations found the same problem but provides no specific repair details or costs
Engine Running Lean / Piston Failure
Engine runs lean (fuel-air ratio too lean), causing piston to melt and engine failure. Associated with oil loss and no oil pressure warning light.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Engine running lean; Piston melted; Oil loss with no warning light; Seat damage requiring welding
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #18 mentions seat welded and piston replaced; 4-cylinder engine affected
Transmission / Transfer Case Failure and Smoke
Transmission fails; replaced under extended warranty. Within one week, heavy smoking from transmission area. Transfer case seals replaced, but seals fail again one week later. Nissan refuses warranty coverage, claiming seals inside transfer case failed due to 'other causes.'
When: After transmission replacement; smoking begins one week post-repair
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission failure; Smoke from transmission area; Transfer case seal failure (repeated)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced under extended warranty; transfer case seals replaced at dealer (Southside Nissan, Vancouver, BC); second seal replacement denied warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty covered initial transmission replacement; second seal repair denied warranty, Nissan claims seals failed for reasons outside warranty scope
Rusty Muffler Bolts / Exhaust System Corrosion
Muffler mounting bolts corroded and required replacement. Dealer stated bolt assembly needs replacement.
When: At 48,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Muffler bolts rusted
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended replacement of bolt assembly; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan stated no recalls address this failure
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2006 Nissan Murano?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2006 Nissan Murano?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 48,900 and 165,000 miles, with the median around 85,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 48,900; a quarter make it past 165,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Nissan/Murano.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.