STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Nissan Murano suspension problems
moderate 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 25 suspension complaints filed for the 2006 Nissan Murano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 9 model years of Nissan Murano in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This SKU is a Suspension Ball Joint. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for the outer diameter of the ball joint housing being too small. The outer diameter being too small would prevent the part from being installed, and would therefore have no impact on the end user besides time to complete installation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; VIBRATION AND/OR NOISE WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗IF YOU CONFIRM There is a vibration or judder feeling from the rear of the vehicle; when making, turns, on dry roads, or at low speeds (under 40 MPH), and the vibration does not occur if the Electric Controlled Coupling is electrically disconnected. ACTION Replace the Electric Controlled Coupling for the rear final drive. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue in these narratives is severe rear subframe rust and structural failure. Owners consistently describe the K-frame/subframe corroding from inside out, eventually cracking, breaking in multiple places, or separating from the vehicle body. At 80,000–120,000 miles, this corrosion causes rear tires to camber inward, produce excessive inside-edge wear down to steel belting, and create a sensation of rear-end swaying or instability. In the worst cases, rear suspension disconnects from the vehicle during highway driving, resulting in loss of steering control and potential wheel lock-up. Multiple owners note this problem is common across 2004–2007 Muranos and point to water entering small drain holes in the frame member as the root cause.
Secondary suspension complaints include lower control arm bushing cracking (causing loss of steering control over bumps and brake lag), front-left wheel bearing failure around 47,000 miles, seat rail detachment or seat frame collapse at low mileage (40,000–51,000 miles), and axle boot leaks. One owner reported rear differential damage from using a dealer-supplied spare tire on an AWD vehicle.
Nissan has not issued a recall for the subframe issue. Customer Affairs states warranty does not cover rust damage. Repair estimates are high, and dealers have reported some subframe damage is unrepairable due to the extent of corrosion.
Same Nissan Murano suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Rear subframe rust-through and structural failure
The rear K-frame/subframe experiences severe corrosion from inside out, causing complete rust-through, cracking, and structural collapse. Owners report the frame becomes disconnected from the vehicle body or breaks in multiple places.
When: Typically 80,000–120,000 miles; some reported at routine service or during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Rear tires camber inward (lean/flare inward); Excessive inside-edge tire wear down to steel belting; Rear suspension feels unstable; vehicle sways side-to-side on the road; Rear wheels lock up or lose steering control temporarily; Tires start squealing when turning; Visible rust and corrosion on K-frame/subframe during inspection; Sway bar links disconnect or become loose; No warning lights before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report subframe replacement needed at high cost; some mechanics state the damage is unrepairable due to extent of frame corrosion. Owners cite lack of available replacement parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan Customer Affairs states warranty does not cover rust damage. No recalls issued despite widespread owner complaints citing this as common issue across 2004–2007 model years.
Front-left wheel bearing failure
Front-left wheel bearing wears out and fails, creating grinding noise and loss of wheel integrity.
When: 47,000–51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from front-left wheel area; Wheel bearing deteriorates
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid $500 for wheel bearing repair.
Lower control arm bushing cracking and failure
Lower control arm bushings crack and fail, causing loss of steering control during road bumps and braking issues.
When: 58,000 miles (failure detected; current mileage 73,000 at report)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bounces when hitting bumps; Loss of steering control momentarily; Brakes fail to stop vehicle immediately when applied
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan noted one goodwill gesture to replace lower arm bushing at their expense; other reports indicate repair was not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer filed report 7198074 and denied assistance. One instance of goodwill replacement offered.
Seat rail/frame detachment and seat collapse
Driver or passenger seat detaches from rail or seat frame collapses, making seat unsafe and unstable.
When: 40,000–51,000 miles (some reported present when vehicle purchased used)
Symptoms owners cite: Seat moves around while driving; Left side of driver seat rocks back and forth; Seat unstable and uncomfortable to drive; Front passenger side seat detaches from rail
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership quoted $1,300 for entire seat replacement because the defective part is no longer made. Owner paid for wheel bearing repair ($500) but seat issue remained unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refuses to pay for seat repairs or recall the parts.
Axle boot leak (CV/drive axle boot)
Axle boots leak continuously, requiring ongoing maintenance.
When: Early ownership (reported at 800 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Axle boot leaks continuously
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attributed leak to rock damage; owner disputes this.
Rear differential damage from spare tire use
Use of dealer-provided spare tire on an AWD vehicle causes rear differential damage, resulting in rear wheels gripping and potentially locking up.
When: During driving at 50 mph on spare tire
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheels grip at 50 mph; Wheels would have locked up if driving continued
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response mentioned; issue attributed to inappropriate spare tire selection for AWD vehicle.
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Subframe rust through and broke, causing lost control of car. Car became dangerous and unsafe to drive, with expensive repairs due to the break. Research shows that many people with the same car, or similar years, have had same issue. Brake of subframe was while moving on highway, causing drift of car with no control of back wheels, putting myself and other cars in danger. Additional…
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2006 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 58,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 121,044. A quarter of owners report trouble before 58,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.