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moderate 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Of the 33 engine complaints filed for the 2007 Nissan Murano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
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.
Of the 10 model years of Nissan Murano we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 33.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Nissan Murano has a pattern of serious, potentially dangerous engine failures—intake ducts separating at highway speeds causing sudden stalls, transfer case seals failing around 77,000–84,000 miles with $4,500+ repair bills, and random engine shutdowns with no warning. Beyond the engine itself, expect premature battery failures, failed cooling systems that don't alert you, and transmission problems; Nissan has resisted recalls and warranty coverage even when defects are widespread.
The 2007 Murano shows a troubling pattern of sudden, unwarned engine stalls at highway speeds—sometimes during turns, sometimes while idling—with multiple owners narrowly avoiding accidents. The most common culprit appears to be intake air ducts separating from the manifold or resonator, a defect Nissan addressed in Technical Bulletin NTB09-038 (2009), though some dealers have denied applying the recall to affected vehicles.
The transfer case presents another major problem: seals and O-rings fail around 77,000–84,000 miles, dumping oil and destroying the case. Dealers quote $2,750–$4,500 to repair, and dealerships keep the parts in stock—a sign Nissan is aware of the defect. Yet warranty denials and corporate refusals to recall are common.
Engine mounts crack early (32,000+ miles), and owners report replacing crankshaft sensors, camshaft sensors, timing chains, and radiators prematurely. Temperature gauges fail to warn of overheating; batteries die three times in three years on new vehicles; exhaust manifolds crack. One owner had the motor seize at 96,600 miles despite no oil-pressure warning.
Nissan's response across these complaints is consistent: deny warranty coverage once the vehicle ages out, refuse to issue recalls despite knowing of widespread defects, and resist owner requests for assistance or investigation. Multiple owners escalated complaints to regional specialists and corporate supervisors only to be turned away, then considered hiring lawyers.
Same Nissan Murano engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2009
Intake air ducts separate from the intake manifold or resonator, causing sudden engine stall with no warning, often at highway speeds. Premature aging of the plastic ducts leads to repeated failures even after reconnection or replacement.
When: 40,000–100,000+ miles; can recur within months of repair
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while driving or idling; Loss of power and engine control; Difficulty restarting until air ducts are manually reconnected; Check engine light may illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Manual reconnection is temporary; permanent fix requires replacement of intake air ducts. Repeated repairs noted by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign NTB09-038 (July 16, 2009) issued for intake duct separation; however, some dealers denied recall application (e.g., Clay Cooley Nissan, Austin, TX, Nov. 2017). Campaign 09V169000 cited in complaints but not all affected vehicles included.
Crankshaft position sensor malfunction causes sudden engine stall, often at low to moderate speeds, with service engine warning light illumination. Failure occurs relatively early in vehicle life.
When: ~50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service engine warning light illuminates; Sudden engine stall without warning; Vehicle requires tow
Repairs/costs cited: Crankshaft position sensor replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory warranty covers repair (per complaint #9)
Camshaft sensor malfunction causes repeated engine stalls and poor acceleration, particularly under air conditioning load. Owner reports replacing the sensor three times without resolving the issue.
When: Repeated failures noted; accelerates under A/C load
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls during driving, especially at stop signs and traffic lights; Poor acceleration; Worse performance when air conditioning is on; Highway driving becomes unsafe
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft sensor replaced three times in one vehicle without permanent resolution
Oil pan and upper oil pan develop leaks due to faulty seals, O-rings, or design defects. Upper oil pan has been discontinued, making replacement difficult. Oil pan gasket or seal failures occur across multiple vehicles.
When: Variable; noted at 77,000 miles and after 1+ year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from pan or seals; Oil visible under vehicle; Smoking or burning smell from engine; Oil loss requiring frequent top-ups
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan gasket/seal replacement (~$400 for seal work). Upper oil pan discontinued at dealerships; parts sourcing difficult.
Transfer case seal and O-ring malfunction, causing catastrophic oil leakage that damages the transfer case. Occurs at relatively low mileage; repair costs are substantial. Multiple owners report Nissan knew of the problem but did not issue a recall.
When: 77,000–84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud sound from under vehicle; Oil leak damaging transfer case; Transfer case inoperability
Repairs/costs cited: Transfer case seal/oil seal/O-ring replacement costs $2,750–$4,500+ including parts, labor, and tax. Dealerships stock the part, suggesting known issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan denied warranty coverage after vehicle exceeded 3-year/100,000-mile warranty limits. Corporate regional specialists refused to offer assistance; owners report Nissan knew of the problem but did not recall vehicles.
Engine mounts crack or fail, causing excessive engine movement and vibration. Occurs relatively early in vehicle service life, sometimes triggering additional repairs.
When: 32,000–unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shifts excessively when vehicle is placed in gear; Abnormal vibration under acceleration; Persistent shifting/clunking sensation
Repairs/costs cited: Engine mount replacement; additional repairs may be required due to cascading damage (repair cost cited as over $600 in one case)
Plastic coolant reserve tank develops cracks at seams or edges without obvious damage or wear, indicating a design flaw. Dealerships stock replacement parts readily, suggesting awareness of the defect.
When: Unknown; noticed during oil change service
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leak under vehicle; Crack in tank edge or seam
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant reserve tank replacement required
Radiator fails prematurely; temperature gauge does not alert driver to overheating, creating a safety hazard. Vehicle begins smoking and losing coolant with no dashboard warning.
When: 34,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle begins smoking; Coolant leaking throughout vehicle; Temperature gauge continues to read normal despite overheating; Engine smell
Repairs/costs cited: Radiator replacement; owner reports Nissan insisted gauge can read cool even if radiator fails
Battery fails repeatedly despite being new or under warranty, with the third battery needed within 3 years and under 35,000 miles. Second battery failed at less than 26,000 miles despite being marketed as an 84,000-mile battery.
When: 6 months after purchase (first), ~26,000 miles (second, under warranty), ongoing within 3 years
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle dies and will not start; Car loses power while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement (third in 3 years). Nissan fought warranty claim for second battery.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan denied electrical issue; insisted battery failures were not an electrical problem
Rear exhaust manifold develops cracks, causing abnormal engine noise and exhaust fumes inside and outside the vehicle.
When: 96,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from engine; Exhaust fumes present inside and outside vehicle
Engine stalls randomly during driving, at highway speeds, during turns, or while idling, with no warning lights or prior symptoms. Often occurs without diagnosis. Some instances may be related to transfer case or other identified failures, but root cause not determined in all cases.
When: 40,000–167,120 miles; can be recurrent
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while driving or idling; Stall during turns (right or left); Stall may be followed by automatic restart; No warning lights in some cases; check engine light in others; Loss of power and control at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Varies; some owners unable to obtain diagnosis; others cited intake duct separation, transfer case, or timing chain/belt issues as cause
Timing chain wears out or fails prematurely, causing engine seizure or stall. Engine seizes with little to no warning despite burning oil.
When: 96,600 miles; also noted at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine sluggish before failure; Oil burning after motor seized; Sudden engine shutdown on highway; No dashboard warning
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain replacement; motor may be seized beyond repair
Transmission fails suddenly without warning at highway speeds. Dealer notes this model year is known for bad transmissions.
When: 115,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission dies on interstate; Vehicle loses all propulsion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged 2007 Murano is known for transmission problems
Drive belts crack prematurely. Owner reported Nissan refused warranty coverage for this issue.
When: Early in service life (under 35,000 miles in cited vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Visible belt cracks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refused to cover under warranty
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
The car stalled and stopped suddenly with no warning. Had it towed and found out it was the transfer case. *js
Seal on Nissan murano 2007 with 77,000 miles malfunctioned/exploded causing oil to leak damaging the transfer case. Both my mechanic and the service area of the dealership mentioned that they had not seen anything like this. Dealership came back with a quote of about $4,500; car is not under warranty. I told them not to service it at this time; that was unacceptable and should not happen on a 3…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 33 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 78,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 96,600. A quarter of owners report trouble before 78,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.