ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR BINDING FEELING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Nissan Murano powertrain problems
moderate 54 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
54
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 54 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Nissan Murano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 54 powertrain 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 14 model years of Nissan Murano in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
NISSAN AWD MODELS; ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR JUDDER FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN AWD MODELS; ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR JUDDER FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; VIBRATION AND/OR NOISE WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS IF YOU CONFIRM There is a vibration or judder feeling from the rear of the vehicle during the following conditions: ï· When making turns ï· On dry roads ï· At low speeds (under 40 MPH) And ï· The above vibration does not occur if the Electric Controlled Coupling is electrically disconnected. NOTE: In some cases, electrically disconnecting the Electric Controlled Coupling may not eliminate the vibration as described above. In these cases, further confirm the incident by removing the rear propeller shaft and retest. If the vibration does not occur with the rear propeller shaft removed, the incident is confirmed. IMPORTANT: Tire siz
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; VIBRATION AND/OR NOISE WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS This bulletin applies only to vehicles equipped with AWD (All-Wheel Drive) or 4WD (4-Wheel Drive). This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES and PARTS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made. Please discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2007 Nissan Muranos report a cluster of powertrain failures, most centered on the CVT transmission and transfer case. The transmission problems include abrupt loss of power while accelerating, jerking or surging behavior, inability to shift properly (staying locked in one gear), grinding or squealing noises, and complete stalling in traffic. Several owners report the CVT belt breaking prematurely around 100,000–130,000 miles despite the extended 120,000-mile warranty. The transmission often goes into "limp mode" or loses all responsiveness when the accelerator is pressed.
Transfer case failures are equally common. Owners report cracked cases, fluid leaks onto the hot exhaust manifold, and seal failures that occur repeatedly even after repair. One owner had the transfer case rebuilt twice in under two years. The leaks create a burning-oil smell and, per one narrative, a fire risk from fluid dripping onto exhaust components.
Several owners also report rear differential fractures and cracked housings. Motor and transmission mount failures cause severe vibration and banging when accelerating. One owner paid $2,900 to replace all motor and transmission mounts at 74,000 miles.
In multiple cases, power loss occurred while merging onto highways or at traffic lights, creating dangerous situations where following vehicles nearly struck the disabled Murano. Nissan dealers consistently deny warranty coverage by claiming the transfer case is unrelated to the CVT warranty, leaving owners with repair bills ranging from $1,250 to $6,500.
Same Nissan Murano powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
CVT transmission failure and loss of power
CVT transmission loses power or responsiveness during acceleration; engine revs without the vehicle moving forward; transmission enters limp mode or stalls. Occurs at various mileages, often after 100,000 miles.
When: 100,000–130,000 miles typical; one case at 11,303 miles; one at 119,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs but vehicle does not accelerate; Loss of all power transmission; Stalling during acceleration or in traffic; Vehicle enters limp mode; No response to gas pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement CVT transmission quoted at $4,000–$6,500; some owners report CVT belt breaking prematurely; replacement transmissions sometimes failed again; one owner paid $500 for CVT replacement under existing warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended CVT warranty to 120,000 miles (doubled from 60,000 miles); Nissan denies coverage if mileage exceeds 120,000 or claims transfer case is separate; some dealers replaced transmission but refused to cover costs; Nissan Consumer Affairs did not respond to complaints
CVT transmission jerking, surging, and shifting problems
Transmission jerks abruptly, surges forward unexpectedly, or refuses to shift gears smoothly. Vehicle shakes or shudders during acceleration. Some owners report transmission stuck in a single gear or unable to change gears.
When: Occurs at various mileages; one report at 29,000 miles; common throughout ownership; one at 129,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt jerking or lurching forward; Surging and uncontrolled acceleration; Transmission shaking or extreme vibration when accelerating; Transmission stuck in third gear; Delayed or no gear shifts despite applying throttle; Grinding noise from transmission
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had torque converter replaced ($1,000); one owner had valve body changed; multiple owners had transmission replaced; some repairs did not resolve the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty to 120,000 miles; dealers often claim no fault code and vehicle is safe to drive despite symptoms; some replaced transmissions at owner cost
Transfer case seal and fluid leaks
Transfer case seals fail, causing transmission fluid to leak, often onto the hot exhaust manifold below. Burning oil smell reported. Leaks occur on both new and rebuilt transfer cases. Fire risk from fluid contact with hot exhaust.
When: Leaks reported at 11,303 miles after first repair attempt; repeated leaks 4 months, 8 months, and 7 months after repairs; 66,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning oil smell; Visible fluid leaks under the vehicle; Smoke from under the hood; Leak onto hot exhaust manifold
Repairs/costs cited: Seal replacement quoted at $1,250–$1,500; transfer case rebuild $1,800; multiple owners had to have seals and case rebuilt repeatedly; one owner had case replaced three times (at 11,303 miles, 15,000 miles, and 66,000 miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin issued detailing transfer case rebuild requirement; Nissan claims transfer case is not covered by CVT extended warranty despite mounting location and integration with CVT; some dealers attempted seal replacement, which proved temporary
Transfer case cracking and structural failure
Transfer case housing cracks or breaks, sometimes catastrophically. Cracks appear in both rear and front ends of the powertrain. One owner reported visible cracks with gears exposed inside.
When: 66,000 miles (one owner); 60,000 miles (one owner reports 600 miles after threshold); around 75,000–80,000 miles in several reports
Symptoms owners cite: Loud flat-tire-like sound; Vehicle loses power on highway; Visible cracks in rear or front end housing; Loud binding or clunking noise; Gears visibly broken inside housing; Metal scraping and screeching sound
Repairs/costs cited: Repair estimates $3,000–$6,000; one owner paid $6,000 for both rear and front end powertrain cracks; another quote $3,500; cracking can reoccur after repair (one owner had case rebuilt, cracked again within months)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered by standard warranty (expires at 60,000 miles for transfer case); Nissan denies responsibility; one dealer refused repair because owner was 600 miles past 60,000-mile warranty threshold; no recalls issued
Rear differential cracking and fracture
Rear differential housing cracks or shatters completely. One owner observed yellow grease mark suggesting previous replacement. Loud grinding or binding noise from rear.
When: At or near 75,000 miles; 160,000 miles (rust-related subframe break, separate issue)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding or binding noise from rear; Severe noise on highway; Visible cracked or shattered differential housing; Gears broken or exposed
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair costs cited; owners report replacement required; one indicates yellow grease mark suggests prior failure and replacement of same part
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls; no warranty coverage mentioned; dealer did not offer assistance in one report
Motor and transmission mount failure
Motor mounts and transmission mounts fail prematurely, causing severe vibration, clunking, and banging sounds when accelerating or driving. All mounts fail within the same repair event.
When: 65,000–74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme vibration when driving; Thump, clunking, and banging sound on engine; Noise when depressing gas pedal; Noticeable shaking during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of all motor and transmission mounts cost $2,900 at Nissan dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls; Nissan dealer performed repair
Transfer case propeller shaft fastener failure
Drive shaft was not properly tightened after transfer case installation, causing it to fall off the vehicle during highway driving. Attributed to human error during service, but indicates lack of quality control.
When: 11,303 miles after transfer case service
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power on highway; Loud clunking noise; Vehicle inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as improperly tightened propeller shaft after transfer case installation; vehicle repaired and expenses reimbursed by dealer in California
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged human error and reimbursed expenses
Synthesized from 54 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I purchased my car labor day of 2010. In april 2011, my car was diagnosed with having a cracked transfer case. I spent $1800 to have it fixed and now december 27, 2011 my transfer case is cracked again. I have only had my car for a little over a year and I don't believe I should be going through this and putting our more money when I owe so much on it. I don't understand what is going on but I am…
Hello, I own a 2007 Nissan murano and have just had an issue where the entire sub frame has broken in half due to rust. The car is not even 10 years old (160k miles) at this point and I was wondering if such a dangerous issue would be eligible for repair via Nissan? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2007 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 powertrain problem on the 2007 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 54 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 45 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 62,048 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 91,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 62,048; a quarter make it past 115,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2007/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.