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 ↗2009 Nissan Murano suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 Nissan Murano have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Murano | 14 |
| 2006 Murano | 25 |
| 2007 Murano | 90 |
| 2009 Murano (this page) | 15 |
| 2010 Murano | 14 |
| 2011 Murano | 10 |
| 2012 Murano | 3 |
What stands out
Among the 9 model years of Nissan Murano in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #3 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 ↗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 ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report severe rust and structural failure of the rear subframe and K-frame on 2009 Muranos across multiple years of ownership. Rust penetrates through the subframe metal down to bushing contact surfaces, leaving only a fraction of original material in some cases. Vehicles exhibit squeaking, clunking, and rolling noises from the rear, particularly on the passenger side, that worsen when hitting bumps. Steering misalignment, off-center steering wheel, and rear axle misalignment develop as the frame loses structural integrity. On the highway, vehicles sway uncontrollably when encountering bumps—a hazard owners correctly identify as dangerous.
Most troubling: owners describe their mechanics and even Nissan dealers calling the vehicles undrivable and deeming them safety hazards, yet Nissan denies warranty coverage claiming the problem falls outside ownership timeframe. One owner notes Nissan issued recalls for identical rust failure on 2006 Altimas and Maximas but refuses the same coverage for Muranos. Parts are on national backorder in some cases. Several owners, including a professional mechanic, report spending thousands for frame replacement on 9–16-year-old vehicles that were otherwise well-maintained. One owner's mechanic of 35 years stated the rear could collapse and tires could separate during highway driving—a structural risk Nissan has declined to address with a recall.
Same Nissan Murano suspension reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Rear subframe/K-frame rust and structural failure
The rear subframe and K-frame suffer advanced corrosion that weakens structural integrity, causing metal to become dangerously thin or break completely. Owners report rust penetrating from exterior to bushing contact surfaces, reducing load-bearing capacity. Failure can occur before frame reaches end of service life, even on well-maintained vehicles.
When: Between 5–16 years of ownership; 160,000+ miles reported; some discovered during routine maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: Audible squeaking and clunking from rear passenger side, worsened by bumps; Thumping or rolling noise from rear of vehicle; Steering wheel misalignment and off-center steering wheel; Rear wheels out of alignment (tires flaring, unusual wear patterns); Vehicle sway or loss of control on highway, especially when bumps are hit; Tires worn to belts on inside edges due to alignment distortion
Repairs/costs cited: Full K-frame or subframe replacement required, often costing thousands; rear tires and alignment correction needed; exhaust replacement may be required; mechanics have reported parts on national backorder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealers have deemed vehicles non-drivable but deny warranty coverage outside specified timeframe; no recall issued for 2009 Murano despite recall issued for 2006 Altima and Maxima with identical rust issue; some owners report Nissan stated the problem does not arise within the ownership timeframe
Front lower control arm bushing deterioration
Lower control arm bushings on the front suspension deteriorate and tear, likely due to inadequate corrosion protection or material durability under road salt and moisture exposure.
When: Detected during state vehicle inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Torn or failing lower control arm bushings visible during inspection
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 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?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 142,603 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2009/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.