When stepping on the gas after stopping at a stop light or similar situation, the car acts like it's stalling for 2 - 3 seconds before finally going forward. It's intermittent. I've been told by the Nissan dealership that when they did the diagnostic check, that the error code P0868 came up long enough to be caught for the report but did not stop at that error code. This error code says it's…
2010 Nissan Murano powertrain problems
moderate 38 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 38 powertrain complaints filed for the 2010 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 38 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.
Powertrain accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2010 Nissan Murano has serious, recurring powertrain issues—especially CVT transmission failure and transfer case leaks—that owners report happening multiple times over the vehicle's life and often beyond warranty. Expect costly out-of-pocket repairs ($1,300–$5,600+) for transmission and case replacement, along with real safety risks from sudden loss of acceleration on highways and in traffic.
Owners of 2010 Nissan Muranos describe a pattern of CVT transmission failure starting in the 30,000–70,000 mile range, with loss of acceleration being the hallmark symptom. The transmission enters "limp mode," where the engine revs but delivers little or no power to the wheels; the vehicle crawls from a standstill (0–15 mph taking over 10 seconds) or fails to accelerate at all. This happens most often after highway driving in hot weather or during heavy stop-and-go traffic, and it recurs even after transmission replacement—some owners report needing two or three transmissions before 150,000 miles.
The transfer case compounds the problem. It has a design flaw where a tab presses against the engine block, causing the sealed case to leak fluid gradually and eventually fail. Owners report brown oily puddles in the garage or sudden clattering noises that signal internal gear failure. The case often fails shortly after CVT replacement, leaving owners with back-to-back major repairs.
Nissan extended the CVT warranty to 120,000 miles, but the transfer case is not covered—even though it frequently fails during or just after the transmission warranty period. Owners report Nissan acknowledging the design flaw via service bulletins while refusing recalls or warranty coverage beyond the stated limits. Out-of-pocket costs routinely exceed $3,000–$5,600 per repair, and the safety implications of sudden loss of acceleration on highways are significant.
Same Nissan Murano powertrain reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Loss of Acceleration / Limp Mode
The transmission enters a limp mode where the vehicle fails to accelerate when the gas pedal is pressed, especially after extended periods of highway driving or in stop-and-go traffic in hot weather. Acceleration becomes extremely sluggish (0–15 mph taking over 10 seconds); once speed exceeds 15 mph, normal acceleration resumes. In some cases, the vehicle stops accelerating entirely and requires a restart to recover.
When: Typically after 200+ miles of heavy stop-and-go traffic in hot weather, or intermittently during normal driving; failures reported between 38,424 miles and 171,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No acceleration response despite full pedal depression; Extremely slow acceleration from standstill (0–15 mph over 10+ seconds); Intermittent loss of power; vehicle maintains speed on level roads but loses speed on inclines; High engine RPM with no torque delivery; Check engine light illumination; RPM fluctuation without cause; Transmission slipping in and out of gear; Vehicle stalls or stops in traffic; requires shutdown and restart to regain power
Codes mentioned: P0868, P1778
Repairs/costs cited: CVT transmission replacement; costs reported between $3,000–$5,600. Some replacements done under extended warranty (120,000 miles); multiple owners report needing two or three transmissions before 150,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan extended CVT warranty to 120,000 miles (10 years on some models). Service bulletins issued for some model years. Dealers often claim they cannot duplicate symptoms or deny warranty coverage beyond mileage limit, even if replacement unit has fewer actual miles.
Transfer Case Leakage and Failure
Transfer case design flaw: a protruding tab contacts the engine block, causing the case to leak fluid. The leak can go undetected until internal gears fail. When operating, the case may produce grinding or clattering noises and eventually fail completely, causing loss of drive or sudden inability to move forward.
When: Reported after 64,535 miles, 66,785 miles, 72,549 miles; failures occur throughout the vehicle's life and often surface just after warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Brown oily fluid leaking in garage; Transmission fails shortly after CVT replacement (sometimes within days); Clattering or grinding noises from drivetrain; Loss of acceleration or complete inability to drive; Vehicle seizes up or stops suddenly; Sludge buildup in transfer case
Repairs/costs cited: Transfer case replacement required; costs reported between $1,300–$5,600. Nissan redesigned later transfer cases without the problematic tab; owners report out-of-pocket costs when warranty does not cover.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan knows of the design flaw and issued service bulletins to dealerships on how to replace or repair. Designed replacement units without the tab. Transfer case is not covered under the extended CVT warranty; Nissan has refused recalls despite widespread complaints and multiple class action lawsuits.
Rear Differential and Front Axle Failure
Internal gear failure in the rear differential causing damage; sometimes occurs in conjunction with transmission or transfer case work. Front axle also reported to require replacement.
When: At 65,000 miles; can occur shortly after other drivetrain service or independently
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle binding up when backing; Clunking noises when attempting to move forward; Complete loss of drive
Repairs/costs cited: Rear differential and front axle replacement; costs reported around $552–$3,000+. Often discovered during diagnostic work for other drivetrain issues.
Synthesized from 38 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Transfer case I cracked resulting in a sudden stop as I was driving on the road.
The vehicle was in transit durin mid day on a city street when it stopped accelerating and started making noises. Was able to drive very slowly to Nissan dealership. The vehicle had 126,000 miles so just over the 120,000 extension. Nissan refuses to cover it.
The car is losing power at random times then all of a sudden will lurch forward at full power. This has cause me to almost get into numerous accidents. The dealer has adi that since there isnt a code coming up that they cant do anything. Ive read on the web that many other people have had this issue and that its a transmission issue but that Nissan wont issue a recall.
My vehicle intermittently loses power when going uphill or accelerating. For example, two days ago I was driving up steep hills in the tn mountains at less than 20 MPH. While accelerating the vehicle lost power. I smashed the accelerator to the floor and nothing happened. I stopped the vehicle and put it into park, and then back to drive. The vehicle was able to accelerate as normal.…
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping in and out of gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed, the camshaft position sensor, and the power train system also had failed. The dealer and the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 38 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 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 64,535 and 135,000 miles, with the median around 99,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 64,535; a quarter make it past 135,000. 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/2010/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.