2011 Nissan Murano problems
The 2011 Nissan Murano has 148 NHTSA owner complaints and no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
The 2011 Nissan Murano has 148 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is brakes at 37 complaints, typically surfacing around 88,862 miles (~$450 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Murano | 635 | 4 |
| 2010 Murano | 189 | 0 |
| 2011 Murano (this page) | 148 | 0 |
| 2012 Murano | 134 | 1 |
| 2013 Murano | 72 | 1 |
| 2014 Murano | 144 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
NHTSA crash-test safety ratings 4 / 5 overall
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2011 Nissan Murano SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Buying a used 2011 Nissan Murano? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- brakes — 37 owner reports · tends to show around 88,862 mi · ~$450 to fix
- powertrain — 37 owner reports · tends to show around 91,259 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
- airbags — 11 owner reports · tends to show around 88,640 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
- suspension — 10 owner reports · ~$900 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 88,640 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2011 Nissan Murano
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
Your road ahead on this 2011 Nissan Murano
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
- ~27,500 mivisibility~$350
- ~87,000 mibrakes~$450
- ~90,000 mipowertrain~$2,500
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Less than 100,000 miles on the car, 4 engine mounts are cracked, never off road, used for commuting and travel on highways. On chat board for murano owners, found several other instances of cracked motor mounts, happening as early as approximately 30,000 miles. Not sure of…
Vehicle is in motion on a city street. When braking over a bump, brake pedal drops to the floor, vehicle does not stop. Brake malfunction - unsafe condition.it happened twice in a month. Independent shop stated to replace anti-lock brake's hydraulic control unit. Nissan will…
My car is working perfectly fine and with oil change at Nissan dealer (30 days back), I found no issues. Today, while driving at 30-35 MPH, the brakes pedal went all the way to the floor and car did not stop easily on the turn. I was almost going to hit another car but survived.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan murano. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and caused the front passenger seat classification system to fail. When the passenger seat was occupied, the air bag system would deactivate. The dealer advised the…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2011 Nissan Murano reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 148 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Nissan Murano is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Nissan Murano?
On the NHTSA data, the 2011 Nissan Murano does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2011 Nissan Murano?
Inspect the brakes first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 37 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 88,862 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2011 Nissan Murano a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 148 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is brakes. Typical failure occurs around 88,862 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Nissan Murano?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 37 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 88,862 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 88,640 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Murano has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Nissan Murano?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 148 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.