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 not sell the part. Brought to Nissan dealer to check and stated it is normal. Nissan found everything operating normally…
2011 Nissan Murano brakes problems
moderate 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
When does it fail?
Of the 37 brakes complaints filed for the 2011 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 37 brakes 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 13 model years of Nissan Murano in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A significant cluster of 2011 Nissan Murano brake failures involves intermittent loss of pedal pressure, often triggered by bumps or hard braking, causing the pedal to travel to the floor. The issue appears linked to ABS system faults (control module, sensor, or hydraulic unit) and persists even after master cylinder and brake service; Nissan has not issued a recall despite similar failures being recalled in 2009 and 2015+ model years.
Owners of 2011 Nissan Muranos describe intermittent brake failures where the pedal suddenly goes spongy or travels all the way to the floor, often triggered by driving over bumps, potholes, speed bumps, or hard braking. The vehicle loses braking pressure and stops poorly or not at all, creating immediate collision hazards. The problem usually corrects itself after the vehicle sits idle for hours or a day, then reappears unpredictably.
Owners report this happens at any speed from low-speed parking-lot maneuvers to highway driving (up to 65 mph). Most cite no warning lights. Several owners took their vehicles to Nissan dealerships for diagnosis but were told "everything looks normal" or the brakes wouldn't fail during inspection, leaving them unrepaired. Master cylinder replacement—often costing $600–$900—does not resolve the problem in multiple cases documented here.
Independent mechanics and one dealership technician have pointed to ABS system faults: a faulty ABS control module, ABS sensor module, or hydraulic control unit (HCU) allowing air into brake lines or sticking. Replacement of these components runs $1,300–$2,000. Notably, owners cite Nissan recalls for the same issue on 2009 and 2015+ Muranos, but the 2011 model year falls in a "recall gap" and is not covered, leaving owners to bear full repair cost.
Same Nissan Murano brakes reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal spongy or goes to floor—intermittent loss of braking pressure
Brake pedal becomes spongy and travels most or all the way to the floor with minimal braking response. Problem is intermittent and often self-corrects after hours or days. Triggered by bumps, speed bumps, potholes, hard braking, or ABS engagement on slippery surfaces. Owners report having to pump the brake pedal multiple times or depress it fully to achieve any stopping power.
When: Occurs across the vehicle lifespan, from 51,499 to 131,000 miles; often triggers within weeks to months of symptoms starting.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to or near floor with minimal resistance; Spongy feel with no initial pressure response; Intermittent occurrence, especially after bumps or hard braking; Problem self-corrects after sitting idle for hours or days; Difficult or slow stopping; extended stopping distance; No dashboard warning lights in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement ($600–$900) does not resolve issue. Brake line bleeding temporarily fixes problem in some cases. Some owners cite $1,300–$1,900 costs for ABS actuator or hydraulic control unit replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued recall for 2009 Murano ABS actuators and again for certain 2015+ models; 2011 Murano falls in 'recall gap.' Dealership inspections often find no fault. Warranty coverage typically expires before diagnosis occurs.
Brake failure triggered by road bumps or ABS modulation
Brake pedal suddenly loses all pressure and goes to floor immediately after vehicle encounters a bump, pothole, speed bump, or railroad tracks. Hard braking or ABS engagement can also trigger failure. Multiple owners suspect faulty ABS control module, ABS sensor, or hydraulic control unit sticking or allowing air into brake lines.
When: Occurs at low to moderate speeds (5–65 mph) when driving over road surface irregularities; occurs at any vehicle age or mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of brake pressure after hitting a bump; Brake pedal goes all the way to floor with no resistance; Vehicle does not stop easily; owner must pump pedal or use emergency brake; Problem often corrects itself after vehicle is parked; Occurs on rainy days or after ABS engagement on slippery surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement does not fix. Independent mechanics diagnose ABS control module, ABS sensor module, hydraulic control unit (HCU), or sticking ABS modulator valve. ABS actuator replacement costs $1,900–$2,000 for parts alone. Some owners report Nissan dealership refuses to sell HCU part.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan has not expanded recall to cover 2011 models despite documented pattern. Dealership technicians acknowledge issue is common but cite no recall applicability.
Persistent reduced braking capacity despite repeated repairs
Even after master cylinder replacement, brake pad replacement, brake line bleeding, and other standard repairs, vehicle continues to exhibit spongy pedal and reduced braking. Owners report mechanics cannot diagnose root cause. Some vehicles are deemed unsafe to drive and left parked.
When: Develops after initial repairs fail or after service technician work; persists for weeks or longer.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal must be pressed nearly to floor to engage braking; Minimal braking response even with full pedal pressure; Problem persists across multiple shop visits and repair attempts; Mechanics cannot identify cause during inspection; No warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement ($600–$900), brake pad replacement, brake line bleeding (performed multiple times), and ABS module inspection all attempted without resolution. One owner reported mechanic recommended $2,000 ABS sensor module replacement. Repair costs accumulate—one case cited $3,200 total for pads, rotors, parts, and labor.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan North America states 'no recall' applies. Dealer inspections conducted but vehicle not repaired under warranty.
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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. There was no pressure in the break pedal at all. The same thing happened year or so ago but did not report the issue…
The ABS actuator has been under recall by Nissan for certain models. After contacting Nissan customer service they have determined due to the mileage of the vehicle this safety defect is not covered under the recall.
Took murano to mechanic because was having problems with braking, mechanic had brake serviced and made new. Now car is not wanting to stop even when pumpin brakes. Took back and was told by mechanic at shamrock that I need new ABS hydrolic break system
Without warning brke pedal began to fade. No leaks, no warning lights noted. Dealer quotes parts at $1995 and labor of $400 plus to repair in conjunction with pads and turned rotors total $3,200. Note - this corresponds to issues with the 2009 and 2015-2017 recalled muranos for the samed ussues est milaege 90k
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 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 brakes problem on the 2011 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 65,000 and 120,060 miles, with the median around 87,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 65,000; a quarter make it past 120,060. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2011/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.