Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan murano. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH the sunroof exploded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic diagnosed that the sunroof needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 23,700.
2012 Nissan Murano visibility problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 17 visibility complaints filed for the 2012 Nissan Murano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Expect serious glass roof failure: dozens of 2012 Muranos have had sunroofs shatter unexpectedly without impact, often at highway speed. Windshield wipers and defogging can fail together in wet conditions, and driver-side sun visors drop unexpectedly—all reported problems Nissan has not recalled.
The 2012 Murano has three distinct visibility and roof problems owners describe repeatedly. Most dramatic is the sunroof shattering without external impact—the glass explodes outward at highway speeds or while parked, with owners hearing a loud bang and finding fragments scattered inside and outside the car. No rocks, debris, or nearby vehicles are present in these incidents; glass breaks from internal pressure outward, not from outside impact. Nissan has either denied warranty claims or blamed rocks; at least one owner was forced to pay out-of-pocket despite Nissan admitting fault in a lawsuit.
The second issue is wiper and defogging failure working together. Wipers stop working in rain while the defroster can't clear condensation from windows, creating a visibility crisis. Dealers have visited multiple times but cannot identify the root cause; removing aftermarket treatments didn't help either.
Third is the driver-side sun visor dropping down uncontrollably and blocking vision. Owners report this is widespread across 2012 models. One dealer refused warranty coverage and told the owner it was their responsibility to replace it—despite the visor failing within 30 days of purchase.
Same Nissan Murano visibility reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous sunroof/moonroof shattering
Glass roof panel cracks, shatters, or explodes outward with no reported impact from external objects, often at highway speeds but also while parked. Owners report a loud bang or explosion sound and evidence that breakage occurred from inside-to-outside based on glass fragment ejection patterns.
When: Varies from 23,700 miles to 45,000 miles; incidents occurred at speeds ranging 25–75 mph and while parked. Several occurred in mild weather with no temperature extremes.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang or explosion sound from roof area; Sunroof/moonroof glass suddenly shattered or missing; Glass shards on sunroof cover or dispersed on road; Visible outward glass fragmentation pattern (inside-to-outside break)
Repairs/costs cited: Sunroof replacement required. One owner reported denial of Nissan's claim despite lawsuit admissions; another paid out-of-pocket.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan gave generic boilerplate response and directed owners to dealer. One dealer claimed rock impact; owner disputed. Nissan denied claims in at least one case but reportedly admitted fault in an external lawsuit.
Windshield wiper system failure
Windshield wipers stop operating or function intermittently, reducing visibility in rain. Problem occurs alongside window condensation/defogging system malfunction, trapping moisture on glass. Owners report repeated dealer visits unable to isolate root cause; removal of aftermarket products (e.g., Crystal Fusion) did not resolve issue.
When: Early in vehicle life (4,024 miles reported in one case); persisted over 6+ years in another case despite repeated service attempts.
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers cease operation while driving in rain; No warning indicators before failure; Excessive window condensation/fogging that defroster cannot clear; Backup camera also affected by condensation in same vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Cause could not be determined by dealer after multiple visits. Removal of aftermarket Crystal Fusion product did not fix problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan did not assist when notified.
Driver-side sun visor dropping/floppy mechanism
Sun visor on driver's side loses its detent or securing mechanism and hangs down uncontrollably, obstructing the driver's forward vision. Multiple owners report the problem is widespread among 2012 Murano owners. One owner received visor from dealer stating it was owner's repair responsibility.
When: Occurred within 30 days of purchase in one case (vehicle had 74k miles); chronic issue throughout ownership in others.
Symptoms owners cite: Visor falls down and will not stay in up position; Visor blocks driver's line of sight; Visor hangs floppy and loose
Repairs/costs cited: Visor replacement available at owner expense (one owner paid for replacement); dealer initially refused warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite owner reports of thousands of affected 2012 Murano owners. One owner mentioned Takata recall context (unrelated to visor itself).
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2012 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 visibility problem on the 2012 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 23,800 and 65,095 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,800; a quarter make it past 65,095. 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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/2012/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.