1st issue:......coolant smell. Dealer said could not find (acknowledged smell). Topped off surge tank. Coolant still dropping over time......; reviewed: found coolant leak on passages side (fire wall side) mid engine above exhaust 9" inches...... Viewable from bottom of engine looking up between exhaust and frame line (light is required)....... Cannot see source. Will need bore scope to…
2013 Nissan Murano powertrain problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1fire
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Nissan Murano powertrain, particularly its CVT transmission, has a documented pattern of sudden failure—sometimes catastrophic—between 80,000 and 166,000 miles, with repair costs exceeding $4,000. Expect potential complete power loss without warning, hard shifting, leaks, and unusual handling traits that Nissan may call "normal."
Owners of the 2013 Murano consistently report CVT transmission failure as the dominant powertrain issue. The most critical complaint is sudden, complete loss of drive power at highway speeds—no grinding, no warning, just engine still running and the car coasting as if in neutral. This has happened at 81,000, 87,861, and 130,000 miles. The culprit identified in at least one case is shredded CVT belts; other owners cite low-pressure faults with no repair available except full replacement (~$4,000+). Nissan's 50,000-mile warranty is inadequate; the company extended CVT coverage to 100,000 miles on earlier models after known failures but did not apply that to the 2013 MY.
Secondary issues include hard shifting, transmission sticking, and a design quirk where the vehicle rolls backward on hills until you coordinate brake and gas pedal—one dealer called it "normal operation." Coolant leaks on the firewall side and transaxle seal failure at the weep hole round out the list. One owner also reported complete engine shutdown while driving at 40 MPH (with a Mass Airflow Sensor code), though that incident's root cause remained unclear. Dealers appear reluctant to perform CVT work and have allegedly under-reported these failures to manufacturer databases.
Same Nissan Murano powertrain reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
CVT belt shredding / sudden loss of drive power
CVT transmission belts shred internally, causing complete loss of propulsion while engine continues running. Vehicle behaves as if shifted into neutral and coasts to a stop without warning.
When: 87,861 miles; 81,000 miles; 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of all drive power while engine runs normally; Vehicle coasts as though in neutral; No warning before failure; Check engine light may appear
Codes mentioned: P0101 (Mass Airflow Sensor), Transmission fault codes (not specified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Full transmission replacement required. Owner reported ~$4,000 cost at 87,861 miles. Previous recall replacements have not prevented recurrence in some vehicles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 50,000-mile warranty on transmission (expired on affected vehicles). Nissan extended CVT warranty to 100,000 miles on earlier model years due to known issues, but 2013 MY was not included. Nissan warranty covered two transmission replacements on one vehicle (2017 and 2018) but subsequent transfer seal failure was not covered.
CVT low-pressure condition
CVT develops low internal pressure with no known repair procedure; manufacturer response is transmission replacement only.
When: Timing not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission failure warning; No warning before complete failure
Codes mentioned: CVT low pressure fault (specific codes not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair available; full transmission replacement required at cost exceeding vehicle value.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented; replacement is only option offered.
Hard shifting and sticking
Transmission exhibits hard, jerky shifts and occasionally sticks during operation.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Hard shifting; Transmission sticking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership-only service required; independent shops refuse work. At least 30 instances reported to transmission shops but not formally documented by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented.
CVT transaxle fluid weep-hole seal failure
Transaxle seal fails at weep hole, causing fluid seepage and accumulation of oil and dirt deposits.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leaking from transaxle weep hole; Oil and dirt buildup under vehicle center
Repairs/costs cited: Seal replacement needed; owner reported suspected 2-week downtime. Potential risk of transaxle failure and loss of vehicle control if not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented.
Coolant leak on engine passages side
Coolant leaks from passages on the firewall side of the engine, above the exhaust manifold, location difficult to pinpoint visually.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant smell inside or near vehicle; Coolant level drops over time; Leak visible from underside between exhaust and frame
Repairs/costs cited: Source requires borescope inspection; pressure test recommended to force coolant out for visibility. Dealer initially unable to locate leak.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented.
Backward roll on hills (hold-assist feature)
Vehicle rolls backward when driver releases brake before applying throttle on inclines. Dealer claims this is normal CVT operating characteristic.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward on hills when brakes released; Uncontrolled backward movement on steep grades; Requires coordinated dual-pedal operation to prevent rollback
Repairs/costs cited: No repair available; described as transmission design feature.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated this is normal operation / design feature of CVT.
Complete engine shutdown while driving (MAF sensor code present)
Engine cuts out completely while vehicle is moving at highway speed, with no gradual loss of power. Engine restarts on its own after brief pause.
When: 81,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off completely while driving 40 MPH; No steering or braking function during shutdown; Engine restarts without intervention; Check engine light for Mass Airflow Sensor code prior to event; No warning before shutdown
Codes mentioned: P0101 (Mass Airflow Sensor fault)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided. Research indicated same issue reported on other model years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
When stopped on an uphill in drive, car rolls backward when I step off the brake before I can step on the gas. On a steep hill, requires coordinating keeping one foot on brake while stepping on gas to move forward. Tested on an empty hill, car rolled back all the way down until I braked. Test drove with dealer's technician, he said this was normal operation "feature" of this transmission.…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Nissan Murano?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 109,977 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 $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/2013/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.