The transmission has given out. There are recalls for the same year (2014) on different Nissan vehicles. There are issues that I have never had. One minute it will go then it'll shudder and not move at all even with the pedal pushed down. It goes into limp mode. There are threads and pages created just for this issue and nothing has been done about it. The car gave out on me while in traffic,…
2014 Nissan Murano powertrain problems
moderate 30 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 30 powertrain complaints filed for the 2014 Nissan Murano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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 30 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 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Nissan Murano has a widespread CVT transmission problem owners describe as sudden loss of power, failure to shift, over-revving without acceleration, and complete transmission failure starting as early as 30,000 miles. Transmission replacement costs $7,500–$8,500 and appears unavoidable; multiple owners report replacement transmissions failed within one year, and Nissan has not issued a recall despite similar issues on other model years.
The 2014 Murano's CVT transmission is failing catastrophically and repeatedly. Owners report the transmission stops responding to the accelerator—either going completely numb or entering limp mode—often during highway driving, stop-and-go city traffic, climbs, or extended drives in heat. Speed can drop from highway velocity to a crawl within seconds. RPMs spike without the car moving faster. In some cases the transmission won't shift properly or refuses to upshift out of a low gear; in others it shudders, shakes, and vibrates during acceleration, especially when ambient temperature exceeds 85°F.
Complete transmission failure occurs between 30,000 and 92,000 miles. A check engine light usually illuminates, though one owner reports zero warning before total failure. Repair shops universally reject attempting repair and order replacement units at $7,500–$8,500. Worse, multiple owners describe their replacement transmission failing again within 12 months. One owner had the unit replaced twice in one year, both times over warranty limits.
Owners note Nissan has issued CVT recalls on 2015–2019 models and extended coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles on some vehicles, yet refuses to apply recalls to the 2014. Nissan Consumer Affairs has reportedly handled cases individually rather than issuing a blanket recall. One dealership confirmed the transmission's design allows the vehicle to roll backward on an incline while in Drive—a known safety defect the dealer acknowledged cannot be fixed.
Same Nissan Murano powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Complete CVT transmission failure / no response to accelerator
Transmission becomes unresponsive, engine does not accelerate despite depressed pedal. Vehicle may stall, lose power entirely, or enter limp mode and require towing.
When: 30,000 to 92,000 miles; occurs during city driving, highway cruising, mountain terrain, long drives, and high-temperature conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to respond to accelerator pedal; Loss of power while driving; Vehicle stalls or slows to crawl; Transmission enters limp mode; No acceleration despite engine running; Check engine light illuminates
Codes mentioned: Check engine light present in multiple reports, Stepper motor malfunction code cited in one complaint
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required; repair shops state CVT cannot be repaired. Replacement cost cited as $7,500–$8,500. Two owners reported successive transmission failures within one year.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan case numbers mentioned (case #42026948, case #42026948 referenced); Nissan Consumer Affairs reportedly handling some cases on case-by-case basis. Owner reports no recall applied to 2014 model despite recalls on other years/models. One dealer replaced battery instead of transmission; another replaced transmission at owner cost.
CVT gear slipping / failure to shift / over-revving
Transmission loses proper gear engagement or fails to upshift/downshift. Engine RPMs rise abnormally without corresponding speed increase, or transmission holds gear too long before shifting.
When: Various mileage; reported on highways (55–75 mph), inclines, turns, stop lights; symptoms worsen in high ambient temperatures (above 85°F) or during long drives
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs elevate rapidly without power increase; Transmission fails to shift or shift delay; Vehicle jerks or lurches forward; Over-revving while speed remains low; Slipping sensation during acceleration; Transmission will not go into overdrive; Loud humming or whining noise during acceleration
Codes mentioned: Check engine light in multiple reports, Transmission fault codes mentioned generically, Solenoid B malfunction code cited once
Repairs/costs cited: One shop found transmission fluid leak. Repair shops report throwing 'transmission repair codes' but cannot repair CVT; replacement required. Transmission flushing performed by dealership in at least one case without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership informed one owner that extended CVT recall (10 years/120,000 miles) exists but owner's vehicle was deemed not part of recall. Nissan Consumer Affairs rep indicated decision made case-by-case. Owner research notes Nissan has issued recalls for CVT issues on 2015–2019 models but not 2014.
Transmission hold failure on incline/decline
Vehicle rolls backward when stopped on slight incline with engine running and transmission in Drive, or rolls forward when in Reverse on decline. Dealership confirmed transmission design does not prevent this occurrence.
When: At traffic lights on roads with slight incline or decline
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while in Drive on incline; Vehicle rolls forward while in Reverse on decline; No engine stall; ignition remains on
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service technician stated transmission design does not prevent this behavior.
Transmission shudder / vibration / shaking
Vehicle shudders, shakes, or vibrates during acceleration or shifting, especially after hard braking or in hot conditions. May occur after transmission replacement.
When: During acceleration; worsens in hot ambient temperatures; reported at 103,000+ miles and shortly after replacement transmission installed
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shudders or shakes during acceleration; Shaking badly while struggling to gain RPM; Vibration during turns (backing out of driveway/parking spot); Rumble-strip sensation in turns after transmission replacement
Codes mentioned: Check engine light in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: One post-replacement transmission (with 1 year/12k mile warranty) developed rumble sensation within one year; independent mechanic identified transmission fluid leak requiring further investigation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership in one case stated shuddering was not part of existing CVT recall.
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Driving home on hwy in motion and transmission quit working, had it towed. It works for 5 minutes cold, stops when warmed up.
Transmission slipping and dropping gears at 30,000 miles. I want to make a complaint so they have to replace these
CVT transmission. Vehicle decelerates and accelerates without warning (check engine light is on). Mainly at stop lights. It is slow to start. When trying to accelerate, vehicle stalls, jumps, or slips with RPM accelerating above 4 rpmx1000, while speed remains at 10 MPH for 2-3 minutes. Loud humming noise when vehicle is trying to accelerate. Vehicle makes no noise in the morning. Symptoms…
When driving on a long trip, with the cruise-control set, the car suddenly lurched and lost power. The speed reduced and it came out of cruise. I had just started up an incline, so I didn't know if that was the problem. A short time after that the check engine light came on. The transmission started to have issues. It would not go into overdrive and would over rev. We were able to make it to our…
My Nissan murano's CVT transmission suddenly failed while driving in the passing lane on interstate highway 84. This placed me and my physically disabled wife in an extremely dangerous situation.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Nissan Murano?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 30 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 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 70,000 and 112,000 miles, with the median around 95,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 112,000. 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/2014/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.