The ABS light, crash sensor light and traction control light will come on intermittently while the car is on. The three lights will come on at the same time, and will remain on until the vehicle is turned off. The lights do not come on each time the car is started, and when they do come on, it is not only at the time of start up. They usually come on at least once a day. They have come on…
2017 Nissan Murano electrical problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 15 electrical complaints filed for the 2017 Nissan Murano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple fire hazards exist in 2017 Muranos due to electrical component overheating, melting connectors, and fluid leaks onto circuit boards. Critical safety systems—collision avoidance, braking, and starting—fail unpredictably, and dealers often refuse warranty repairs or claim the vehicle "operates as designed."
Owners of 2017 Nissan Murano report electrical failures spanning several critical systems. The rear liftgate latch assembly fails to engage properly, triggering continuous warning lights and alarm sounds while driving—owners report repair costs around $770 and note the problem recurs even after dealer service. Heated seat control modules melt internally, creating fire hazards; the connector housing shows thermal damage and charring, with dealers refusing to reconnect units due to fire risk. An anti-lock brake pump leak can deposit brake fluid onto the ABS circuit board, causing electrical shorts and underhood fires; one owner experienced a garage fire when parked, unaware their VIN wasn't included in the recall notice.
Front radar sensors fail intermittently, displaying "obstruction" warnings and disabling cruise control, adaptive emergency braking, and front emergency braking features—Nissan declines to replace radars a second time. The forward collision avoidance system triggers false warnings in traffic, cycling on and off repeatedly while disabling cruise control. Backup camera display goes black intermittently. Battery and alternator wiring failures cause vehicles to shut off while driving at highway speed without warning. Starting issues plague multiple vehicles; one owner reports the IPDM and electrical dashboard were replaced but the no-start condition returned within weeks. A faulty wire harness carrying AC cooling lines creates fire risk while driving and can cause stalling and headlight dimming. One owner reports seat heating failure destroyed by electrical components that overheated the climate control module.
Same Nissan Murano electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Rear liftgate latch assembly failure
Rear liftgate fails to latch properly, requiring lock assembly replacement. Problem recurs after repair. Triggers continuous dash warning lights and loud alarm sounds while driving, creating unsafe driving conditions.
When: 8 months after initial repair; one owner reported failure at unspecified mileage after initial August 2024 service
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate will not latch; Continuous warning light flashing on dashboard; Continuous alarm screeching while vehicle in use; Liftgate suddenly opens or remains unsealed
Repairs/costs cited: Lock assembly replacement; first repair cost $180 for assessment, second repair cost $770 for full lock assembly replacement. Owner notes repair may not be permanent.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged known issue and hatch problem with vehicle model but offered only temporary repair solution without explaining root cause or offering recall.
Heated seat control module thermal failure / fire hazard
Seat heating control module connector melts internally due to electrical component overheating. Connector housing shows severe thermal damage and charring. Represents active fire hazard; Nissan dealers refuse to reconnect connector without explicit owner approval due to safety risk.
When: Failure unknown until diagnosis; diagnosed November 29, 2023. One incident on February 16, 2026. Another incident February 9, 2021 at approximately 8 PM after vehicle parked for 1.5 hours.
Symptoms owners cite: Seat heating function stops working; Severe thermal damage and melting of connector housing; Charred and melted wiring harness insulation; Residual smoke smell; Scorched seating material with bright red seams; Seat extremely hot to touch; Control module connector becomes brittle and shatters when handled
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of driver climate control seat control module and driver front seat harness. Dealers leave connector unplugged to prevent fire propagation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers confirm fire hazard and thermal damage in writing; service managers refuse to reconnect components without explicit owner authorization due to fire risk.
ABS pump brake fluid leak causing electrical fire
Anti-lock brake pump leaks brake fluid onto ABS circuit board, causing electrical short and fire. Nissan issued recall recommending vehicles be parked outside and alerting owners to ABS warning light lasting over 10 seconds after startup as indicator not to drive. Fire occurred in garage with vehicle parked and off.
When: One owner experienced underhood fire while vehicle parked inside garage with engine off
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light persists over 10 seconds after engine startup; Underhood electrical fire while parked; Smoke smell while vehicle off
Repairs/costs cited: Recall exists but one owner's VIN was not included in recall notice, leaving them unaware of risk until fire occurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued recall; however, owner's VIN not included in recall notice, preventing notification of fire risk.
Front radar sensor failure / obstruction code
Front radar sensor intermittently fails or displays obstruction warning while driving on any road or highway. Disables cruise control, adaptive emergency braking (AEB), and front emergency braking (FEB) when fault occurs. Nissan replaces sensor once but replacement also fails; manufacturer declines further replacements, citing prior service.
When: After 6 months of ownership; occurs intermittently while in motion
Symptoms owners cite: Beeping and dashboard message 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION'; Cruise control disabled; AEB feature disabled; FEB feature disabled; Safety features remain disabled until vehicle repaired
Codes mentioned: FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION
Repairs/costs cited: Radar replacement performed once; replacement radar failed subsequently. Nissan declines further radar replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan replaced radar once but refuses further replacement, stating they have already assisted with prior replacement. Owner believes recall is warranted.
Forward collision avoidance sensor false activation
Forward collision avoidance system triggers false alarms repeatedly while driving in normal traffic with no vehicle ahead. System activates 3-beep alert, dashboard crash-imminent warning, and sudden hard braking with no actual collision threat. Occurs intermittently and cyclically, repeating every 10 minutes. Root cause appears to be faulty sensor or bent sensor bracket installed at factory.
When: Occurs intermittently while driving; one case reported 3 separate false activations
Symptoms owners cite: 3-beep alert with no vehicle ahead; Dashboard flashing red and white lights; Crash imminent message on display; Sudden hard braking engagement throwing occupant forward; False collision warnings cycle repeatedly every 10 minutes; Cruise control disabled when warning activates
Codes mentioned: FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE UNAVAILABLE
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified sensor bracket as slightly bent; independent shop confirmed bracket is not bent and determined issue is faulty crash sensor, not bracket. Sensor replacement required but not performed under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership cited slightly bent sensor bracket as cause but bracket was not bent per independent inspection. Nissan declines warranty repair. Class action lawsuits exist; manufacturer has not issued recall.
Forward collision avoidance intermittent malfunction
Front collision avoidance warning light and system disable cruise control intermittently. Warning occurs sporadically; on test drive with technician problem does not reproduce until technician restarts vehicle. Traced to sensor component; sensor is on national backorder and unavailable for extended periods, leaving vehicle without safety features.
When: Intermittent; issue recurred immediately when technician restarted vehicle during diagnostic test drive
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light: FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE UNAVAILABLE; Cruise control disabled when warning activates; Intermittent malfunction—does not occur every drive cycle
Codes mentioned: FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE UNAVAILABLE
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor requires replacement; sensor unavailable and on backorder nationally. Owner waited 5+ weeks for parts with no resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership initially claimed vehicle operates as designed; after pressure from owner, traced problem to sensor. Sensor remains unavailable on backorder.
ABS / traction control / crash sensor light cycling
ABS light, crash sensor light, and traction control light illuminate simultaneously and intermittently throughout the day regardless of vehicle use or driving conditions. Lights remain on until vehicle is turned off; cycle repeats unpredictably. Vehicle at dealership for 2 months undergoing diagnosis and repair. All three lights have been replaced and system actuator replaced multiple times but issue persists. Nissan engineer required to diagnose root cause.
When: Occurs at least once daily; comes on at startup, at stop lights, while accelerating at various speeds, while parked—no pattern detected
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; Crash sensor light illuminates; Traction control light illuminates; All three lights activate simultaneously; No audible or drivability issues when lights are on; Lights persist until vehicle shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: ABS sensors replaced, speed control sensors replaced, ABS actuator replaced, and lights still cycle on and off. Dealership requested Nissan engineer assistance to resolve.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan technicians replaced all identified components but lights continue to cycle. Nissan engineer involvement requested but not yet provided. Vehicle has 19,000 miles and less than 2 years old.
Backup camera intermittent video display failure
Backup camera display goes black while guide lines remain visible on screen. No video image from rear camera transmits to display. Malfunction is intermittent; camera worked briefly on its own without repair, then failed again. Cause unknown.
When: Discovered January 22, 2020 at 36,099 miles; persisted through January 28, 2020 with intermittent function
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera screen black; Guide lines visible but no camera image; Intermittent function—works for periods then stops; Camera does not respond to multiple car restart attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan warranty had just expired at 36,000 miles; dealer refused warranty coverage and repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership refused warranty repair citing warranty expiration at 36,000 miles, though vehicle had 36,099 miles. No service bulletin or recall mentioned.
Faulty wire harness causing fire risk, stalling, and dim headlights
Wire harness failure creates fire risk while driving. Harness issue causes air conditioning system failure and creates fire hazard. Dealer informed owner this harness defect can cause vehicle fire while driving, stalling, and headlight dimming.
When: Failure discovered at unspecified mileage during air conditioning diagnostic
Symptoms owners cite: Air conditioning stopped working; Fire hazard due to harness damage; Vehicle stalling while driving; Headlight dimming while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Wire harness replacement required; dealer identified this as safety-critical repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service informed owner of fire risk and stalling hazard but no recall or formal safety notice documented in complaint.
Vehicle shutdown while driving due to electrical failure
Vehicle shut off without warning while traveling at 75 mph on highway. Vehicle would not restart. Owner rolled vehicle to roadside and called for tow. Dealer diagnosis indicated battery terminals and alternator both required replacement but vehicle was not repaired.
When: Occurred at approximately 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts off without warning while driving; Vehicle will not restart after shutdown; Complete electrical system failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed need for battery terminal replacement and alternator replacement; repairs not performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
Intermittent starting failure / IPDM electrical issue
Vehicle starts sometimes and fails to start other times. Nissan diagnostic found electrical issues; IPDM (Intelligent Power Distribution Module) replaced and electrical dashboard replaced. Vehicle worked for 1.5 weeks then would not start again. Vehicle has less than 50,000 miles. Vehicle has stalled three times while driving and twice in garage when attempting to start.
When: Vehicle has less than 50,000 miles; started failing intermittently, worsened after initial electrical repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent no-start condition; Vehicle fails to start on multiple attempts; Vehicle stalls while driving; Vehicle stalls in garage on startup attempts
Repairs/costs cited: IPDM replaced, electrical dashboard replaced; repairs resolved issue for 1.5 weeks then problem recurred. Nissan states they cannot fix problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan diagnostic identified electrical issue and performed IPDM and dashboard replacement; issue recurred within weeks. Nissan states unable to resolve.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The seat heating function on my vehicle failed due to electrical components becoming so hot that they melted the control module connector. The issue has been reviewed and confirmed by a Nissan dealership's service department. The service manager stated that he and his team would not plug the control module connector back in without my express direction because they considered it a fire hazard and…
Vehicle forward collision indicator alarm keeps going off every few minutes disabling cruise control after ten minutes or so it clears out then after ten minutes it goes off again going through the same cycle over and over end result malfunctioning collision sensing causing no cruise control with audible alarm going off over and over while driving
My murano starts sometimes, and sometimes it won't start at all.Nissan diagnostic was eletrical issues, they changed the ipdm, changed the eletrical dashboard, it worked for 11/2 weeks, and won't start again. This car is less than 50,000 miles. Apparently Nissan can't fix this problem. I'm desperate for help, cause I'm still paying for this car. It's currently in my garage, it has stopped me…
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 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 electrical problem on the 2017 Nissan Murano?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 19,600 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 36,099. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,600; a quarter make it past 50,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2017/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.