2003 Nissan Murano: transmission slipping

Filed Oct 24, 2011 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · WV

Transmission appears to be slipping. Odbii code is p0840, which states transmission fluid pressure sensor/switch a circuit malfunction. Vehicle sometimes runs at 4-5 rpms at 70 MPH. Other times you press on the gas and nothing happen. This especially occurs going up hill, when you are stopped at the bottom. If you have a running start, it is not as noticeable. Unsafe, to be driven in traffic. Taken to dealership prior to warranty running. No problem was noted. Now that I am 5,000 miles over extended warranty -- extended to 120,000 now I'm told I get the code above....estimate to repair is $3400.

Filed May 15, 2011 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · TN

I own a 2003 nissan murano. Last august it began losing power while driving. It is like the car is being thrown into 1st gear. This has happened 12-18 times over the last 4 months. The crazy thing about these incidents is that no warning lights show up on the dash nor does the car give you any codes indicating that anything went wrong. Two months ago I took it to rick hill nissan dealership and told them what was happening. He had the car a week and drove it 66 miles and couldn't get the car to duplicate what was happening to me. Unfortunately, they wont work on the car unless is has a code showing up telling them what is wrong. This past week, I almost ran over my family as I was waiting on them to come out of a store. I proceeded to drive up to the store to pick them up when the car surged and the engine started racing. I had to slam on the brakes and throw the car in park to get it to stop. The engine and RPM's were still racing and 4,000 rpms. No codes were thrown and no lights on the dash again. 20 minutes later as we were coming home, the car lost power as if the transmission slipped into first gear and we creeped all the home at 5 MPH, with me having the pedal to the floor. This time there were codes, but when the car was turned off it would not restart. I had it towed to the dealership and they told me it was the ipdm. 825 dollars for the fix. 51 miles later the car slips again and acts like it is thrown into first gear. No lights, no codes. After reading many complaints on the CVT transmission in the 2003 murano I have no doubt this is the problem. This defect has put my family in many dangerous situations in the past year. Nissan increased the warranty for this transmission to 120,000 miles. This is not good enough. I took mine in with 118,500 but they said nothing was wrong,because they had no codes showing a problem. Now with 128,000 I am screwed. This needs to be a class action law suit or a recall on the CVT transmission.

Filed Jul 12, 2010 · Seats · 80,000 miles · IL

Drivers seat on 2003 murano moves forward when stopping. I have complained about it and nissan has said there is a small crack in the metal track which would cost $2,000 to repair. However, a short time later I noticed a plastic rail protruding at the back of the seat bottom when the seat was moved forward. Nissan re-installed the piece and, for the most part, the slipping has stopped. I thought it was important to let owners having similar problems know that the movement they are experiencing could be caused by this loose plastic rail, and not a crack in the metal track.

Filed May 12, 2009 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · CA

The power on my 2003 nissan murano periodically cuts out during stop and start traffic, or hot conditions. Nothing happens for a few seconds and then the vehicle lurches forwards suddenly. This happened twice last year (around 100k miles), and has happened 4 times in the last month (116k miles). This lack of power has LED to numerous dangerous situations where I have been stranded in front of oncoming traffic, or slipping down a hill, and the unpredictable surge of acceleration is also a major problem.

Filed May 6, 2009 · Transmission · 88,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan murano. On april 15, 2009, the contact attempted to accelerate past 65 MPH, but the vehicle would not move any faster. The vehicle then began to idle and slow down on its own, as if it slipped into neutral. The motor continued to run and the contact managed to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. He turned off and restarted the vehicle without difficulty. There had been no failures with the vehicle prior to this incident. The dealer stated that a new transmission was needed. The failure mileage was 88,000.

Filed Aug 2, 2008 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · CA

I have a nissan murano. Ever since I purchased the car it is used, I have nothing but trouble with it. The place I got it from replaced the transmission and the new one is slipping everytime I drive it.

Filed Jul 21, 2008 · Transmission · 69,990 miles · TX

I owned a 2003 nissan murano for less than 11 months before I was forced to trade it in. During the first 7 months of ownership I had nothing but a great experience with this vehicle. Within the 8th - 11th months however I began experiencing problems with my vehicle. I took it to the dealer and was informed that my vehicle's transmission was burning up and slipping. I took it to another nissan dealer and allowed them to do a diagnosis. I was told that the transmission only had a short amount of life left and that it would cost $5,000+ to have it shipped to japan and replaced. They told me that the fluid installed in the transmission was atf and not the $25/quart CVT fluid. I believed this and have been telling this story for years. I learned today that this was nonsense. I bought the car from a reputable dealer and only had the car serviced by nissan. Where would the fluid get into my ride in that case? I bought a warranty on the recommendation of the dealers representative who informed me that I would want coverage for the transmission in hopes of avoiding the $5,000.00 tag for replacement. He was a prophet because I ended up needing a new transmission less than 11 months later, but my warranty refused to cover the cost citing the failure to service the transmission at 60k though it was serviced at 61k. I traded this vehicle in with less than 70k on the odometer. In a year when I should have no car payment, I must accept another 4 years of car payments. What a shame, what a waste. How much I miss my ride, but what would it have been worth to me to keep it without knowing the same thing wouldn't continue?!?!!?!? Please help me and those others out there who need relief from this nightmare. I want to recoup my money that was stolen from me by nissan and for the upsidedown deficit I was thrust into by having to prematurely trade in my vehicle.

Filed Mar 7, 2008 · Transmission · 67,000 miles · HI

Feb 13 2008 - took my 2003 nissan murano in for recall. Also asked them to check the transmission oil, since the cap says to be checked only by dealer and I've been having the problem of hesitation, while trying to accelerate from a stop. Alternator. The other recall on some sort of protector, was re-scheduled, they had to order parts. He advised that the transmission oil was okay, but will probably need to do an oil change. Feb 27 2008 - parts arrived, dropped off car to do the recall on protector and fix sun visor. Later in the day, I was advised that not all the parts for the recall came in. And the part for the sun visor was a different part. Rescheduled for mar 12, 2008. I also asked about changing the transmission fluid, he quoted me approx. $150.00. Agreed to schedule an appointment next time I was in. Mar 1, 2008 - first trip of the day, from a stop at intersection, accelerated to get onto main highway, we go approx 5 feet and the car slips out of gear and unable to go any further. Press the gas pedal and no rev. Called for a tow, and took my murano to nissan service. I was advised that no technician available until monday. Mar 3, 2008 - monday noon, called nissan to check on my vehicle. Advised that they were trying to get in touch with nissan on the mainland for advice on how to fix. The transmission might need to be replaced. They will let me know tomorrow. Mar 4, 2008 - tuesday noon, called to check on my vehicle. They have yet to get in touch with nissan on the mainland. They will have more information for me tomorrow. Mar 6, 2008 - the nissan service supervisor called to advise that my transaxle needs to be replaced for approx. $4485. 00 transaxle, $850.00 labor. No explanation on what nissan on the mainland had suggested. He said he would get in touch with them and let me know tomorrow.

Filed Jan 24, 2006 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · PA

Overall the vehicle has been very good. At approximately 65,000 miles the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The day before it failed I heard a noise but could not determine where it was coming from. On the day it failed the noise seemed not to be present. I exited a highway after a 1 1/2 drive and the transmission made a bump sound that made the car shake for an instant. Then, the transmission seemed not to engage. The car appeared to go into limp mode. I traveled for a few miles to a small town. After being parked for a few minutes the transmission again engaged. I called the dealer, and he said to get vehicle to them , and they would take a look. A few times along the way the transmission slipped. I was informed the following day that the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of over $5,000. Nissan refused to help in anyway. They were simply turning their back on me because the warranty expired at 60,000 miles. I requested any contribution for repairs and they refused. It was a very sad corporate policy.