Check a VIN

Nissan Murano cvt failure problems

265 of the 5,970 owner complaints about the Nissan Murano describe cVT failure, most of them for the 2003 model year.

owner complaints
265
worst model year
2003
typical repair cost reported
$4,225
typical mileage
85,500
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Transmission failure 59Jerking 30Hesitation 24Stalling 23Loss of power 23Slipping 18Shudder 17Check engine light 13

Trouble codes mentioned

P1778 5P1801 1P17F1 1P17F0 1P1722 1P0868 1P0845 1P0840 1P0776 1P0774 1

What owners say

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Transmission · WA

CVT Transmission judder.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · Transmission · IA

CVT Transmission failed at 82k miles. Diagnosed at Midas, specific Transmission shop and local Nissan dealership as needing full replacement. Notified Nissan Consumer Affairs, they created a case but refused to fully replace it, offered to pay only 50% of approximately $9k.

Filed Apr 2, 2026 · Transmission · NH

In July 2023, at 55,496 miles on the odometer, the original CVT transmission failed and was replaced at Port City Nissan (120 Spaulding Tpke N, Portsmouth, NH 03801), an authorized Nissan dealership, with a Nissan-supplied rebuilt CVT transmission at a cost of approximately $7,000. The rebuilt transmission was warranted for one year. Approximately 2.5 years and only 26,500 miles after installation, the rebuilt CVT transmission has failed again at approximately 82,000 miles. CVT transmission failure while driving presents a serious safety hazard, as the vehicle may lose power unexpectedly, particularly dangerous at highway speeds, during merges, or in intersections. Pattern of Defect: Nissan’s CVT transmissions have been the subject of widespread consumer complaints and multiple class action lawsuits across various model years. Significantly, Nissan recently updated its warranty on rebuilt CVT transmissions from one year to three years with unlimited mileage for replacements performed after July 2024. This warranty extension strongly suggests Nissan is aware of systemic premature failures in its rebuilt CVT units. The failure of a rebuilt transmission at only 26,500 miles indicates a fundamental quality control or design deficiency in the rebuilt units Nissan is supplying to dealerships. Safety Concern: Sudden CVT failure causes immediate loss of propulsion and can result in loss of vehicle control. This is particularly hazardous on highways, in heavy traffic, and during adverse weather conditions. Given the pattern of premature failure in Nissan’s rebuilt CVT units, I believe this constitutes a safety defect affecting a population of vehicles and warrants investigation. I request that the federal safety agency investigate Nissan’s rebuilt CVT transmission program and the adequacy of Nissan’s response to known premature failures.

Filed Mar 19, 2026 · Transmission · TX

This statement is to the best of my knowledge. I was driving my 2015 Nissan Murano and when I was almost back to mine [XXX] house the transmission stopped working. I took it and had it towed over Gilman Nissan in Rosenberg. I have a warranty on it through endurance warranty company. They came and inspect the transmission. They indicated that the transmission fell, but also I know that Nissan recall these transmission on the CVT which is going out. The warranty company indicated that the CVT inside the transmission fell. Also, the alternator failed on the vehicle. They indicating that the all drip from somewhere on to the alternator was made. The alternator fail but I look on the website and I also noticed that if the alternator go out in these 2015 Nissan Murano it's messed up the transmission. So this need to be looking into and taking care cuz I believe they card not telling the real truth on what's going on with this transmission and the reason I couldn't get my car repaired because the mileage has already passed and I got mine recall letter real late INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 21, 2026 · Engine · TX

CVT- transmission,Pulley, Tearing of belt The safety of myself as well as others was put at risk do to the vehicle loosing power while driving on the freeway,yes the dealership ran a diagnostic which produce a report of a failing CVT-transmission ,Pulley and tearing of belt. No, there hasn't been any inspection. There were no warning lights on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Filed Jan 21, 2026 · Transmission · MO

On Saturday, December 6, 2025 my [XXX] mother and I were driving back to my mom’s Saint Peters, Missouri home around 5:15 pm. I had just exited Missouri Highway 364 at Woodstone/Jungermann Road. I turned right onto Woodstone and heard a thud/clunk. Never heard that sound before. One hundred yards later, the 2015 Murano stopped accelerating right in the middle of the road. I put it in Park, Neutral and then Drive. Nothing. The vehicle wouldn’t go forward. It did engage in Reverse so I was able to back it to the side of road and out of the line of traffic. I again put the vehicle in Park, Neutral and then Drive. The vehicle wouldn’t go forward. I went back to the cargo area to retrieve my purse so I could access my AAA card and have the vehicle towed (first time in 50 years of driving I had to have a vehicle towed). I tried again to put the vehicle in Drive and it did engage this time and I was able to drive it the three to four miles to my mom’s house. Had the sudden loss of power happened ONE MINUTE before on the highway, the outcome would have been much different. It upsets me even now to think what could have occurred if the Murano suddenly stopped in the middle of the highway. I was in the second lane of the highway and could not get to the side of the highway. I would not be able to abandon the vehicle in the middle of the dark highway since my mom would not be able to exit it without her wheelchair and there was a high probability we would have gotten struck by other vehicles and/or caused a major pile up behind us. I took it to the local Nissan dealer and they confirmed the CVT transmission went out in the 2015 Murano with 131,000 miles. What makes me even more upset is that it is a KNOWN defect on the CVT and has been for so long. My mom and I could have been killed on the highway since the vehicle stopped in the middle of it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Transmission · AR

Have noticed when turning a corner vehicle has some slight jerking motions before it picks up speed. Vehicle also has a whining/humming sound that it’s making somewhere in the transmission (CVT). I haven’t ever received a recall or CVT extended warranty about this vehicle before but I received this warranty in the mail last week 11-12-25..This warranty would have covered my problems with the vehicle but I was told it expired last year.. Why send it to me this year and it’s useless

Filed Oct 14, 2025 · TX

The brake fluid continues to leak the CVT affected therefore the car only drives backwards. It has under 70,000 miles. It completely stopped while driving in the middle of traffic. I had to have it towed. There was no notice of this issue prior to this incident.

Filed Sep 13, 2025 · NJ

I am reporting a serious intermittent safety issue with my 2016 Nissan Murano, which I recently purchased from a private seller. On multiple occasions, the vehicle suddenly stops accelerating after driving for approximately 20–30 minutes, including multiple local stops. When this occurs, the engine continues to run, but the car becomes completely unresponsive to throttle input and cannot be moved, even when placed into gear. This has happened in live traffic situations, posing a clear risk to safety. In each instance, after the car sits for a period of time or is connected to an external battery charger, it eventually restarts and operates normally—until the issue repeats. There are no warning lights or messages on the dashboard, and no diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the system. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Nissan dealership, where it remained for over a month. They reported being unable to reproduce the issue and could not identify any mechanical or electrical faults. The alternator tested fine, and they returned the vehicle to me with no repairs or resolution. Since that time, the issue has occurred again. I believe this may involve: A low-voltage electrical problem, possibly a blown fusible link or intermittent charging system failure A bad ground or wiring fault affecting the ECM, TCM, or fuel pump A voltage-sensitive sensor or relay malfunction that fails under heat or load but does not log a fault A condition causing the CVT transmission to disengage due to insufficient power This issue has rendered the vehicle dangerous and unreliable, especially since it fails with no warning and then unpredictably recovers. I am filing this complaint in hopes that the federal safety agency will investigate this failure pattern, which appears to be consistent with known Nissan electrical and CVT system complaints in other model years. If this is a known defect, Nissan should be held accountable for providing a resolution, even outside of warranty.

Filed Aug 17, 2025 · Transmission · AL

I have done a lot of research on these Nissan Muranos and other Nissan models. There are recalls for this exact same issue on models 2015-2019 and I have a 2014. I have viewed many complaints and reviews that state owners also have problem with the CVT transmission. Mine is giving error messages and been acting up while on the interstate. It will jolt into 4 rpm and higher and stay there. This always happens on the interstate and has happened a few times on slower speed limit roads. Seems like the issue is mainly when the car is over 60mph on the interstate. It seems very dangerous and I know Nissan CVT transmission have been recalled. I only have 132,000 miles on my vehicle and many mechanics have told me that it should not be going out like this with this few miles.

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)Reported March 31, 2003 · 128 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain sport utility vehicles, the nut that attaches the transmission gear selector shaft to the control valve lever in the transmission may not be adequately tightened. This could result in the transmission not actually being in the gear indicated by the gear selector lever. In addition, the transmission position display in the instrument panel may not be on or may be incorrect.
Risk
If the gear displayed is different from the gear engaged, this could result in unexpected vehicle movement and a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will check the affected nut in the transmission shift lever linkage, and tighten it if necessary. Owner notification began april 15, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 03V123000 · Recall details

Questions about the Nissan Murano cvt failure

Which Nissan Murano years have cVT failure problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2003 (54 complaints), 2004 (43 complaints) and 2015 (29 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix CVT failure on the Nissan Murano?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $4,225 (median of 74 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Nissan Murano?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history