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Nissan Murano knocking problems

24 of the 5,969 owner complaints about the Nissan Murano describe engine knocking or ticking, most of them for the 2004 model year.

owner complaints
24
worst model year
2004
typical repair cost reported
$3,800
typical mileage
72,900
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2025
    1
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    2
  • 2015
    1
  • 2012
    1
  • 2011
    2
  • 2010
    2
  • 2009
    3
  • 2007
    1
  • 2005
    3
  • 2004
    4
  • 2003
    3

What owners say

Filed Jan 29, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · NJ · 1 injury

New leased 2025 Nissan Murano vehicle 7,386 miles with recent software upgrade by Nissan dealer, Keyport, New Jersey. As I accelerated from a complete stop, the vehicle experienced an unintended increased excessive speed acceleration and when I applied the brakes to slow the vehicle, the acceleration wouldn't stop knocking me back into my headrest hurting my neck and right ankle. I had to shut off the vehicle to stop it. I then proceeded to attempt restarting to exit the roadway safely and it failed to start keeping in the lane of traffic. A message displayed to update the vehicle software which I did immediately and was unable to restart during vehicle requested update. I put on my hazard lights remaining in the vehicle as snow banks covered each side of the road and it wasn't safe to exit my vehicle with traffic and ice conditions. I was put into a situation where I could not exit the roadway and vehicles were approaching my rear as I was in a single lane roadway with traffic had going around me when safe to pass. After the upgrade I attempted to restart the vehicle and it would not until I opened the door and reapplied the brake pedal realizing that moment I injured my ankle pressing on the brakes so hard to stop my speeding vehicle. It did finally start after the 5th attempt afyer the software upgrade. After this event upon starting the vehicle I drove it off the roadway and the seats began to heat up hotter than tolerable and I could smell what seemed like burning plastic with the steering wheel heating up too hot to touch. I called Nissan and spoke with Angel in her servixe department to find out if there was any recalls or other vehicles with this issue and she didn't know. They confirmed they'll be be accepting my vehicle for service tomorrow morning Jan 30, 26' at 830 where I'll have Nissan roadside service take the vehicle into the dealership.

Filed Apr 10, 2025 · Electrical · MO

Rear lift-gate failed to latch. Paid for assessment and repair in August 2024. I was told it could occur again that there is hatch issue with this vehicle. Eight months later, the rear lift-gate failed to latch again. I took it back to the dealership. While driving, it is unsafe as the warning lights are flashing on the dash and an alarm is screeching for the entirety of the trip. You cannot safely drive a vehicle when the door will not latch. After inspection of the vehicle, they advised to repair the lock assembly($770) though $180 was paid at first assessment . I was told this may not be the final solution to the problem. This time there was no discussion of the hatch issue with this vehicle. Hmmm, there is an online forum for other Nissan owners with the same problem. I never received any warning lamps prior to the issue. The rear lift hatch was working until it wasn't. Thank goodness I was not on a road trip (I have two adult children who live out of state). It is unnerving and unsafe to drive while all of the warning lights and sounds are ON all while your rear door is unable to latch. In my opinion, this is a SAFETY issue. There have been two class action suits on the 2017 Murano. One for foggy headlamps and one for the CVT transmission. I did not join the suits. At the time I was contacted, my headlamps were not foggy, now they are. Knock on wood, I have no issues with my transmission. I can drive safely with foggy headlamps. I can NOT drive safely when my rear door will not latch. There are 3 buttons for this feature (the dash, the rear door, and the glove box). The button in the glove box allows you to turn off the auto lift feature. Even when you turn it off, the door will not latch. In my opinion, there is a faulty design. This should be a RECALL, not a repair. I am long past the days of soccer and basketball tournaments where a rear door gets a workout. It's just me. Having a door close and latch seems fundamental to the safety of a vehicle.

Filed Feb 27, 2024 · Body, Suspension · PA

Premature Subframe Corrosion: first noticed a knocking noise coming from under rear driver side area when going over bumps with our 2011 Murano. Then the knocking noise (metal on metal sound) got worse and then the back of our vehicle would sway uncontrollably side to side when pressing a little hard on the brakes. Brought the vehicle to the Nissan dealer and was told that the subframe had excessive corrosion and the vehicle is dangerous to drive. Our vehicle has only 106,800 miles and has been garage kept and serviced every year by the Nissan dealership. Discovered online that 100’s, probably 1000’s including unreported incidents of other Nissan owners having the same excessive subframe rusting problem. People have reported their wheels falling off and losing control of vehicle...easily can cause major accident with deaths. There was a recall in 2006 for the same subframe issue but for unknown reasons doesn’t include my vehicle. Nissan has not corrected the cause of the subframe defect and has allowed this dangerous situation to continue with their vehicles even after the recall ended. The parts & labor cost to replace the subframe is between $3,000-$4,000+ and Nissan Consumer Affairs says since there are no current recalls and the vehicle is out of warranty that they will do nothing for me. This subframe rusting started day 1 when we purchased the vehicle and prematurely got worse each year through the warranty period until it becomes a dangerous situation after the warranty period ends. The prior recall should be extended to cover more vehicles and Nissan should take responsibility for not correcting the premature subframe rusting issues. Nissan should cover the costs to repair the faulty subframe or at the least, Nissan should supply the parts to correct the issue and the owner be responsible for the labor.

Filed Aug 24, 2023 · Body · OH

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear subframe was corroded and fractured in half and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jun 20, 2023 · Body · 130,000 miles · NH

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the rear subframe was rusted. The contact was advised to contact the local dealer for assistance. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2022 · Suspension · IN

the rear subframe is rusted all the way through from the inside out. I work at Toyota Motors Manufacturing Indiana and I happen to work in the are that builds subframes for siennas and highlanders if toyota had a known issue such as this with such a safety concern there would for sure be a recall. This was discovered from a knocking noise in the rear of the vehicle we elevated the rear and removed the passenger side rear tire and discovered all the rust falling out using a screwdriver to check around it would pass completely through the subframe.

Filed Jun 17, 2021 · Suspension · IL

Upon driving my vehicle, my ABS and AWD lights came on and it felt as though the abs brakes were engaging, despite being on a flat, dry road driving at low speed. My car was making a very slight, difficult to hear noise coming from the rear, a knocking noise of sorts. I also began hearing a high pitched, whirring noise as well, though I could not identify the location or source. Upon inspection by a mechanic, I was informed that 1. The rear subframe was rusted and would need to be replaced as it was causing the control arms to move when they should not. 2. Front driver's side wheel bearing was causing the high pitched "whirring noise" and needed to be replaced. I was told to take vehicle to a body shop to repair the subframe problem. I had the front wheel bearing replaced at the auto mechanic. However, the high pitched noise that I was told was caused by the bearing, still persisted. I then decided to tow the vehicle to the body shop as upon visual inspection under my vehicle, the rear sway bar was resting on my exhaust and I felt it u safe to drive. Spoke with the body shop owner the next day, he informed me that my car was very unsafe and could not be driven because the rear subframe was so rusted and corroded, there "is practically nothing left to it." Body shop owner said that this could result in a dangerous, possibly fatal accident.

Filed Oct 24, 2020 · Transmission · 79,000 miles · NM · crash

The CVT went bad in the vehicle and nissan never fixed what was reported in the past with 2012s people with 2013 to current are all still having CVT transmissions fail and nissan is not recalling or fixing the issue. Well driving on the freeway the vehicle started knocking and lost complete power and looked under the car and had oil seeping from it.

Filed Oct 8, 2019 · Transmission · TX

Drive transfer case makes loud knocking noise and the awd button comes on and off, after research others reported this causes vehicle to suddenly stop at highway speeds

Filed Feb 20, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 nissan murano. While driving at an unknown speed, an abnormal knocking noise was heard coming from the engine. Also, the check engine and an unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to nissan serramonte (located at 1500 a collins ave, colma, ca 94014, (650) 550-7200) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, while driving 25 MPH, the instrument panel intermittently failed to illuminate. The contact called nissan serramonte and an appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Related recalls

Engine and engine coolingReported May 19, 2009 · 362,891 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan is recalling 362,891 my 2003-2007 murano vehicles. The intake air ducts, which are connected to the intermediate resonator in the air intake system of the engine, may separate from the resonator with engine movement. This separation occurs due to the premature aging of the material used in the intake air ducts which causes excessive shrinking.
Risk
Engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace/repair the appropriate components free of charge. The recall began on september 24, 2009. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 09V169000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported November 17, 2003 · 630,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
Risk
This could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are also included in this new campaign. The replacement sensors used in that campaign are also affected. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261 or infiniti at 1‑800‑662‑6200.

Recall number 03V455000 · Recall details

Questions about the Nissan Murano knocking

Which Nissan Murano years have engine knocking or ticking problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2004 (4 complaints), 2003 (3 complaints) and 2005 (3 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix engine knocking or ticking on the Nissan Murano?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,800 (median of 8 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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