The engine and transmission do not run smoothly. It hesitates, and it doesn’t downshift correctly. The engine revs up and will not shift gears properly. It’s jerky. Everything about this engine and transmission feels strange for a luxury car. Sometimes, I don’t feel safe trying to pass somebody. You wouldn’t know how bad of a ride this car is from a 20-minute or even a 10-minute test drive. It’s something you have to own and experience to understand. Whatever they did with this car feels unsafe to drive, especially with the engine stuttering and hesitating the way it does. And I only have 7,700 miles on my car.
Nissan Murano jerking problems
169 of the 5,969 owner complaints about the Nissan Murano describe jerking or lurching, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 169
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,800
- typical mileage
- 80,000
By model year
Often reported together
CVT failure 30Hesitation 26Stalling 23Loss of power 19Check engine light 18Transmission failure 17Slipping 9Shudder 5
Trouble codes mentioned
P1564 1P0340 1P0302 1P0300 1
What owners say
I was in a parking ramp attempting to park in a tight space that required back & forth maneuvering. I was going forward towards a concrete wall. All of a sudden my car lurched forward to the wall causing damage to my car. This all happened in a matter of seconds. Speed was minimal.
While accelerating there's a delay when pressing the gas pedal and then a surge in power with understeer causing dangerous lurching forward. Dangerous to merge into traffic and very unpredictable.
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
the federal safety agency Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2018 Nissan Murano Submitted by: [XXX] Vehicle: 2018 Nissan Murano VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of issue: Approx. 93,500 miles Location: Albuquerque, NM Date of issue onset: [XXX] Summary of the Problem: Shortly after my vehicle was serviced at a Nissan dealership, it began exhibiting serious mechanical and electrical issues. These include: - Transmission jerking and slipping between gears - Uncommanded RPM surging while accelerating - Occasional loss of power, particularly at highway speeds - Dashboard flickering, resetting, and other electrical irregularities - Brake caliper drag and significantly reduced gas mileage Third-Party Diagnosis: A certified independent repair shop reported the following: - Transmission malfunction (needs full replacement) - Dragging brake caliper - Engine overfilled with oil - Erratic RPM behavior Despite these findings, the dealership dismissed all concerns and returned the vehicle unrepaired, with no adequate documentation of the work performed. Additional Concerns: I believe the vehicle was accessed and tampered with while at the dealership. After their service: - My dashboard and door panels were visibly unsealed or repositioned - The vehicle was held for extended periods (multiple weeks) - No paperwork was provided showing any actual mechanical repairs I have before-and-after photographs and text messages confirming this timeline and change in condition. Safety Impact: The transmission failure, RPM spikes, and braking inconsistencies make the vehicle unsafe to drive. These problems pose a significant crash risk, especially in highway traffic or while merging. I’m submitting this report to the federal safety agency to contribute to any ongoing investigations related to this vehicle make/model and to help prevent further consumer risk. Additional Observation – Abnormal Heat After Driving After driving the vehicle, extreme heat can be felt rising from underneath the dr INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Loss power i ,studding had a overheating in transmissonsounds whinning , bumps, locking up hesatation sudden lurching at home in driveway.
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and hesitated, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart but was unable to shift into drive or reverse. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the CVT transmission fluid needed to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 204,000.
When starting my vehicle, it would shake and hesitate to turn on. While driving, It would hesitate when accelerating. When driving at 70 miles, the vehicle would hesitate then drop 3 to 4 miles below speed on its own. The dashboard would indicate drive mode then change to reverse mode then back to drive mode, then reverse mode continuously while driving. The car was also making a loud clanking noise. When I was at a standstill at a red light with foot on the brake, the car was jerking forward on its own. I was driving the car with my 2 year old when this happened and decided to take it to a mechanic who confirmed that it is a transmission problem as well as a broken axle on the left. I left the car at his shop and started shopping around for a transmission replacement which is very costly. My concern is, if this has been a faulty issue with 2009 Nissan Murano transmissions, then it is likely that this can happen again if I purchase a used transmission which at this time, I cannot afford so it is sitting at the mechanics repair shop until I either save money for a transmission or use the money to get a better used vehicle. At this time I have to take my mom to work and use her car so i can go to work. I’ve been doing this for the past 2 weeks and unsure as to how much longer I can keep doing this as our work hours are conflicting.
Vehicle jerked and drove erratically. Would slowly stall and would not move while accelerating
My 2010 Nissan Murano incurred transmission and transfer case failure @ around approximately 95,000 miles despite keeping up with the required maintenance. This was in a form of erratic jerking, overheating, and decreased pick up speeds. However, the vehicle did not have any service lights indicating further issues on the dash. I then went to 2 Nissan service centers to request that Nissan fix their faulty parts on 11/11/22 and 12/02/22. Both Service Centers acknowledge faulty parts by Nissan, but refused stating that my car is not under warranty and therefore, Nissan would not cover the cost. Nissan has had multiple class action law suits regarding their production of these parts and yet is evading responsibility. Since then, my car has sat in my driveway undriveable as Nissan continues to avoid rectifying the situation. I now owe the bank almost $3,000 for a car I can no longer drive and bank will not settle out the debt to the worth of the car. I now have to consider a voluntary repo which will ultimately negatively affect my credit and force me into a hardship. I cannot utilize this vehicle to go back and forth to work.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- 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 jerking
Which Nissan Murano years have jerking or lurching problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (48 complaints), 2004 (25 complaints) and 2006 (21 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix jerking or lurching on the Nissan Murano?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,800 (median of 30 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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