Transmission issues rank among the most common Nissan Murano problems. Aside from the interior, the CVT transmission is one of most commonly failing components. Owners and lessees of Nissan Murano SUVs have reported lurching, acceleration issues, vehicle overheating and premature transmission failure.
These recurring Nissan Murano transmission problems have sparked class action lawsuits and consumer complaints across multiple model years. Many SUV owners claim Nissan has failed to provide lasting solutions for these safety concerns
Frequent Causes of Nissan Murano CVT Transmission Problems
Several factors contribute to Nissan Murano transmission problems, with many stemming from mechanical defects, overheating and faulty components. These issues have led to owner complaints and costly repairs:
- Overheating & Limp Mode Activation: Many Nissan Murano transmission issues begin with excessive heat buildup. When the transmission gets too hot, it may trigger limp mode, reducing power to prevent further damage. Owners report experiencing delayed acceleration, sudden power loss and a burning smell.
- Premature Wear of CVT Components: Unlike automatic transmissions, CVTs rely on a steel belt and pulley system rather than traditional gears. These parts often wear out prematurely, leading to slipping, loss of power and complete transmission failure.
- Transmission Control Module (TCM) Failures: The TCM controls shifting and acceleration. A malfunctioning TCM can cause erratic revving, hesitation when pressing the gas pedal or the car failing to accelerate properly.
If you’re experiencing problems with your Nissan Murano CVT transmission—such as delayed acceleration, sudden power loss or transmission failure—you may have a lemon law claim.
Below is a sample of consumer complaints about the Nissan Murano CVT transmission submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Please note that the complaints have been edited for grammar and clarity.
2015-2019 Nissan Murano Vehicles
2015 Nissan Murano
I took the vehicle to a Nissan dealer for a regular oil change (service light on). The vehicle had a couple of hesitations, somewhat like having water in the gas. After stopping and then taking off, the hesitation occurred. Nissan checked and the transmission has to be replaced-only 46,000 miles on car? […] If Nissan is having this problem with these transmissions, they should be automatically replacing them. The vehicle is currently at the Nissan dealer, waiting for the new transmission.
2015 Nissan Murano
Multiple transmission issues. Stuttering and jerking at low speed, especially on a slight grade going up. Loss of power from a stop. Slipping when going into gear then jerking. Shift points appear to be erratic. Probably came on slowly but only got to a dangerous or problematic point near the end of the warranty period. Noticed it badly when attempting to pull out into traffic and almost got side swiped.
2015 Nissan Murano
The CVT transmission is a classic Nissan failure. I have taken the car multiple times to my local Nissan dealer. 1st time, they replaced a faulty valve body. 2nd time they reprogrammed the software. 3rd time they did a vibration software update. Still shudders in lower gears, still has a vibration while idle, but they claim that their technicians “can’t feel it” or that they “can’t get the car to duplicate.” Ridiculous. They know the transmission is faulty and they don’t want to foot the bill.
2016 Nissan Murano
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Murano. After driving various speeds for more than thirty minutes, the vehicle suddenly became unresponsive when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The RPMs increased, but the speed did not. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to [a Nissan dealer] where it was diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. The transmission was replaced and the failure was remedied. In addition, the windshield wiper pump would become clogged with debris and failed to operate correctly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 89,000.
2017 Nissan Murano
This has happen numerous times. The transmission, a CVT, has big problems that has caused my wife and I great concern. When we go to take off, we really have to step down on the peddle because of traffic flow. We have semi’s traveling on our road and other roads. When this occurred the first time after purchasing the car, we thought it was bad gas, but since then we have been in critical situations because the transmission is not working.
The transmission in question is very unsafe in this vehicle; it almost stops for a few seconds. We have seconds away from 18 wheelers crashing into us, or cars where you have to pull out in traffic. What bothers me is my wife drives this vehicle at least once a day, sometimes with my daughter, and grandson. Where we live, big trucks hauling wood to the paper mill have almost crashed into us on numerous occasions, same with cars. Some are even showing road rage when my wife is minding her own business, and same with me.
This problem has caused us to know that the transmission is doing this on a regular basis. When the car is in motion, we have even been put in the medium because of this CVT problem, and we believe by looking on the web now, and asking the mechanic we always use has said the same.
We have had this car since July 2018. We know now it isn’t bad gas, or the injectors needing clean, or the transmission oil needing change. We however know that with this safety problem, it will be just a matter of time (if not us but) someone driving this type of vehicle will either get hurt, or may start causing people to die.
We live right off of a two-lane road. Sometimes it is when we are pulling out, sometimes when we are going on the expressway way, sometimes when passing slower traffic, or on a city intersection. It acts at first like the engine is going to stall, seconds count in driving, we don’t feel safe in this car anymore.
2017 Nissan Murano
In 9,000 miles, I’ve had this occur 3 times. Immediately after turning – straightening out, the acceleration will not kick in. I see the RPMs going up as I am hitting the gas, but the vehicle is not getting any power to the wheels – I was actually slowing down from my turn inertia. I had my car up to 5,000 RPMs, but I was still only going ~25-35 mph. It’s very dangerous if I pull into traffic. I had my vehicle looked at by the dealership. However, since there were no codes, they could not find anything wrong. I contacted Nissan customer care and they are not interested in troubleshooting if there are no codes.
2020-2024 Nissan Murano Vehicles
2020 Nissan Murano
It has happened twice since we purchased our Murano 8 months ago. When pulling onto a divided highway you have to slow down then you accelerate to get into the lane….the transmission hesitates around 2 or 3 seconds then grabs the gear and you take off. This is very worrisome for us, both being retired and it could cause an accident.
2020 Nissan Murano
While parallel parking, we backed into the space and when we put the car into Drive, it lurched forward at an incredible speed. We hit and pushed the car parked in front of us, hopped up onto the sidewalk, knocked down a street light, and moved a huge concrete planter. The airbags over the windshield and under the dashboard deployed. The bags under the dash exploded with such force that they injured my husband’s legs, and he has been seeing a wound doctor for the past five weeks. The car was towed to a repair shop. I reported the incident to Nissan NA; they sent a representative to retrieve information from the EDR. Nissan has advised that no mechanical problems were recorded but we are absolutely certain the car malfunctioned. We think it might have been a problem with the CVT.
2020 Nissan Murano
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into park, the vehicle continued rolling forward. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
2024 Nissan Murano
The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating and shuddering significantly. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,457.
If you have recurring problems with your Nissan Murano’s CVT transmission, your vehicle may be a lemon. However, Nissan Muranos are not the only Nissan vehicle model experiencing these recurring problems. Read more about common Nissan CVT transmission problems and your California lemon law rights. If you would like more information, complete the form below to request a free consultation.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and Orange County. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2020–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
