Is the 2004 Nissan Murano a bad year?
678 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 143, 10× a quiet Murano year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 67k–119k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Murano owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 87,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 143 (21%) | 67k–119k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 94 (14%) | 64k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 75 (11%) | 58k–141k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 48 (7%) | 53k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 110 (16%) | 14k–108k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 35 (5%) | 38k–132k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 35 (5%) | 70k–143k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 29 (4%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 26 (4%) | 28k–122k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 19 (3%) | 18k–97k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Suspension | 15 (2%) | 63k–124k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bags | 7 (1%) | 31k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 133 (20%) | 42k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 87,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 678 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Just got this murano. The other day went to go take off from a light. And the murano wouldn't go anywhere. Finally limped to side of the road, turned the car off, turned car on, was fine for a day or two.
At 67,000 miles the transfer case of my 04 AWD murano cracked. As a result a control panel and switch were also damaged.
While driving on freeway car would not respond to throttle. After shutting down engine and restarting car ran normally.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 87,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Nissan Murano: 4
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. Engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
On some sport utility vehicles, in certain high speed frontal crashes, the webbing of a rear outboard seat belt may contact the rear seat back hinge where it can be cut by the sharp edge of the metal portion of the hinge. If the webbing is completely separated, it can increase the risk of injury to an occupant in a crash.
On certain sport utility vehicles, due to the location of the forward edge of the fuel tank, in the event that a vehicle front tire runs over a small, sharp object in the road, catches it and propels it towards the rear of the vehicle, it may strike and puncture the fuel tank. A punctured tank could increase the risk of a fire.
On certain sport utility vehicles, there is a possibility that a wire breaking inside the alternator could stop the battery from charging. If this happens, the charger warning and brake warning lamps will immediately come on and the battery will begin to discharge. After a short time, the engine will go into a "Fall safe" Condition which will limit vehicle speed.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 32
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Nissan Murano. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Abnormal noise, vibration and/or binding feeling from rear differential
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Nissan; fuel tank is extremely difficult to fill
The Body Control Module (BCM)…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Driver seat anchor failure
Fuel tank punctures from road debris
Alternator failure / engine stalling
Alternator failure/ engine stalling
Neighbouring years
2003 Murano: 800 complaints, consider selling · 2005 Murano: 987 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan Murano year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Murano years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Nissan Murano a bad year?
678 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 143, 10× a quiet Murano year. At 87,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 67k–119k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Nissan Murano?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (143), seats (94), engine (75), latches and locks (48), electrical system (110). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 67k–119k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Murano have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 09V-169), Seat belts (NHTSA 06V-048), Fuel system (NHTSA 06V-003), Electrical system (NHTSA 05V-319). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.