Is the 2009 Nissan Murano a bad year?
635 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 69, 4.9× a quiet Murano year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 61k–113k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 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 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 269 (42%) | 70k–114k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 69 (11%) | 61k–113k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 91 (14%) | 57k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 83 (13%) | 53k–119k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 39 (6%) | 58k–114k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 29 (5%) | 75k–129k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 34 (5%) | 51k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (3%) | 34k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 21 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 20 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 16 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 15 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 11 (2%) | 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 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 635 complaints: 24 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Car stopped suddenly while driving at highway speed. Turned out to be a transfer case problem where the transfer case seeped fluid with out indication until it ran dry.
Cracked metal transfer case under normal work-commute driving conditions at 60,200 miles. Case and seals had to be replaced.
I have owned two Nissan vehicles. The first Nissan I owned was an 08 altima that had a transmission issue at 25,000 miles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Nissan Murano: 4
The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The material in the nut used to secure the sensor-transmitter of the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may corrode and potentially crack in areas with heavy concentrations of road salt. If this occurs, the nut may come out of the sensor-transmitter and the TPMS lamp will illuminate. If the TPMS lamp is disregarded and the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the tire will quickly lose air pressure at a consistent rate resulting in a flat tire increasing the risk of a crash.
A varistor in the OCS control unit located in the passenger seat cushion may have been manufactured out of specification. Under certain conditions, this could cause an interruption of signal between the OCS and the air bag control unit (ACU). This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
Due to incorrect software programming, the air bag control unit (ACU) may cause the passenger air bag not to operate as designed if the vehicle battery becomes significantly discharged. This could result in the passenger air bag not inflating in a crash in which it was designed to do so, and increasing the risk of injury.
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: 60
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Nissan Murano. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Abnormal noise, vibration and/or binding feeling from rear differential
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
Demonstrating a fluid leak that should be considered for repair…
The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Extended Braking Distances
Extended Braking Distances
Neighbouring years
2010 Murano: 193 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
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 2009 Nissan Murano a bad year?
635 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 69, 4.9× a quiet Murano year. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 61k–113k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Murano?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (269), transmission and drivetrain (69), air bags (91), electrical system (83), engine (39). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 61k–113k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Murano have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 18V-916), Tires (NHTSA 09V-393), Electrical system (NHTSA 08V-521), Air bags (NHTSA 08V-066). 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.