Is the 2012 Nissan MURANO reliable?

The 2012 Nissan MURANO has 166 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.2x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2012 Nissan MURANO?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (30 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (26 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (25 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2012 Nissan MURANO?

Yes, there are 1 recall(s): TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Nissan MURANO?

The 2012 Nissan MURANO gets 20 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2400. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2012 Nissan MURANO?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2012 Nissan MURANO is approximately $1,585/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2012 Nissan MURANO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Nissan MURANO has 166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 141. The most common issue is transmission problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 nissan murano. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was able to be restarted, and was taken to a dealer. the mechanic could not diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem. the approximate . There is 1 recall issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 5 crash reports 6 injuries

166

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

30 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE
• WHILE PULLING OUT THE CAR FROM A PARKING SPOT AND PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND GIVING IT A LITTLE GAS, THE CAR SEEMED TO SHOOT OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE IN CONTROL RATHER THAN ME. I HIT A PARKED CAR WHILE IN REVERSE. *TR
• AT SPORADIC TIMES, MY 2012 NISSAN MURANO WILL HESITATE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED FOR 5-10 SECONDS IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (WHILE UNDER WARRANTY) I NOTIFIED NISSAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Nissan MURANO

Based on 119 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 62K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

Earlier than typicalmedian 45K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

Earlier than typicalmedian 40K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

Earlier than typicalmedian 48K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 75K mi · 27 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 75K mi · 16 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

In line with typicalmedian 66K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (1)

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS22/02/2012

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 MURANO AND ROGUE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2012. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138,TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.

Risk: A NON-ACTIVE TPMS CANNOT WARN A DRIVER THAT A TIRE IS UNDERINFLATED. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.

Fix: ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER INVENTORY. DEALERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Nissan MURANO

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,401

Per month

$200

Per mile

20.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,667/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$2,087/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Nissan MURANO

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,585

Full coverage / month

$132

Liability only / year

$626

vs US avg

-5%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1585

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan MURANO Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2012 MURANO, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 166 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT ENGAGED. INDICATOR IS ON APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME, WHEN MY 84 POUND DAUGHTER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS MEANS THAT 50% OF THE TIME, MY DAUGHTER IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG. THIS IS TROUBLESOME. THE INTERMITTENT, SEEMINGLY RANDOM NATURE O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A 70 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AN RESTARTED BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: VEHICLES MOON ROOF INEXPLICABLY EXPLODED FROM INSIDE OUT WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)