2006 Nissan Murano Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a driver's seat that breaks or rocks loose on one side, and a driver's sun visor that drops without warning and blocks the view. Both show up from fairly low mileage upward and are frequently mentioned as recurring rather than one-time failures. Older, higher-mileage complaints center on a corroded rear subframe, power steering hose leaks, stalling, and fuel filler problems.

1. 1
   Seats

   Driver's seat frame cracks and rocks

   • 366 complaints (46%)
   • median 69,506 mi at 5.8 yrs old (334 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 101 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2023

   Complaints describe the driver's seat suddenly tilting toward the door or rocking like a loose chair, often after a bracket or frame under the seat cracks. Owners say the seat moves or rotates slightly when accelerating, turning, or getting in and out, and in some cases the seat dropped on one side while driving. Several report being quoted roughly several hundred to over a thousand dollars for a seat frame or track replacement, and say dealers confirmed the broken part but declined assistance because no recall covered it. A few describe a repair that failed again within months. Reported from roughly 25,000 miles upward, with many complaints in the 40,000-100,000 mile range and on older vehicles.

   What to check: Sit in the driver's seat and push back and forth and side to side to feel for rocking or a tilt toward the door, and look under the seat for cracked brackets or welds. Ask whether the seat frame or track has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2006 Nissan Murano felt as though the drivers seat was leaning to the left. Then it became obviously loose/wobbly, so much so that it feels as though the seat will fall over going around a turn. I had it checked and was told there was a mechanism that had broke under the seat, that the whole thing would have to be replaced and could cost as much as $1,200! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10244947, filed 2008-10, 42,000 miles

   “2006 Nissan Murano driver seat broke loose from track, almost wrecked vehicle getting to the dealer. This should be under a recall w/ mnfctr , but Nissan will not pay for the repairs in full (met me at 50%), but this is a serious defect that is not that uncommon from what I have read now. This must be recalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10281773, filed 2009-08, 70,500 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Driver's sun visor falls and blocks view

   • 185 complaints (23%)
   • median 53,055 mi at 4.8 yrs old (154 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 55 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2021

   Owners report the driver's side sun visor stops staying in the raised position and drops down on its own, sometimes fully, obscuring the road ahead. Complaints say it happens on rough pavement, over bumps, or at random while driving, and that a replacement visor eventually failed the same way. Some were quoted a few hundred dollars for the repair, and a few mention warranty replacement that did not last. Reported from about 25,000 miles up through 100,000+ miles, typically on older vehicles with years of use.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Raise and lower the driver's visor several times and check whether it holds firmly in the up position; ask whether it has been replaced before.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is the second time the driver's side visor has suddenly broken and come down to block my view in the middle of driving. I replaced the original for the same problem 3 years ago. Seems the issue was not actually fixed. It now falls down regularly and suddenly blocks my view. I'm told its $400 to fix it again. Why hasn't it been recalled? There is obviously a dangerous problem with these visors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10500008, filed 2013-02, 70,000 miles

   “Driver's side sunvisor began to drop when car hits a bump, going over rough roads and at random times. Now it drops all the time causing the vision of the driver to be blocked and causing potential safety issues. I have extended warrenty but its not covered and was told by the dealer it would cost $520.00. This issue must be solved for safety reasons. With multiple complaints Nissan should consider a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10411819, filed 2011-07, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rear subframe corrosion and rear-end instability

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the rear subframe or suspension crossmember rusting through from the inside, discovered during inspections, alignments, or state safety checks. Owners say the rear of the vehicle feels loose or sways while driving, and some report cracked or broken subframe sections and uneven rear tire wear. Repairs described involve replacing the subframe, and complaints note no recall covered it. Mostly reported on vehicles above roughly 120,000 miles, often in states with road salt and on older examples.

   What to check: Have the rear subframe and crossmember inspected on a lift for rust-through, especially on vehicles from salt-belt states, and check rear tire wear for uneven inner edges.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear sub frame on the driver's side of my 06 Nissan Murano awd is broken and it's cracked on the passenger side. When driving down the road you can feel the rear swaying back and forth. It's also caused my tires to flare out and wear on the inside edge of the tires.”

   NHTSA complaint #11310433, filed 2020-02, 160,000 miles

   “While my vehicle was on a lift to check the alignment, the mechanic noticed that the entire back suspension frame was completly rusted out. If I had been driving and hit a bump the wrong way, I would have lost the back end suspension and lost control of my car. After looking online about this problem, there were numerous and numerous complaints about this problem. I contacted Nissan and there has been no recall on this dangerous, faulty frame.”

   NHTSA complaint #11097000, filed 2018-05, 150,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 25 complaints (3%)
   • median 83,833 mi at 9.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2022

   Owners describe the engine quitting unexpectedly while in motion or losing power when pulling away from a stop, sometimes with no warning light. In some complaints the engine restarts and drives normally afterward. Complaints also reference the intake air duct recall, with owners saying they were told the vehicle's identification number was not covered or that the duct issue recurred. A recall for this model year covers intake air ducts that may separate from the resonator. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 50,000 miles up past 180,000 miles.

   Recall 09V169000

   What to check: Ask whether the intake air duct recall work was completed, and inspect the intake duct and resonator for separation or cracking. Note any history of intermittent stalling on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine stalls unexpectedly while in motion. Has happened several times. Almost causing accident. Nissan recall intake air ducts resonator. 2009. Nissan will not help because of the VIN number.”

   NHTSA complaint #11104999, filed 2018-07, 175,300 miles

   “Sitting in traffic and when I go to take off no power. Engine is still running but no power to go. Turn engine off start it back up put it in drive and it go's just fine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11109952, filed 2018-07, 208,000 miles

Buying note. Check the driver's seat frame and sun visor first, since those are the most commonly reported problems and repairs come out of pocket. On higher-mileage examples, have the rear subframe inspected for corrosion and confirm the intake air duct recall was completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.