2009 Nissan Murano Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Murano most often describe a brake pedal that sinks toward the floor or feels soft, sometimes after the ABS kicks in or after hitting a bump, and often the fluid flush or ABS unit work does not settle it. A second theme is air bag and occupant-sensor warning lights that stay lit along with limited dealer support once the vehicle is out of warranty. Electrical cutouts and rear subframe rust also come up, mostly on higher-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes soft or to the floor

   • 224 complaints (35%)
   • median 89,500 mi at 9.0 yrs old (202 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 34 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floorboard or feeling spongy, either gradually over weeks or suddenly after the ABS activates or the car hits a bump or uneven surface. Some owners say pumping the pedal restores pressure for a while. Pads, rotors, master cylinder replacement and brake bleeding are frequently reported without lasting results, and dealers in several complaints pointed to the ABS hydraulic unit or recommended a brake fluid flush. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 200,000 miles, with many cases at 90,000 miles or more; often triggered by bumps, hard stops or ABS activation.

   Recall 18V9160004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the brake fluid has been flushed to DOT 4 and whether the ABS hydraulic control unit was inspected or replaced under the brake recall. Check the pedal feel on a test drive and on uneven pavement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2009 Nissan Murano lost break pressure a few months ago. Took it to a mechanic who replaced the master cylinder to the tune of about $700. Less than two months later it is happening again (break all the way to the floor). Unfortunately I didn't realize until now that this is a very common issue. I cannot believe there hasn't been a recall for this potentially life threatening problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10916005, filed 2016-10, 91,000 miles

   “The car lost brake power after hitting a bump the first time ,and the second time after hitting a pot hole,the Nissan dealer said it is ABS system needs to be replaced and they wanted to charge me 3,000 dollars ,my car has only 49,500 miles ,they have me sign a form that the car is not safe to drive.”

   NHTSA complaint #10984822, filed 2017-05, 49,500 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on, sensor faults

   • 81 complaints (13%)
   • median 70,795 mi at 7.5 yrs old (63 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,700 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   The air bag warning light stays on or flashes, sometimes right after start-up. Dealers and mechanics in the complaints most often trace it to the occupant classification sensor or passenger seat sensor, and in some cases to a front passenger air bag that is no longer available as a part. A few owners report the warning appearing with no crash and note that their vehicle was not covered by the occupant-classification campaign. Usually reported between about 55,000 and 135,000 miles, and in some cases within a few weeks of a battery reset.

   Recall 08V521000Recall 08V066000

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light cycles off after the self-test. Ask if the occupant classification unit or seat sensor has been replaced, and check the VIN against the two air bag campaigns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Even though my car is not registered in the current campaign (Nissan's euphemism for a recall) nonetheless, my airbag light on the dash is flashing, indicating that the airbag system may be faulty. Nissan refuses to fix it without a full diagnostic going over (about $100 fee) and does not seem to care that a passenger in my car could get killed if the airbag fails to deploy. My car is a 2009 Murano with only 59,000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11015320, filed 2017-08, 59,000 miles

   “Airbag warning light on dash began flashing spontaneously at approximately 92,925 miles. Other 2009 Nissan muranos with a different v.I.n. Have been recalled for same issue but not mine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11400364, filed 2021-03, 92,925 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Rear subframe rust and corrosion

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe clunking or squeaking from the rear, rear tires wearing unevenly or flaring out, and inspections finding the rear subframe rusted through or broken. In some cases the subframe detached after a pothole or was found cracked in half during a dealer inspection. Owners say the repair is costly and that dealer or manufacturer assistance was often declined once the vehicle was out of warranty. Reported mostly from about 96,000 to 200,000 miles, typically on older vehicles in wet or salted-road regions.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the rear subframe inspected from underneath for rust perforation before buying, especially on vehicles from snowy states, and ask about any prior subframe or rear suspension repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When traveling down the road you can hear a very audible squeak and clunk coming from the passenger rear of the vehicle. After arriving home I pulled into the garage to determine the location of the noise, I placed a jack under the rear door on the pinch weld and raise the wheel off the ground and removed the tire. Upon further inspection I noticed the the right rear subframe which connects to the rear frame of the vehicle was completely rusted from top to bottom with only a fraction of the metal remaining around the bushing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389368, filed 2021-01, 160,000 miles

   “Car has noise drivers side rear took to shop was told that the rear sub frame is rusted and broke Nissan said out of warranty. Was told not to drive car safety issue will cause accident loose control of car seen on forums a lot of people have same issue. This repair is costly”

   NHTSA complaint #11365269, filed 2020-10, 96,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical shutdowns and repeated battery/alternator failure

   • 37 complaints (6%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 9.3 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe the lights flickering or the vehicle losing power and dying while driving or when pulling away from a stop. Several complaints say the battery was replaced repeatedly and the alternator once or more, in some cases with the problem returning. Others mention the intelligent key not being detected or a no-crank, no-start condition. Mostly between about 50,000 and 160,000 miles, and several owners report repeat failures within a few years.

   Recall 08V5210005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for battery and alternator service records and have the charging system and battery connections tested. Check that the intelligent key is detected reliably and that no CAN-related warning messages appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Murano loses power while stopped or upon acceleration from a stopped position. All my vehicle lights inside and out flicker and flash. Theses lights include dome, dash, radio, outside lights headlights, park lights, brake lights. I've taken it to the dealer for diagnostic and they always say it's the battery. I've had 5 Nissan batteries in 5 years. I've had the alternator replaced with no relief for the electrical problems”

   NHTSA complaint #11312188, filed 2020-02, 55,000 miles

   “We were driving and the car lost speed. We had the car towed to the Nissan dealer and they diagnosed that the battery had failed. This was the second new battery. Then, the car ran until the battery went dead and again the car stopped on the road in traffic without warning. Again the car was towed to the Nissan dealer and this time the problem was diagnosed as a bad alternator. Questions bought up that the 2008 Nissan muranos had a campaign to replace faulty alternators but not the 2009. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10575511, filed 2014-03, 22,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT shudder, limp mode and slipping

   • 55 complaints (9%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Owners report shuddering or shaking when accelerating from a stop, especially after the transmission warms up in stop-and-go driving, with some vehicles dropping into a low-speed limp mode. Other complaints describe the transmission slipping at speed, delayed or wrong-direction engagement after shifting between drive and reverse, and transfer case or axle seal leaks. Repairs described include resealing, rebuild or replacement. Reported from about 50,000 to 216,000 miles, often after 20 minutes of stop-and-go driving from cold.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive long enough to get the transmission warm, including slow turns and stops, and listen for rear-end noise or judder. Ask for CVT fluid service history and whether the transfer case has leaked or been resealed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transfer case is leaking. Known defect in Nissan muranos. The dealership resealed the transfer case the first time ($2000 +). Two weeks later it started laking again. They fixed it for free under repair warranty. Two more weeks later, they are saying I need a new transfer case which will cost $4000. Nissan needs to take accountability for manufacturer defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341965, filed 2020-07, 125,000 miles

   “The vehicle had catastrophic transmission failure at highway speeds. The vehicle has all regular maintenance and less than 60,000 miles on the odometer. We had to make evasive maneuvers to avoid being in a collision.”

   NHTSA complaint #11399480, filed 2021-03, 55,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2009 Murano, the brake pedal feel and the condition of the rear subframe are the two things worth verifying in person, and both are easier to check on a lift. Ask for records on brake fluid flushes, the ABS recall work and CVT fluid service, and budget for the possibility that warning-light sensor repairs will not be covered.

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.