2015 Nissan Murano Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year mostly report CVT transmission trouble — shuddering, hesitation and jerking at low speed, sometimes progressing to loss of power — and the advanced driver-assistance system switching off, which disables cruise control. A large share of complaints about the transmission arrive in the 40,000-70,000 mile range, while complaints about the airbag/occupant sensor, sunroof glass and early braking-system warnings cluster at very low mileage.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT shudder, hesitation and jerking at low speed

   • 64 complaints (31%)
   • median 39,200 mi at 4.1 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,800 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe shuddering, vibration and hesitation at low speeds, often when pulling away from a stop or slowing for an intersection, with the transmission seeming unsure which ratio to select. Some owners report the vehicle losing power or refusing to accelerate, and a few mention burnt-smelling transmission fluid or metal debris in the pan. Dealers reportedly replaced the valve body or CVT assembly, reprogrammed the transmission control module, or told owners no fault code was stored and to keep driving. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 75,000 miles, with a few cases above 100,000 miles.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car at low speed on a slight incline and listen for shudder or hesitation; check the CVT fluid for a burnt smell and ask for transmission service history and any CVT warranty extension or recalibration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car hesitates when accelerating causing a danger when car does not go as expected when pulling into traffic. It also jerks and shudders at lower speeds, the car shakes somewhat violently and will stop if you floor the gas pedal. Bought the car brand new from dealer and have brought in for the issue to be told the computer doesn't see a problem. I drive the car daily I know there is an issue and it is dangerous to drive when it chooses not to go when accelerating. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11298122, filed 2020-01, 3,000 miles

   “Took vehicle to Nissan dealer for regular oil change (service light on). Vehicle had had a couple of hesitations somewhat like having water in the gas. This happen when after stopping and then taking off the hesitation occurred. Nissan checked and the transmission has to be replaced-only 46,000 miles on car? I do have an extended warranty, that I purchased when I bought the car. If Nissan is having this problem with these transmissions, they should be automatically replacing them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11416782, filed 2021-05, 46,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Forward radar / automatic emergency braking disables cruise

   • 23 complaints (11%)
   • median 53,500 mi at 5.6 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe an 'unavailable front radar obstruction' or collision warning appearing after a few minutes or miles of driving even with a clear road, which switches off adaptive cruise control and the automatic emergency braking function. Several report the system clearing only after the car is shut off and restarted, and some describe unexpected slowing or braking at highway speed when the system reacts. Dealers reportedly replaced the radar or distance sensor, checked battery voltage, or could not reproduce the fault. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 90,000 miles, often after several minutes of driving.

   Recall 16V6360004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the adaptive cruise and forward collision warning on a highway drive of at least 15 minutes and confirm no warning light appears; ask whether radar sensor replacement or software updates were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Initially the problem start with the active cruise control being intermittent. I would be on and then the system randomly error out and disable at highway speeds. Now currently the aeb system is completely not functional at any speed and I suspect the front radar sensor the system uses is faulty. Lots of research online and many many people have the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329337, filed 2020-06, 45,000 miles

   “As I'm driving down the freeway with my cruise control on, a front collision warning indicator on the dashboard will appear which causes the cruise control to turn off resulting in braking/slowing on the freeway unexpectedly. This is a serious issue and is a concern for me and my family's safety as we are out driving on the roads. When it happens, there is nothing on the road or obstructing the sensor from performing its task.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327516, filed 2020-06, 29,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag turns off with an adult seated

   • 31 complaints (15%)
   • median 12,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe the passenger airbag indicator showing off, or the occupant classification system treating an occupied seat as empty, even with an adult or older child in the front seat. Some owners say the condition is intermittent and appeared after a recall-related reset, and that dealers checked the system and reported it operating as designed or could not duplicate it. A few complaints describe airbag warning lamps staying on or airbags not deploying in a collision. Mostly reported at very low mileage, often under 15,000 miles and sometimes from new.

   Recall 16V2440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With an adult seated in the front passenger seat, confirm the airbag indicator reads on; ask whether the occupant classification recall was completed and whether any airbag warning lamp has been stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In about half of the drives passenger airbag off signal comes up when an adult passenger is seated in front, this happens for the same passenger. I was told by dealer that the weight limit is set around 120lbs which seems to high for small adults, females especially. This creates a safety hazard as we are using the vehicle with pasenger airbag turned off half the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759826, filed 2015-08, 8,000 miles

   “Purchased a new 2015 Nissan Murano platinum at end of may. Noticed right away when my 95 pound son would sit in front passenger seat, the 'passenger airbag deactivated' light would come on and stay on. We inquired with our local dealer and they said everything was checked out and operating correctly. We were told the new seat sensors were very sensitive and my son needed to 'move around' a bit in the seat to activate the front passenger airbag. That never worked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10761871, filed 2015-09, 10 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   ABS warning light and brake pedal changes

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 30,748 mi at 2.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe the ABS warning lamp illuminating and the brake pedal becoming hard to press or feeling different, sometimes alongside traction and collision warning lights. Some owners mention the ABS actuator recall and report warning lamps appearing after the recall work was performed. Dealers reportedly performed the recall remedy, diagnosed the ABS actuator, or in some cases found no cause. Reported from a few thousand up to around 80,000 miles, including shortly after recall repairs.

   Recall 18V601000Recall 19V807000Recall 15V364000

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS actuator recalls (15V364, 18V601, 19V807) were completed, check that no ABS or brake warning lamp stays on, and have the brake pedal feel checked during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The recall service was performed as promised. I do have to add though that shortly after having picked the car up, the automatic emergency braking warning light started to go off occasionally after normally applying the brakes. Then the light would go on at random times without having applied the brakes. I returned the car to the dealership and they mentioned that it was probably a coincident that this happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11361195, filed 2020-09, 90,800 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated and the brake pedal became difficult to depress. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15v364000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,700.”

   NHTSA complaint #10735464, filed 2015-07, 2,700 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Panoramic sunroof glass shatters

   • 11 complaints (5%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2023

   Owners report the panoramic sunroof glass breaking outward with a loud noise while driving at highway speed, with no impact or debris seen beforehand. In several accounts the glass fractured upward and outward, and in one case the dealer replaced it at no charge. Complaints note the risk of glass entering the cabin when the shade is open. Reported from a few thousand to about 73,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof panel edges and seals for chips or prior replacement, and ask whether the glass has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was driving the vehicle down the highway with no one around when the sunroof spontaneously exploded without warning. She immediately took the vehicle to the dealership and took photos. You can clearly see that the sunroof glass exploded up and outward - not indicative of an object hitting the sunroof causing it to explode. My one year old son was also in the vehicle at the time it exploded. Luckily, the shade was closed because he had taken a nap earlier that day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407711, filed 2021-04, 70,000 miles

   “While driving, my panoramic sunroof suddenly exploded. When the glass broke, it broke outward as it was lifted when I saw it when I got to my destination.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317081, filed 2020-03, 73,465 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the CVT — fluid condition, service history and a low-speed test drive — and on the driver-assistance and ABS systems, since owners report recurring warning lights that dealers often could not duplicate. Confirm which open recalls have been completed on the specific vehicle.

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.