2016 Nissan Murano Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Murano report two broad kinds of trouble: dashboard warnings from the front radar and automatic emergency braking system, and brake/ABS problems including a sinking pedal and ABS actuator faults. A number of complaints also describe transmission and transfer-case behavior (surging, hesitation, loss of power), and many of the braking and sensor complaints arrive at low mileage, often within the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Front radar “unavailable” warning and unexpected automatic

   • 17 complaints (16%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe a “front radar unavailable due to obstruction” message appearing on the cluster with no obstruction present, which disables cruise control and the forward collision warning. Several report the automatic emergency braking engaging on its own, sometimes braking hard with traffic ahead already out of the lane. Complaints say dealers often called the behavior normal, reset the sensor, or replaced the distance sensor in the front bumper, and a few note the sensor failed again after replacement. Mostly reported between roughly 10,000 and 45,000 miles, often after 10-15 minutes of driving.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the radar/distance sensor has been replaced or recalibrated, and test the adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning on a test drive. Bulletins describe diagnostic procedures and warning-light repair for this system, so ask whether those were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just bought this car used, in march 2019. It started shortly after buying it and continues to happened. . Repeatedly , while city and highway driving, a warning comes on 'front radar unavailable due to obstruction' and the cruise control is deactivated. I took it back to the dealer and they said this was normal. Its not normal.”

   NHTSA complaint #11219126, filed 2019-06, 24,000 miles

   “The distance sensor, located below the front bumper, failed. This distance sensor is integral to the crash avoidance system. The sensor , along with the cruise control, maintains a safe distance between my car and the car directly ahead of me. When this sensor failed, I had no cruise control and the concept of keeping a safe distance ahead of me disappeared. This sensor failed driving down a busy interstate highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11244234, filed 2019-08, 52,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT surging, hesitation and loss of power

   • 22 complaints (20%)
   • median 63,500 mi at 4.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the vehicle lurching forward when coming to a stop, hesitating or bogging down when pulling away, and sometimes losing speed while the engine revs up. Some complaints describe the vehicle becoming unresponsive or refusing to move in drive, with dealers reporting a faulty transmission, torque converter, transfer case or engine mount. Several owners say dealers could not duplicate the problem or told them the behavior was normal. Most often reported between roughly 35,000 and 90,000 miles, with a few at very low mileage.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the CVT calibration or warranty-extension bulletins were applied, and check for jolt or hesitation at low speed and a delayed engagement from a stop. Also look for fluid leaks or noises from the transfer case.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle will lurch forward and then when I come to a stop, it will stall out. I took it to my service provider and they told me there was an issue with the torque converter in the transmission. I take it to the Nissan dealer and they tell me there is no issue and they don't know why this is happening.”

   NHTSA complaint #11181333, filed 2019-02, 42,000 miles

   “Surging while driving. The dealership picked up my Murano on 10/4/19 and has been unable to find the solution to the problem. I am being told they can not duplicate the problem that I had on 10/3/19. This same problem occurred a few months ago and I was told the problem had been identified and repaired. Yet, this time can't find a problem. Also, the dealership service department can not find a record of this repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11268251, filed 2019-10, 74,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / ABS actuator faults

   • 16 complaints (15%)
   • median 17,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with reduced stopping ability, sometimes with the brake warning light on, and in some cases a burning or electrical odor along with ABS warning lights. Dealers diagnosed failed ABS actuators or motors, and owners report being told the vehicle could not be repaired until parts were available under the ABS recalls. Others report difficulty getting the recall inspection done at all. Reported from very low mileage, in several cases under 5,000 miles, up to around 80,000 miles.

   Recall 18V601000Recall 19V807000Recall 16V636000Recall 16V193000

   What to check: Check the VIN against the ABS actuator recalls (18V601, 19V807, 16V636, 16V193) and confirm the recall work was completed. Before buying, press the pedal firmly with the engine running and check for a soft or sinking pedal and any ABS or brake warning lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While my wife was driving home from work her brake pedal started depressing to the floor, and the car would not stop quickly. When she finally made it home, I checked the brakes and they are still acting the same way in our driveway. She was driving home on city streets and the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11044751, filed 2017-11, 15,000 miles

   “Started vehicle up in the morning and was backing out of my driveway. When I reached the street to come to a stop and put my car into drive, my brakes did not respond and I almost hit a pillar outside of my driveway. I had to immediately place my car into drive and immediately I to park to avoid a collision. My brake pedal sank to the bottom and the brake light on the dashboard lit up. Brakes failed and I'm having vehicle towed to my Nissan dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10915245, filed 2016-10, 1,200 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Sunroof or moonroof glass shattering

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 10,900 mi at 1.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe a loud bang followed by the panoramic roof or sunroof glass breaking, with glass falling into the cabin, in some cases at highway speed and with no vehicle or object nearby. Owners report their dealers attributed the breakage to a rock strike and declined warranty coverage. Typically reported on low-mileage vehicles, from a few hundred to about 12,000 miles, and in one case over 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass and its surround closely for chips, cracks or prior replacement, and ask whether the panel has ever been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Moon roof exploded/shattered while driving on highway. We drove it immediately to the dealership we purchased it from 12 days earlier. Sounded like a gun going off in my ear. Very dangerous event to take place while driving. The moon roof then started falling into the vehicle immediately.”

   NHTSA complaint #10924150, filed 2016-11, 600 miles

   “Sunroof exploded while driving. No objects fell onto the car. We had no idea what the loud bang/exploding sound was until we were able to safely pull off the road and evaluate. The hole was not inward, like something fell into it, but the glass was pushed upwards. We were on a 4-lane straightaway going maybe 35 or 40 MPH and not under any bridges, trees, etc. No vehicles around us, etc. It was about 8:30pm in july in south carolina. The noise was very loud and very startling!”

   NHTSA complaint #10893526, filed 2016-08, 1,200 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag “off” light with a passenger seated

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 10,500 mi at 1.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe the passenger airbag indicator showing the airbag as off or on incorrectly even with an adult or child seated, sometimes requiring the engine to be restarted with the passenger still to reset it. Dealer attempts included recalibrating or updating the occupant sensor, and complaints say the problem returned; recall coverage for the occupant classification sensor was often not available for these vehicles. Reported at low mileage, mostly from a few hundred to about 10,000 miles.

   Recall 16V2440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the VIN against recall 16V244 (occupant classification sensor) and confirm any work was done. On a test drive, have a passenger sit in the front seat and watch the airbag status light with the vehicle running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “190 pound passenger sitting straight upright, airbag light is illuminated on center console indicating that the passenger airbag is turned off while vehicle in motion for at least 30 minutes in duration. I rarely have passengers but this has occurred twice in 10k miles. I purchased the vehicle in 9/2016.”

   NHTSA complaint #10956377, filed 2017-02, 5,000 miles

   “The front passenger side air bag sensor is faulty. When my 67 lb daughter sits in the front seat, the air bag light turns off indicating that the airbag is active. I brought the vehicle in to the dealer and they updated and re-calibrated the sensor, but I am still having the same issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10945718, filed 2017-01, 10,500 miles

Buying note. Check recall completion for the ABS actuator and occupant sensor campaigns before purchase, and budget time to test the adaptive cruise control, automatic braking and passenger airbag light. Service records for CVT calibration and any transmission repair are worth asking about, since several owners describe repeated dealer visits without a clear fix.

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.