Nissan Murano Maintenance and Repair

timbo4

2003 Murano. Brake & accelerator adjuster was very noisy and now only the accelerater moves. Suspect stripped gear in the brake adjuster (both operate from the same motor). Now the driver seat is stuck in the aft position. Found another plastic gear broken on the RH adjuster rail. Nissan doesn't sell the part I need, a $10 gear, & they want to sell me the entire assembly for $600 plus installation. Outrageous!!!!!!!!

muranosux

This exact same thing has happened to my wife and I three times! We purchased our 03 Murano from SAGE's Universal Nissan in Universal City Ca. When we purchased it, it had 20,000 miles on it, apparently the owner of the dealership had been driving it (thats what they said anyway). A week after we had it (Nov 04) the car shut down while my wife was driving on the 101 freeway! They picked her up and towed the car to the dealership. They supposedly replaced the alternator (this was before the recall). Three weeks ago, she went to start the car, but it wouldn't turn over, except all the electronics work, lights, stereo, air, etc.. After some fiddling around with jumper cables, it finally started, only to die again later in the day. We dropped it off at the dealership, who then stated that they needed to do the alternator recall service for us. Picked it up the next day. We had the car back for 2 weeks and we decide to drive up to Thousand Oaks to visit her parents (45 miles away). About halfway there, the car all of sudden lost power momentarily, it really felt like I was going to crash, the steering and everything got really loose. So we pull off and call the dealership, who instructed us to bring it again. We managed to drive home safely on side streets. The next morning (two days ago) it wouldn't start again, but the electronics all worked fine. They towed it and gave us a loaner. Today they call us and tell us we need to replace the battery. NO WAY IN HELL I am paying for a new battery after a faulty alternator caused the one that was perfectly good to be all jacked up. So my wife contacted a lawyer, he says the magic number is 4 attempts to fix the problem. It's just awful, how can I let my wife drive a car that is totally unsafe? I am wondering if we should even pick it up from the dealer? I've seen numerous message board post all over the net, A LOT of people are having similar issues. We really like the vehicle, but this is just unacceptable. Any suggestions?

pier

I just got my 05 Murano S AWD yesterday. After having read the manual, I agree with your explanation. The transmission normally operates in FWD (100% front 0% back) until it senses conditions requiring AWD when it switches to 50% front 50% back. You may LOCK it into AWD but the AWD management system will override it when it decides conditions no longer require AWD.

One question aside from a slippery start, when else would one use the LOCK function?

pier

I have been down the Lemon Law route with my 04 Quest. Let me advise you that the road is long and arduous. You have to allow the dealer all opportunities to fix the problem before you can call that magic number 4. I suggest the following:

1. Take it to another dealer for a second opinion. Experience tells me the variance in quality of work and know-how is staggering.

2. A faulty battery may have been the problem all along. The dealer may have just guessed about the alternator. I have had new ones go out on me in the first 6 months.

Question (to the forum) how can a battery be damaged by an alternator?

pier

I recently acquired an 05 Murano because I could not solve EXACTLY the same problems you experienced on my 04 Quest. In my case, it was poor tire quality by Goodyear.

eliandlaura

Sorry if this isn't the right place for this... but I didn't want to create a whole new thread for it.

Anyway, I was super excited yesterday because I just found out via an ultrasound that I was having a baby girl - was on the phone with my sister, didn't look behind me well enough and backed right into another vehicle.

So sad. My fault. No one was injured, so life goes on.

Anyway, I am taking my Murano in to get fixed, and was wondering if anyone had any insight into what a replacement bumper might cost? I realize labor costs are involved as well, but I just want to know the cost of the bumper in case the body shop tries to tell me the part itself costs twice as much.

Also, is the part going to come painted, or will they have to paint it? I assume they will be painting it, and if so, what's the likelihood that they will be able to match our shiny Merlot paint job?

In the end, that's my biggest concern. The dent can be fixed, but a mismatched paint job is not something I am going to want to put up with.

stever

Bumps happen - congrats on the kiddo!

Bumps aren't cheap - over $1,000 US easy I bet, although someone else will have to chime in if they know the price of just a bumper.

This link will give you some idea. (hwysafety.org). Here's another test as reported by MSNBC.

Steve, Host

baldwin3

Have 1,000 miles since Throttle position sensor replaced...no lights, no problems. Yes, I have my fingers crossed, but I love the Murano. I repeat again: Murano has a sensor on the accelerator pedal which links by electrical wire to another sensor/director in the fuel input area. No DIRECT link like all older (more reliable) cars. These chips screw up...like computer crashes. But the price can be loss of power...idling only. but thank goodness, steering and brakes will be fine.....on freeways. If this happens, try to get over to the side. Turn off your ignition. Wait one minute. Turn it back on. In 80% of cases, Nissan tells me (as was my experience) the car starts, but the warning lights will stay on. Go get a new TPS. It is not the transmission. Don't hate your car. Hate the lawyers who forced car makers to put these things in, instead of direct rods or cables...because a few froze up in winter, got stuck by old age, and put people through their garage walls. As one earlier contributor said, "Other cars have worse problems" and he is absolutely correct. As another earlier contributor said, "There is great variation in service departments". Amen to that. The folks who have waited 4 weeks for diagnosis and even transmissions, who could have had a smart tech put in the TPS in one hour were hostages to dumb service departments...which Nissan should be ashamed of. I will touch back if this happens again, and be really mad...but for now...the M is running like a charm. John in California

lindaw2

I don't know the exact price of Murano bumper, but I have replaced one on a Lexus 300RX (SUV) and it was close to $1000. I don't think it came pre-painted.

spoonieboy1

Mahallo Pier,
I have had my 05 Murano for a little over a year now. I suffer from numb hands from a steering wheel vibration. My Murano has been in the shop 51 times for warranty repairs. It is now fishtailing all over the road after a wheel alingment.I am going to trade it in and get a used 04 Quest. Good luck with your new Murano. I think you may need it after your problems with your Quest, it's just a matter of time before your Murano exibits the same symptoms that your Quest did.

eliandlaura

Well I got my estimate - came in at a bit over $1100 thanks to the tiniest crack in my rear light enclosure, so that will have to be replaced as well. Could have been worse.

They also say they should be able to match the paint "no problem". This is a big time auto body shop near me that gets ALOT of business, so I believe they will do a good job, but I am not holding my breath on the paint as I hear it can be extremely difficult to match the paint on any car.

stever

A friend of mine used to have a truck canopy business and they would paint caps and bug guards and other stuff and the "paint to match" computerized paint programs did a great job matching the original paint.

I have heard that bumpers on some cars can be tricky to match though.

Steve, Host

atlantabenny

Hello, been following this board a few weeks now to get a feel of owning/leasing an 06 Murano. I thought I'd put in my .02 about charging systems, having had problems with them a while back with - coincidentally - also a Nissan (Maxima).

A battery can be damaged by an over/under charging alternator due to a faulty voltage regulator that's integrated with the alternator. Either over- or under-charging causes sulfation build-up in the cells that prevents them from fully charging.

http://www.woodmizer.com/en/articles/support/chargingsystem.aspx

Most of the time, therefore, the alternator is the culprit. And while the odds and time difference are too great (my Maxima with the defective alternator was an '86) and the statistics too limited, it would seem that Nissans are prone to this problem.

Given that the Murano has a drive-by-wire system (electronic throttle) that is electrics-dependent, it's no surprise the gas pedal shuts down when there's no current. With the old "drive-by-cable" system, one could still nurse a sputtering engine without shutting down completely.

landis

Nissan Dealership has replaced my steering rack and Front end drive shifts after 7 times of be in the shop for the same problem after having this all done I still am having the same problem.I have turned it all into the BBB. All I am asking Nissan to is replace it.I only have 8889 mile when this all started.This is a 2005 SL AWD loaded with it all.I have also Had Nissan Rep where he drove it and found that there was a problem but did not know what it could be and just started playing G. Pig to turn to fix it

landis

I am having the same problem with the vibration and shimmy in the steering wheel. After taking the 2005 Nissan Murano back they said that my inner tires was cupping every bad, so they replaced the tires with no charge to me. After having that done it still was doing the same thing.So the Nissan Rep care to the dealership and test drove my Murano and found that there was a problem,so the Rep told the dealership to replace the steering rack and they did that and was still having the shimmy and vibration in the steering, so after that The Rep told the dealership to replace the front end drive shifts and after it was all said and done the problem is still there so they are not doing anything else to it the Nissan Rep told the dealership not to do nop more.So now I have the BBB involved to get it replaced.People that are have problems need to speak up and try to get Nissan to no that there is a problem out there with the shimmy and vibration in the steering wheel and that it is not normal for a new vehicle to do this.I have had a 03 and 04 and they never did this. It is not the tires they are just saying that.BBB is now helping me to get a replacement or Nissan needs to buy my Murano back.But I will tell all Nissan Murano owner please do not let this go if you are having the same problem.Lets all stand together on this

landis

2005 SL AWD fully loaded Murano Shimmy and virbation after tires was replaced steering rack and front end drive shifts and still having the same problem.I can fill it when I am driving it and if I am on a straight away and I leave my hands off the steering wheel you can really see the shimmy and virbation.I think after having three I do no what they drive like.Please people don't leave this go if you are having the problem speak out

pier

You would be well-advised to report this to NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

pier

Good luck. I hope that you don't get my 04 Quest otherwise your numbness will continue. Why are your symptoms IDENTICAL (including statistcs) to mine?

andytommo

mmmh, I wonder how many more trips to the dealers it will take before I stop saying that?!

Alternator recall done 3 weeks ago.....all seemed good. 3 Nights ago, a dreadful (difficult to explain) grinding noise started to come from the engine compartment when u would put your foot on the accelerator and it would rev between 1000 and 1500.

I took it to dealer to listen to and fix. At the same time they were switching out the head unit of the bose stereo system which had rather handily just come in after being on order for a few weeks - occasionally when playing CDs the left speakers would just cut out.

So, the grinding noise was from the alternator recall when the technician hadn't put some bolt back correctly, it had sheared and snapped off, making the grinding. That was replaced, and the noise has gone.

Now, (and I think they're just lucky I'm the kind of person that shrugs off and laughs about these kind of things), I picked the car up this afternoon from the dealer, and was in a hurry to get to a dinner appointment in philly. So it wasn't until I was half way across the bridge, when i tried putting a CD in the in-dash autochanger, that i realised where there had previously been an open slot in which one could cunningly feed CD's and listen to them (all be it only out of the right speakers), errr, the hole was gone. Interesting, I thought. i pressed the load button, nothing whirred, clicked, showed on the screen or anything. The hole on the face of the stereo is still there (that wasnt replaced), but it is just solid plastic behind it.
a. they ordered the wrong unit.
b. its slightly mis-aligned (but the tape deck is aligned, and it doesnt even whirr when you press the CD load button, it's like it doesnt know it has a CD changer)
c. they put it in upside down, inside out, back to front, dropped it on the floor, I don't know what!

I just find it comical that they could do this work (replace the CD PLAYER) and not test it (REALISE THERE IS NO LONGER A HOLE AND YOU CAN NO LONGER PUT CD's IN THE CD PLAYER!!!)

PS Rental car this time was a brand new grand cherokee. And this is why i still laugh about the murano problems.....the cherokee sucks! I almost had an accident in it - the location of the ignition, and the size of the key is such that if you are 6'6" like myself, and you have people sat behind you, you have to have your seat fairly far forwards, and if you happen to move your knee to the right slightly, you catch the large key in the stupidly located ignition, and turn off the engine. Which was a tad dangerous when doing 60 up a highway. Luckily traffic wasnt too bad and I could just coast to the shoulder and restart. The door handles are cheap and nasty, the parking brake looks just, well, out of place, the engine sounded gruff, it ate gas, and the seats werent comfortable. HORRIBLE CAR!!

sliceopizza

Thanks, I'm thinking it is the tires. The vibration has pretty much gone away.I didn't follow the rotation schedule, who woulda thunk? Now my seat is loose and making a bunch of noises and I'm noticing and unusual amount of corrosion on the right side of my muffler where the exhaust exits. fun.

sliceopizza

Anybody else seeing rust and corrosion where the exhaust pipes exit the muffler at the rear of the car? Mine looks like one of the bridge underpasses with the goo coming through cracks in the concrete. I have 33k on it, it's clean and garage kept. I'm taking it in again for that and my drivers seat which is loose and creaking. I like my murano, no big problems but a lot of little ones.

timbo4

What customer affairs After talking to their reps. I told them that I wasn't satisfied with their answer to my concerns about Nissan quality. I e-mailed customer affairs agian & their response was that "we have already addressed your concerns". Talk about a go to hell & leave us along response! My only response is that when I purchase a new vehicle that it won't be a "Nissan" product! It's too bad, because until this month I have been very happy with my Murano. :mad: :mad:

momano

Twice now this has happened on our 2005 Murano SL AWD with smart keys. It happened again last night, Oct 20. We arrived home, parked in the garage, and then in the morning they were down. Three of us were in the car, it was a cold Colorado evening, so we remember them up.
KEYWORDS: NISSAN MURANO WINDOWS DOWN OVERNIGHT

Is there a website to start collecting these or sending info to Nissan ?
Our windows went all the way down...

sliceopizza

How much steering wheel shake are you experiencing? Is it vibrating back and forth a lot at speed or just shaking a little bit? Do you feel it through your arms, the whole car or both? I had this same problem. I must admit after creative wheel balancing it is better.

1stmo

I have a 2005 Murano and had front bumper cover replaced & painted. Just under $700. Ouch!

horsinround

We installed a K&N air filter about 3 months ago in our Murano. It didn't really improve the gas mileage much. I have about 8,000 miles on my 2004 SL AWD. I am getting an average of 19.1 MPG using regular gas. Before the air filter I was getting around 18.5 avg. I definitely noticed a difference in the performance though. It accelerates like no other when pulling out. We liked it so much that we put one in our Porsche and bought one as a gift for my brother in-law who just got a new car. All in all- we'll do it again for our next vehicle. Definitely worth it. (Just make some moron doesn't throw it away when it's serviced!)

horsinround

I also have terrible radio reception. This has been discussed here in the past- it's not your imagination (or satellites). I have taken mine on several road trips to other cities and have had the same problem everywhere. It really stinks b/c I like listening to NPR and other smaller stations that usually have weaker signals. Has anyone ever been able to resolve this issue?

pier

Nissan Consumer Affairs have one of the worst reputations in the auto industry. I had similar insulting incidents with them. I had an opportunity to move away from Nissan but did not because the Service Manager at Route 23 Auto Mall, NJ is one of the best I have ever encountered. At Nissan, only the dealer is able to really solve problems. NCA is used to distract the customer.

timbo4

Well I've tried to get my dealer involved but they tell me that their hands are tired if NCA ha refused to help. I've asked if the factory rep could help but they have told me he can't if NCA has said no to my requests. It's a shame 'cause it wouldn't take much to promote Nissan loyalty to me. In have now mailed NCA a letter with pictures of what part failed & what I had to replace with a request that a senior lead or manager review my case in the hope that they will change their opinion on my concern. I will give up after this request & will probably give up on Nissan when I get ready to purchase a new vehicle. I have to believe that Nissan reads these chat sites. Nissan, you have fought hard to gain market share & you have done well recently. To bad your NCA has such a bad reputation in the industry. Be carefull Nissan, your efforts may be for nothing unless you stand behind your quality & customer support. :lemon:

stever

Seems like many of the quality problems that make the news stem from vehicles made in the Canton plant.

In the news, Reliability of Some Asian Brands Questioned by Consumer Reports (Inside Line)

Steve, Host

donnz

2004 Murano SL: 18 days ago, while turning the corner at less than 5 mph, my Murano suddenly loss power. The gas pedal was on the floor, but the engine was not revving, but the vehicle was creeping. Fortunately, I was able to coax it into a nearby parking lot. Just 5 weeks prior, I had the alternator replaced (recall item). After this replacement, I called the dealer and told them.....the vehicle is not running correctly.....hesitating upon acceleration. Took it in....they analyzed....reset the idle. Well actually, they let the onboard computer reset the idle.
Back to my accelerator issue: the dealer said it was due to a leaking transmission hose. They ordered the new part and fixed it. At least you hope it's been fixed, because I commute 80 miles a day to work and back.
Well, this morning, the vehicle stopped again.....same symptoms, but fortunately for Nissan, this time they did'nt have to pay for a 40 mile towing bill plus car rental.

If you've ever watched a Professional Golf Championship, there might be a commercial showing a few golfers "doing their expert job"......and the commentator will say......"these guys are good"!!! I truly wish I could say the same for Nissan's mechanics.

pier

The Nissan plant in Smyrnia, TN has had many quality issues, forcing a visit of a team of quality experts from Japan. Many issues were addressed (especially the Quest) and Nissan have expressed their hope to improve from being ranked 11 out of 14 in the J.D. Power quality rankings. That being said, the Murano, Titan and Armada have won top award in the prestigious Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index. I know the Murano is built in Japan. I am not so sure about the Titan and Armada.

pier

That is irritating indeed. Here's what I would do:

A. Go to a different dealer. I would rather drive the extra mileage to get a second opinion and, if lucky, a more competent dealer. Dealer quality varies wildly. OR

B. Go back to the repairing dealer and inform them in writing (registered mail) that is fix #2 and that they are on the lemon law clock. After the third unsuccessful fix (depending on your state) contact a lemon law attorney. At the same time create an online case with the NHTSA Office of Investigation. The case will include all the car's info as well as the dealer's info. Phone NCA and open a case, quoting the NHTSA case number. Inform the dealer of the NCA case number as well as the NHTSA case number. You will be surprised how a dealer reacts to a well-organized customer who shows them that they are going to take action.

donnz

Thanks for your response Pier. I did contact NISSAN1 in California this morning, and informed them of my issues with the dealer. NISSAN1 said I could have my Murano repaired at any NISSAN dealer, BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE TOWING BILL (as I did'nt trust the vehicle, to drive it more than a mile out of town).
NISSAN WILL PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED......TO THE NEAREST DEALER ( this is too f%$%Y%^YU% funny....the nearest dealer IS THE IDIOT DEALER THAT I WANT TO AVOID).
Anyway, after I informed "my" dealer that I just had a conversation with NISSAN1.....they agreed to pay for a rental vehicle. In fact, while waiting for the dealer to decide what to do.....I went online and got some info on a throttle sensor malfunction.....printed it out....then gave it to the BOZO....who picked up my vehicle.....DUH!!!
After 3 hours.....they call me....said they have ordered the part (THROTTLE POSITION ACTUATOR). NISSAN is becoming too much of a hassle. The Murano is my 7th NISSAN product in the 40 years of my driving life, and most likely will be the last. Last November, I traded a 2003 350Z, because of a "tire-feathering" issue with the front suspension.
Yes, I have traded emails with a Lemon Law attorney on the Z. Now, possibly the Murano will be next. The weird thing is.....the Murano rides great....has a lot of power, but cannot depend on it enough to drive to work.

stever

Unless something changed recently, the Quest is built at the Canton plant, and the Quest is one of the problem vehicles (I sort of pay attention to the Quest since I drive one of the older Ford assembled ones put together in Ohio).

Nissan plant rolls on (Jackson Clarion Ledger)

Steve, Host

jim2849

Yes! Same thing happened to me a couple of nights ago. I went into a restaurant, came out two hours later, and the driver and passenger windows were DOWN. I am going to call the dealer. This could have been a disaster as I
had my briefcase in the back seat, CDs in the front armrest, etc etc.

At first I thought the car was broken into, or someone was playing a bad trick on me. This is NOT good. Although I am happy with the vehicle, there is another bad thing the Murano does: it locks you out of the car with the keys in it.

"Thinking about selling"

panamapete

After my 03 Murano warms up to operating temperature, I feel and hear a roaring vibration whenever I accelerate at around 1500 rpm. Seems to have occurred after I had the alternator replaced as part of the recall. My hunch it's the transmission...any ideas?

pier

I stand corrected. You are correct about the Quest problems - just look at the 04 Quest forum: nothing but build quality issues. Having moved from the Quest to the Murano, the difference in build quality is obvious.

stever

My '99 Quest built in Ohio by UAW workers doesn't have those kind of build quality issues (it has some issues, but nothing you can point to the factory at like the new Quest or Armada). The MS and TN plants have been up and running for a while; it's time for the build bugs to get swatted. The Pathfinder is doing ok, but the Murano supposedly is cannabilizing Pathy sales a bit. Perhaps some of that could be attributed to people wanting a Japanese made vehicle?

Steve, Host

ab2150

My wife drives a 2004 Quest (25K miles) and I drive a 2004 Murano (3K miles) and each vehicle has been flawless. I find the build quality between our two vehicles to be equal.

achadha1

i get that same sound it kind of buzzes on initial acceleration but goes away quickly. All after the alternator recall. The service guy at the dealer said it was the gas I was putting in and said I should use high octane instead of regular

mr30

i have 2005 S AWD .if anyone knows what it takes to put oem fog lights on it ??

justbeinghelp

to stop your doors from locking, go to your vehicle settings and turn off your auto re lock. My car did that to me at the gas station. Glad it wasn't night time.

timbo4

partstrain.com sell the assemblies for the fog lights.

landis

I fill it at highway speed and if you leave your hand off the steering wheel you can really see the steering wheel shimmy back and forth. I owned a 03 and a 04 and never had this problem at all with them.

landis

I have had my tires replaced and steering rack and front end drive shifts replaced on my 05 SL AWD Nissan Murano all starting at 8889 miles and still is not taken care of I had to take it up to the higher level to BBB and I am taking Nissan North America to Court Tomorrow on this to try to get them to replace my Murano our buy it back after having it in the shop 7 time.I do know what the Murano drives like because I owned a 03 and a 04 now I have the 05 that I am have the shimmy and vibration in the steering wheel. I really like the Murano but they need to find out what is really making this do that not normal for a new SUV or any SUV or cars

dizzy07

I have a 2003 Murano which I bought 1-2004. I turned it into the dealership in 4-2004 with complaints of a clicking noise coming from the right front axle. Nothing was found and as of 2weeks ago I went in for an oil change and came out with a new transmission. The day after I got it back the car would not start. I was told it was a dead battery. I also had the alternator recall fixed. My call also surges forward when the car is stopped and idling and the air conditioning is on. No one at the dealer can ever find anything wrong to cause this problem.

aneese

what does it take to change to the heated mirrors on the murano? does anyone know how well the front windshield defroster works in heavy snowstorms?

landis

This is not normal so please get a nissan rep to come to the dealer or get Nissan North America on it. Call the BBB that is in your owners manual.I am dealing with the same thing and they have replaced many different parts and the problem is still not fixed.So what I am telling you you need to do just that.I did and you will see what will come out of it.Just make sure you have all paper work.Call BBB and they will send you the papers to fill out and they will take it from there.

landis

Tammy please do not mess with anything just do the same thing I said.I can not say ,but you may find out what will happen to get the problem fixed instead of the mine play and the dealership playing around and telling you something that is not true.