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Nissan ate the cost of actually replacing the whole engine on my vehicle at around the 75k mark, so it's been far from troublefree, but I really like the car in principal.
My mech. replace the mass air flow sensor last summer and running ok since.
On what basis did they recommend replacing your transmission? What diagnosis did they perform?
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I too have had the acceleration issue and also agree with moparman44 that it might be a heat related phenomenon. Only reason I believe that is because it seems to happen on hot days (90+ F) in traffic where there is less air flow to help cool off the engine bay.
Anyways, there was this recall notice on the Muranos that came out today. This may be the cause of it all, though the description only says, "ENGINE MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH." That doesn't completely explain the symptoms that we're all describing, but it's a start, no? Here's the text of the recall:
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
NISSAN / MURANO 2003-2007
Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: MAY 14, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V169000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 362891
Summary:
NISSAN IS RECALLING 362,891 MY 2003-2007 MURANO VEHICLES. THE INTAKE AIR DUCTS, WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERMEDIATE RESONATOR IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE, MAY SEPARATE FROM THE RESONATOR WITH ENGINE MOVEMENT. THIS SEPARATION OCCURS DUE TO THE PREMATURE AGING OF THE MATERIAL USED IN THE INTAKE AIR DUCTS WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE SHRINKING.
Consequence:
ENGINE MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE/REPAIR THE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 6, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
I assumed that would be the last I heard, but someone else from Nissan rang a couple of days later to say she had been assigned my issue and would have an answer for me by the end of the week. Count me mildly surprised.
Then, my local dealer rang to say Nissan had contacted them and would be paying for all parts and any labor over $1200. In other words - the new transmission is going to cost me a maximum of $1200.
This isn't the first time Nissan have done the right thing for me. I love my Murano, but it has given me grief over the years. Every time I get to the point of thinking it's time to dump them, Nissan step up and actually do customer service. I wish the Murano had been problem free, but Nissan have done a good job in keeping me happy.
The new transmission will be installed next week, once the part arrives.
Karl
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
and i hope they recall the trans on them too
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
This is sooo new to me. I have had my nissan and no problems.Now i feel the transmission problems. How should i address this issue to Nissan so the outcome can be just like yours ...FREE REPAIR?
Thanks
soph
It came to $710 in the end - that was just the labor, as Nissan picked up the parts costs. As for why Nissan paid? I don't know. The dealer said is was a customer loyalty thing. All I can tell you is the steps I took:
1) Dealer quoted me $5500 and advised me to just live with it if possible.
2) I made a complain at the Office of Defects Investigation:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov
3) I complained to the Nissan Consumer Support line
4) The person logging my complaint had a script to follow, so couldn't really answer questions, but she did ask me whether I wanted Nissan to pay for a new transmission, and I said 'yes'!
5) A couple of days later someone else rang (from Nissan) to say my complaint is being investigated and they would have an answer by the end of the week.
6) Then on Friday the dealer rang to say Nissan and contacted them and would be paying the costs for a new transmission. We had to pay labor up to $1200, but it only came to $700 anyway.
Hope that helps,
Karl
Do still get concerned when I continue to hear of transmission problems from other owners.
Will not buy another Nissan.
I have ywt to get any notice of recall for anything from Nissan.
Good Luck
Thanks again. I call the consumer line. You are right.. its a script!! I complained about the acceleration. She told me that needed the truck to be taken in for a diagnositc check. If i'm not satisfied i shoud call them back. I will schedule it for next week. I do have a file number.
Also i saw the recall but my car is not on the list. Is that normal? I have the 04. Im very concern about my safety.
Thanks again. I will keep you posted.
soph
No more Nissans, ever, or their uppity cousins, Infiniti.
Husband got a 2004 Nissan Murano in 2006 against my better judgement. Guess what, cracked transfer case, guess what, Nissan told me they could not help me "financially at this time." "Mark" kept repeating this, I felt like saying I'm not asking you to make my mortgage payment, I'm asking you to stand behind your defective product. Unbelievable, we owe $7,000 on the car, we put down $10, and paid around $24 when we purchased it used at 24,000 miles. Basically it appears they (NOT NISSAN) will give us $7 on a trade but we are somewhat out $10K. I was really hoping the Nissan would last beyond 72,000 miles, even a Dodge lasts 100,000 miles for Pete's Sake. My parents had a dodge rampage that lasted 120,000 miles before it caught on fire! At least then you get insurance money!
The car is only worth $10 - $12 and to incur a $4,300 repair bill is ridiculous.
I am so angry, I will never buy Nissan again. Only Honda and Toyota. BTW I love my Acura.
I too am a NJ resident, up in Long Valley. Have owned an '03 Murano since June of that year. Currently have 89,000 miles on it. More than a month ago I started having accelleration problems while in stop-and-go traffic - after 30 minutes or so when stepping on the accelerator I would get nothing for 3-4 seconds and then it would lurch forward. Next morning all would be fine. But then after a few weeks of this, the "CHECK ENGINE" light came on. At my (Nissan trained) mechanic's shop the computer code displayed was DTC P1778 Step Motor function. He said it appearred the trans was going. Once reset the trans worked perfectly at all other times except when in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
I notified Nissan and started a file with a Customer Service Specialist. My file number was 6516386. I indicated to her that one of the reasons we had purchased the Murano was because the sales folks told us the CVT was a sealed system and NEVER needed service! She was very helpful & very personable to start with. She showed empathy and seemed genuinely eager "to see how Nissan could help you!" (Her words not mine!) She seemed very anxious to help us. She had me go to a Nissan dealership (Lynnes in Stanhope,NJ ) who repeated the computer test and had their master mechanic look the trans over. They confirmed that the trans needed replacement. Cost would be $3450 for CVT Assembly; $1501.50 for labor (14.3hours); $300 misc for fluids. Total $5251.50 The Service Man even made a comment that while the 60 month portion of my extended warrantee had expired in May 2008, the milage portion (100,000 miles) hadn't still been reached - but that it was unfortunate that I wasn't still covered!! (His comment actually gave me hope that this might be the "reason" Nissan would help me out on replacing the transmission!)
I reported the results of the Dealership inspection to my Customer Service Rep at Nissan. She indicated she would review the report and advise me in a couple of days. A few days later another woman from the same office called me and said she was calling for my original Rep. She said she would be dealing with our file from now on. She said that Nissan had decided that "at this time they would be doing nothing to help us." I was shocked! I asked why there had been such an abrupt change? I also asked if Nissan understood that I was a three time Nissan purchaser and they ran the risk of alienating me by not assisting in any way? She just kept on saying "Sorry - we're not in a position to do a thing for you."
After hanging up the phone I sat there stunned for a minute. I was actually amazed. Nissan had just blown me off after I'd spent nearly $100,000 on 3 vehicles with them since 2003!! What a crocK!
What do you suggest I do Counsellor?
Thanks for letting me vent!
Best regards,
Ken Johnson -bigeasy@comcast.net
I appreciate your input - and I truley understand the logic. Of course you are absolutely correct....since I do love the Murano except for this reason, I should simply replace the transmission. Yours is the unemotional response of an uninvolved outside observer.
Unfortunately, for me and hundreds of other respondants to this Forum, we are not unemotional and not uninvolved! And while speaking for only my own financial situation, at $14.00 an hour I'm looking at over 2 months wages to pay for the replacement!
When do the HUNDREDS of us - from this forum alone - who spent generally over $30,000 for a 2003 Nissan Murano, get Nissan to admit that they bear at least some financial repsonsibility for the ONLY model year the CVT has been independently judged to be a failure? Do we need to wait until people are killed like they were in the Pinto case, for Nissan to admit it screwed the pooch in this instance?
Don't get me wrong jayrider, I'm not angry at you, but you start to sound like a rich politician who tells the rest of us that "we need to do the patriotic thing" and spread our wealth around!.
Speaking again personally - I don't have $5000 or even $3000 to give a Nissan. I'll probably have to "park" the vehicle until I can come up with the dough! So it really isn't as simple as you put it for all of us! "Biting the bullet" as you put it, means the "bullet" may be all I have to eat for a couple months!
bigeasy
Took it in and Nissan said needs a new trans; took it to another dealer and had the trans fluid flushed/changed for about $160 total and it ran fine. (Someone suggested in e-mail on edmunds a couple of years ago) Spoke to a mechanic off site and he said there is a "sensor"(?) in the CVT and when it gets dirty it causes the delay in rpm response. Ran it to 103,000 and started to feel it hesitate a little again, had it flushed and it is working fine; been about 5,000 since last flush. (Nissan won't power flush CVT so mor like a drain and replace)
Anyone know what the cause is, or how I might fix it?
Thanks so much for the input from both of you...jayrider is right - sometimes the frustration with a company just makes you want to lash out! And boy do I feel like lashing! Especially since our saleperson in 2003 used the CVT as a selling point because it was a "sealed system and never needed servicing!"
I'm definitely going to go the route of a "flush and clean" before doing a full replacement. Seems I remember another forum respondent indicate there was an additive that Nissan was mixing into their trans fluid that helped clean and stabilize the trans. krpaplham - Do you remember the name of the actual "sensor" in the CVT that gets dirty?
Thanks again folks - I'll keep the forum posted on developments!
Bigeasy
I had Nissan flush my tranny with my scheduled service and it did not help my vehicle. The delayed acceleration problem came back in about 2-3 months. I took it back to Nissan and they changed my throttle bottle chamber. Again, after a while, the problem came back. I hope you will have better luck than me.
I've also posted a recall notice from NHTSA for the Muranos for an engine stall issue. Is this issue the same issue as the "delayed acceleration" that some of us are experiencing? It's unclear from the description of the recall, BUT, anything is better than nothing from Nissan. The company was suppose to start notifying owners on July 6th. I have yet to hear from them about my Murano.
I'd recommend that you, and anyone else out there with the same problems, file a complaint at the NHTSA website. The more complaints we get, the better chance we have of Nissan doing something about their negligence.
Usedmurano (and never Nissan again)
It needed a State inspection so I asked the tech to check the codes- his response- TRANMISSON ERRORS
Took it to my mechanic for a second opinion - his readings identified TRANSMISSON CODES
Took it to Nissan- they told me it was the ECM module (about $1400) and because of this, error codes were leading it to transmission codes. Picked up the car on Friday- by Saturday the same lack of acceleration existed.
Took it back to Nissan- there claim this time? Throttle Valve body ($1800+)
Searched the web to see that I am not the only one having similar problems..........
Printed the information and sent it to Nissan asking how they could just make assumptions to repairing THEIR vehicles, and that throwing money at "could be" problems was not a resolve.
Their response? A quote for $6556.00 to replace the transmisson.
To all reading I say be careful, and wise...........
Nissan knows about this and has refused to offer any compensation. If they do see their engineering falure and decide to make good please let me know.
the car is going tor the scrap yard, and I'm never going to a Nisan dealer!
Of course, the newer models are likely to have less miles on them, but I suspect Nissan must have at some point fixed whatever the problem is, otherwise they would not be expanding CVT to its passenger-car line-up.
Even if people believe they are crooks, most crooks, specially the more dishonest ones, are not that stupid.
I have not seen anything that struck me as a transmission related symptom, but perhaps there is a bad sensor there too.
Still open to suggestions.
----- First a summary, 6 months ago with approx. 88.5 K miles I started experiencing a 4-6 second hesitation when stepping on the accelerator in bumper-to-bumper traffic after the car was warmed up. There was never any problem when the car was first started, and if you could drive without stopping and going everything was fine. Once in rush hour traffic however you were in a dangerous situation because the lurch forward once the car engaged could easily throw you into the cars ahead of you!
----- After going to my mechanic a number of times and getting a "computer code" of P1778 CVT Stepper Motor failure I started writting and calling the Customer Service Group of Nissan North America. The first two customer service reps I spoke with (a month each-numerous conversations) were polite, but in the end said that "Nissan was not in a position at this time to offer me any assistance." This pretty much made me crazy since my family had purchased 3 new Nissan vehicles during the previous 10 years and even though my Murano's "extended warranty" time period of 60 months had expired the milage portion hadn't! And at 89,000 miles I thought Nissan should at least bear responsibility for the 100,000 miles the extended warranty specified. So when the 2 customer service reps. said "no" I wrote directly to Carlos Ghosn CEO of Nissan North America and sent the letters to his offices in Tennessee, and in Japan. In my letter to the Chairman I wondered why a company as successful as Nissan would run the risk of alienating a long-time customer without even trying to reach an agreeable accomodation
----- Luckily for me a Nissan Vice President and an Executuve Specialist from Corporate Headquarters read my letter and recognized that "customer satisfaction" for a "dedicated Nissan family" meant honoring the remaining milage portion of the extended warranty. This past week, Lynne's Nissan in Stanhope NJ replaced the CVT transmission in my Murano!! Nissan "provided/paid for" the new transmission and a beautiful Altima loaner car for two days - and I paid for the labor costs and the CVT trans fluid. Driving the Murano again is wonderful and the car performs like new. (I'll keep my fingers crossed!)
----- To close, I guess my suggestion to anyone having a problem with a manufacturer, is you have to stick with it and find the person who can say "yes" to your request or problem. I believe you should always propose what you believe to be a fair & equitable solution - give the company something to "save face" with. Finally, I also believe I got lucky in that a Vice President and an Executive Specialist understood the point of my letter and said, "Let's help this guy."
----- Thanks to all of you who wrote to me with questions, I'll always be a loyal Edmunds follower!
bigeasy
The problem is that the CVT Transmission is intrinsically defective and Nissan should be acknowledging this by fixing the problem whether you are under warranty or not. Easily, the most frustrating element of this problem is Nissan´s continued refusal to acknowledge that there is anything wrong, let alone their obligation to make it right.
I just found a beautiful preowned 2004 Nissan Murano (excellent condition) I was going to finalize a purchase on tommorrow right after work. ( due to the dealer closing soon on Saturday ) My husband and I test drove the vehicle and we loved everything about it ( they are only asking $18,500 with apprx 49xxx miles on it ) GOOD DEAL ! SO WE THOUGHT
we thought that was a great deal until I decided to do more research on this vehicle and nissan company as a whole ( this would be our first nissan purchase )
I am so SHOCKED right now Im at a lost for words. Does anyone have anything good or positive to say about the Nissan Murano ?
( Please note I havent had the opportunity to read ALL POST )
and this is my first time ever sending a post ( so be gentle
however, It seems as if this vehicle is a WOLF in sheeps clothing ( for lack of better reference ) but you get my point.
I guess we will lean back towards the Lexus RX330 or
another midsize SUV for a family vehicle ...
one last point I recently had a Horribly bad experience as a BMW owner so I recognize the emotions of frustration to angry to disbelief ( spending so much money and effort into finding a reliable car is not easy ) I recently sold my BMW took a lost, but the headaches are over ( that another post all together )
any car buying suggestions would be wonderful ... for a family of 3 1/2
( one on the way
Bottom line -- 19k for used makes no sense in this market -- especially a 50k mile 6 year old murano. The rogue is smaller and lots cheaper -- still roomy enough. Too many new choices -- used cars are overpriced across the board now.
I do agree with jayrider - it doesn't make sense to pay $19K for a used '04 with about 50K miles. You have better choices out there.
In short, anything more than $14K does not sound like a great deal.
With all the postings here, I think I would not buy one used and maybe would have sprung up for extended warranty, don't know.
What I do know is that I don't plan on trading for a new car anytime soon. For one I have not experienced the problem. Number 2, at that level of luxury, power, and roominess, it would have to be a $30K purchase, where I would lose at least $12K in depreciation within 3 years.