2005 Nissan Murano Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,169 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Nissan Murano, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Seats & interior leads the reports, typically around 67,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2005 Nissan Murano sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2011–2014, 2016–2020.
Avoid
Where 2005 sits among all Murano years
What owners report
“Driver side seat bracket broken. Concerned about seat coming completely detached in accident.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Murano
“Driver side sun visor does not stay in its place. It can and does fall out of the retaining mechanism, causing driver's view to be instantly obstructed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Murano
“Driver's door lock does not work reliably. It will work using the key manually. The other locks appear to be working properly at this time. This problem has caused by car and belongings to be unsecured and poses a safety concern.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Murano
“Battery and brake light came on at the same time while driving down a main street, light will turn on and off. After driving for around an hour car takes around 30 seconds to actually go when pressing on gas.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Murano
“Several times while driving on city streets the car would shut down completely, with no warning had to get towed. While in drive-through car shut down but a delay then restarted. Bought new battery, alternator and got a tune-up. Currently the car will not go in backwards.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Murano
“My light came on from my air bags and my horn doesn’t work and the air bags censure isn’t working”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Murano
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 978 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 68,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 90,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE/REPAIR THE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." DURING AN INSPECTION OF SOME VEHICLES AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED WITH THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A FITTING FOR VAPOR RECIRCULATION, WHICH IS WELDED ON THE FUEL TANK, MAY COME OFF THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE INCORRECT MATERIAL WAS USED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
ON SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IN CERTAIN HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASHES, THE WEBBING OF A REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT MAY CONTACT THE REAR SEAT BACK HINGE WHERE IT CAN BE CUT BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL PORTION OF THE HINGE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTORS OVER THE WEBBING OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE FUEL TANK, IN THE EVENT THAT A VEHICLE FRONT TIRE RUNS OVER A SMALL, SHARP OBJECT IN THE ROAD, CATCHES IT AND PROPELS IT TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT MAY STRIKE AND…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTORS IN FRONT OF THE TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A WIRE BREAKING INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR COULD STOP THE BATTERY FROM CHARGING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR WITH A NEW VERSION WHICH HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE COIL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 06V003000.
Technical service bulletins
80 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2005 Nissan Murano. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2005 Murano TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 Nissan Murano reliable?
The 2005 Nissan Murano drew 1,169 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2005).
What are the most common 2005 Nissan Murano problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Nissan Murano are seats & interior (457 complaints), visibility & wipers (143), and latches & locks (119).
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Murano problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Nissan Murano problems around 68,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Nissan Murano have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Nissan Murano. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.