YearToAvoid

2005 Nissan Murano Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

95/100

#2 most-complained of 21 Murano years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Nissan Murano has 986 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 95 out of 100 — #2 highest of 21 Murano model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is structure & body (592 complaints, 60% of the total). Complaints report 12 crashes, 1 fire, and 17 injuries.

Complaints
986
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
12 / 1
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 23 hwy

Top 2005 Nissan Murano problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body592 (60%)
  2. Visibility & Wipers141 (14%)
  3. Electrical System104 (11%)
  4. Engine61 (6%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain56 (6%)
  6. Airbags52 (5%)
  7. Other39 (4%)
  8. Fuel System32 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (2%)
  10. Brakes17 (2%)
2005 Nissan Murano complaints: complaints filed per quarter802005 Q22007 Q32009 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q2
1134 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q2 to 2025 Q1; peak 2010 Q2 (80).

2005 Nissan Murano recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 09V169000May 19, 2009Engine362,891 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    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.

    Risk: Engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 06V401000Oct 20, 2006Steering67,014 vehicles

    Steering:column locking:anti-theft device

    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 ignition knob in the "off" position but the vehicle transmission not being in the "park" position.

    Risk: If the key is turned to the "off" position without the transmission being in the "park" position, it is possible that the steering wheel can lock when turned to the right.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 06V054000Feb 21, 2006Fuel System14,268 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly

    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.

    Risk: This could result in the malfunction indicator light in the instrument panel coming on and may result in some fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2005 Nissan Murano →

2005 Nissan Murano fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Murano years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid95986620
2006Avoid90803419.5
2007Avoid85676219.5

All Nissan Murano years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Nissan Murano a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Nissan Murano ranks #2 of 21 among Murano model years (Complaint Index 95/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 986 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Murano?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (592 complaints), visibility & wipers (141 complaints), and electrical system (104 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 66,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Nissan Murano have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Murano, most recently reported 2009, covering engine, steering, fuel system, and seat belts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Nissan Murano?
EPA rates the 2005 Nissan Murano at 20 MPG combined (18 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.