YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Murano Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 21 Murano years

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

The 2009 Nissan Murano has 635 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 21 Murano model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is brakes (275 complaints, 43% of the total). Complaints report 24 crashes, 4 fires, and 26 injuries.

Complaints
635
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
24 / 4
Injuries / deaths
26 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 23 hwy

Top 2009 Nissan Murano problems

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

  1. Brakes275 (43%)
  2. Airbags91 (14%)
  3. Electrical System84 (13%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain69 (11%)
  5. Engine54 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body53 (8%)
  7. Other50 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires42 (7%)
  9. Steering34 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers16 (3%)
2009 Nissan Murano complaints: complaints filed per quarter472008 Q12010 Q32013 Q12015 Q32018 Q12020 Q32023 Q12025 Q4
786 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2017 Q4 (47).

2009 Nissan Murano recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V916000Dec 19, 2018Brakes86,265 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Nissan of North America, Inc (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009 Murano vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.

    Risk: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan has notified owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid. The HCU will then be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition. If necessary, the HCU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

  2. NHTSA 09V393000Oct 5, 2009Suspension, Wheels & Tires143,223 vehicles

    Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. The material in the nut used to secure the sensor-transmitter of the tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) may corrode and potentially crack in areas with heavy concentrations of road salt. If this occurs, the nut may come out of the sensor-transmitter and the tpms lamp will illuminate.

    Risk: If the tpms lamp is disregarded and the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the tire will quickly lose air pressure at a consistent rate resulting in a flat tire increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the tpms nut with a new, more robust nut. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before november 9, 2009. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 and infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

  3. NHTSA 08V521000Oct 7, 2008Electrical System204,361 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 altima, altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 murano, and infiniti my 2007-2008 g35 sedan, my 2008 g37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems' occupant classification system (ocs) control units. A varistor in the ocs control unit located in the passenger seat cushion may have been manufactured out of specification. Under certain conditions, this could cause an interruption of signal between the ocs and the air bag control unit (acu).

    Risk: This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will test the signal between the ocs and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (containing ocs hardware) will be replaced with a new one manufactured to specification. The recall began on november 4, 2008. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

See all 4 recalls for the 2009 Nissan Murano →

2009 Nissan Murano fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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.

2009 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
2007Avoid85676219.5
2008Good051—
2009Avoid100635420
2010Avoid80192020
2011Caution60148020

All Nissan Murano years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Murano a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Nissan Murano ranks worst among Murano model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 635 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Murano?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (275 complaints), airbags (91 complaints), and electrical system (84 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 80,542 miles.
Does the 2009 Nissan Murano have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Murano, most recently reported 2018, covering brakes, suspension, wheels & tires, electrical system, and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Murano?
EPA rates the 2009 Nissan Murano at 20 MPG combined (18 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000. 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.