YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Murano Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 30 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Nissan Murano, 22% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 75,000. No related recalls are on file for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
30
22% of 135
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
75,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • CVT transmission failure requiring full replacement, often reported around 75,000 miles or higher.
  • Sudden loss of forward power or the vehicle being stuck at very low speed (around 5 mph) despite pressing the accelerator.
  • Violent shuddering or shaking when accelerating from a stop, sometimes followed by a popping sound and complete loss of acceleration.
  • Transmission slipping noticeably between 35 mph and higher highway speeds.
  • Hesitation to accelerate from a stopped position, leaving the vehicle stranded for several seconds in intersections.
  • Unexpected vehicle movement while shifting into reverse or park, in some cases leading to a crash.

When 2012 Nissan Murano transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 6, 2014, latest Jul 25, 2023.

2012 Nissan Murano transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2014May 2015Aug 2017May 2018Sep 2018Sep 2019Aug 2021
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2014 to Jul 2023; peak Jul 2018 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Nissan Murano

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Murano model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200556 (6%)
  2. 200643 (5%)
  3. 200763 (9%)
  4. 20083 (60%)
  5. 200969 (11%)
  6. 201040 (21%)
  7. 201137 (25%)
  8. 201230 (22%)
  9. 201313 (18%)
  10. 201431 (21%)
  11. 201552 (26%)
  12. 201615 (14%)
  13. 201714 (13%)
  14. 20185 (4%)
  15. 20190 (0%)
  16. 20203 (7%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20220 (0%)
  19. 20230 (0%)
  20. 20241 (20%)
  21. 20255 (23%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Nissan Murano have?
NHTSA lists 30 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Murano, which is 22% of the 135 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2012 Nissan Murano?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2012 Murano.
At what mileage does the 2012 Murano transmission usually fail?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 75,000 miles.
What transmission symptoms do 2012 Murano owners report?
Owners describe CVT failure, shuddering during acceleration, slipping at highway speeds, hesitation from a stop, and sudden loss of power.
How does the 2012 Murano compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2012 Murano's 22% share is close to the 2010 (21%), 2011 (25%), and 2014 (21%) model years, while 2015 is higher at 26% and 2018 is much lower at 4%.

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.