2008 Nissan Murano: common problems and reliability
The 2008 Nissan Murano has 5 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are power train and steering. Owners most often flag cvt (continuously variable transmission) failure — catastrophic, premature failure is the dominant issue. described as a "time bomb," especially after 100,000 miles (161,000 km). failure often occurs without warning, with repair/replacement costs cited between $5,000 and $8,000 usd. linked to class action lawsuits and warranty extensions for specific model years (e.g., 2010, 2015-2018). frequency: very frequent.
Safety record for the 2008 model year
5
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2008 Nissan Murano vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
power train
3
steering
1
air bags
1
exterior lighting
1
structure
1
Recalls affecting the 2008 Murano
air bags
Campaign 08V521000
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 EQUIPPE…
What owners say across generations
Deeply polarized sentiment with a clear generational divide. Long-term owners of first-generation (2003-2007) and second-generation (2009-2014) models report significant, often catastrophic, issues with the JATCO CVT transmission, leading to widespread distrus
CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) failure — Catastrophic, premature failure is the dominant issue. Described as a "time bomb," especially after 100,000 miles (161,000 km). Failure often occurs without warning, with repair/replacement costs cited between $5,000 and $8,000 USD. Linked to class action lawsuits and warranty extensions for specific model years (e.g., 2010, 2015-2018). Frequency: very frequent.
CVT shudder and lag — Delayed engagement ("takes a second or two to go"), shuddering at low and high speeds, and general sluggishness. Often a precursor to total failure. Frequency: recurrent.
General reliability concerns — Perceived as less reliable and more cheaply constructed than key Japanese competitors (Honda, Toyota). Described as a potential "money pit," particularly older high-mileage examples. Frequency: recurrent.
Electrical issues — Isolated reports of unexplained electrical problems that were difficult to diagnose and repair. Frequency: isolated.
Alternator failures — Mentioned as a replacement item on higher-mileage vehicles, with a note to avoid certain remanufactured units. Frequency: isolated.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Murano.
Typical used price
Used Murano listings typically run $32,698–$40,200 across 2012 to 2026 model years.