NISSAN MURANO · model year

2004 NISSAN MURANO

850 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004NISSANMURANO carries 850 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 8 fires, 36 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 MURANO is visibility with 122 filings, followed by seats (92) and power train (88). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2004 MURANO, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

850
Complaints
24
Crashes
8
Fires
36
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

850 filings

Crashes Reported

24 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY122
SEATS92
POWER TRAIN88
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM62
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION48
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR48
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES45
ENGINE44
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32
UNKNOWN OR OTHER29
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING20
STEERING18
STRUCTURE:BODY14
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE14
SUSPENSION14

Recalls (4)

09V16900019/05/2009

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 T

05V31900014/07/2005

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A WIRE BREAKING INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR COULD STOP THE BATTERY FROM CHARGING.

06V04800013/02/2006

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

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.

06V00300010/01/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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 PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK.

Recent Complaints

20250718SERVICE BRAKES

Braking locked looses power then accelerates smell like gas is leaking

20250718FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Braking locked looses power then accelerates smell like gas is leaking

20250718FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Braking locked looses power then accelerates smell like gas is leaking

20241024SEATS

Driver seat front left side has a rocking motion to it. I’ve read a lot of others have found this issue was supposed to be fixed from 2003-2004 and the parts have been updated to address the issue. I am worried my seat movement will create an unsafe driving condition.

20240810SUSPENSION

Rear subframe where it connects to shock mounts is completely rusted through at both sides of the car. Causes the tops of the wheels to bow in and is undrivable

20240103ENGINE

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted on the first attempt occasionally; however, several attempts were needed to start the vehicle on other occasions. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while at a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the accelerator pedal had been discontinued. The contact stated that the independent mechanic replaced the accelerator pedal with a part purchased from a junkyard; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

20240103VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted on the first attempt occasionally; however, several attempts were needed to start the vehicle on other occasions. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while at a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the accelerator pedal had been discontinued. The contact stated that the independent mechanic replaced the accelerator pedal with a part purchased from a junkyard; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

20230511UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I’ve changed the timing belt, brakes, batteries, fuel injectors and all and still after thirty minutes of me driving Nissan Murano 2004 I have to continuously push on the gas to get the car to move . My car always has a smell of burning rubber after a long period of time driving it . I then pull over for 20/25 minutes to let the car reset or cool down I guess and then when I turn it on it drives ok until the next 25/30 minutes go by. I’ve gotten two alternators brand new and I’m still having the same issues . When I slow down to come to a full stop it feels like my car is jerking on a chain slowly. When I put the car in neutral to come to a stop it doesn’t make the car tremble . I hope and pray I can get some answers or help to guide me in the right direction . I’ve spent over $2000 in labor to this car to still have the same problem.

20221203STRUCTURE:BODY

The rear k frame rusted out ,all of a sudden the vehicle started swaying out of control on gravel or wet roads, no rust on the vehicle except the rear k frame, I parked the vehicle because it's unsafe to drive , I understand that this is a problem that effects more than just mine and I hope it's recalled or something is done about it, thank you for looking into it

20221203SUSPENSION

The rear k frame rusted out ,all of a sudden the vehicle started swaying out of control on gravel or wet roads, no rust on the vehicle except the rear k frame, I parked the vehicle because it's unsafe to drive , I understand that this is a problem that effects more than just mine and I hope it's recalled or something is done about it, thank you for looking into it

20220620STRUCTURE:BODY

Rear subframe broke Confirmed by a mechanic

20211222ENGINE

Alternator went out this is the third one. I looked up the recalls on my car and there happened to be one on the alternator and I’ve reached out to Nissan dealership of Bakersfield and havnt received a response

20211222ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Alternator went out this is the third one. I looked up the recalls on my car and there happened to be one on the alternator and I’ve reached out to Nissan dealership of Bakersfield and havnt received a response

20211222UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Alternator went out this is the third one. I looked up the recalls on my car and there happened to be one on the alternator and I’ve reached out to Nissan dealership of Bakersfield and havnt received a response

20211113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My alternator has failed and I see where there was a recall on 2004 nissan murano for alternator/generator but its not showing a recall when I put my Vin in but it's doing exactly what it describes.

20210519FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE ABS AND BATTERIES WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOST POWER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRES TO THE ALTERNATOR HAD MELTED AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000

Mileage: 132,000

20210506ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANTWERPEN NISSAN SECURITY (1701 WOODLAWN DR - #4006, BALTIMORE, MD 21207, (410) 298-4400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ALTERNATOR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V319000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

Mileage: 84,000

20210419ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN NAMED IN 4 RECALLS BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED IN ANY OF THEM WHEN I TAKE IT INTO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH EVERY RECALL THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IS WHAT HAS BEEN EITHER A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN STARTING TO SHOW SOME SYMPTOMS.

Mileage: 177,000

20210419ENGINE

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN NAMED IN 4 RECALLS BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED IN ANY OF THEM WHEN I TAKE IT INTO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH EVERY RECALL THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IS WHAT HAS BEEN EITHER A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN STARTING TO SHOW SOME SYMPTOMS.

Mileage: 177,000

20210419SUSPENSION

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN NAMED IN 4 RECALLS BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED IN ANY OF THEM WHEN I TAKE IT INTO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH EVERY RECALL THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IS WHAT HAS BEEN EITHER A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN STARTING TO SHOW SOME SYMPTOMS.

Mileage: 177,000

Compare 2004NISSANMURANO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 NISSAN MURANO have?
The 2004 NISSAN MURANO has 850 NHTSA complaints, 24 crashes, 8 fires, 36 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 NISSAN MURANO?
Yes, the 2004 NISSAN MURANO has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 NISSAN MURANO?
The most-complained component for the 2004 NISSAN MURANO is VISIBILITY with 122 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2004 NISSAN MURANO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.