Nissan Murano Z51: common faults & what to check

You're looking at the Z51 · 3.5 V6 petrol

Everything below is narrowed to this variant. Pick a different one to change it.

2008–2015Z51 Selected2008–2015Z513.5 V6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues17 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: SsmIntrigue via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Nissan Murano

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Nissan Murano before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Inspect the boot for splits or grease contamination on the arm.

  See why

  Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Wear

  The front suspension uses a double-wishbone-derived layout with a compression-loaded ball joint pressed into the lower control arm. The ball joint stud seats in a tapered bore in the steering knuckle and carries the full vertical and lateral cornering loads of the front axle. As the joint's polymer bearing and grease seal deteriorate — accelerated by road contamination and the absence of a grease nipple on many units — the stud develops radial and axial play, which manifests as clunking and eventually causes wandering steering geometry. A failed ball joint can separate under load, resulting in immediate loss of steering and wheel collapse.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking or knocking noise from the front suspension when driving over speed humps or dips
  • Steering wander and vague on-centre feel on the motorway
  • Uneven front tyre wear indicating changed camber or toe geometry

  Typically $280–$750 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect rubber compound for cracking, extrusion from the sleeve, or oil seepage from hydraulic bushes.

  See why

  Rear Multi-link Suspension Bush Collapse

  The Murano rear suspension uses a multi-link geometry with five rubber-bonded bushes per side controlling toe, camber, and trailing arm compliance. The bushes are hydraulically damped on some pivot locations and are not individually replaceable in standard service — the complete arm or sub-frame must be removed. Prolonged exposure to New Zealand road conditions, including salt spray and temperature cycling, degrades the rubber compound, causing the bonding layer to shear and the steel sleeve to move within the bush. The consequence is rear-axle toe and camber drift that produces rapid tyre wear on the inner edges and a distinct vagueness or directional instability at motorway speeds.

  What you would notice

  • Rear-end wandering or instability at highway speeds requiring constant small steering corrections
  • Rapid and uneven rear tyre wear, particularly on inner edges
  • Clunking from the rear suspension over rough surfaces or during hard braking

  Typically $600–$2,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  With the engine running and fully warm, check the power steering fluid reservoir level and note the fluid colour.

  See why

  Power Steering System Failure Causing Loss of Steering Assist

  The Z50 and Z51 Murano use a hydraulic rack-and-pinion power steering system. Multiple failure modes are documented in NHTSA complaints across both generations. The power steering pump can fail prematurely, causing a sudden and dramatic increase in steering effort. The high-pressure power steering hose is subject to chafing, fatigue cracking, and clamp failure, leading to fluid loss and assist reduction. Nissan issued recall 17V184 in 2017 covering 2013-2014 Z51 Muranos for a high-pressure hose clamp that could allow the hose to detach, creating both a loss of assist and a fire risk if fluid contacts hot exhaust components. The 2009 Z51 Murano accumulated 32 NHTSA steering complaints with documented instances of the steering wheel becoming suddenly heavy while driving.

  What you would notice

  • Sudden increase in steering effort requiring significantly more force at the wheel, particularly at low speeds
  • Moaning or whining noise from the engine bay during steering inputs that changes pitch with steering angle
  • Power steering fluid visibly low or discoloured, or a puddle of red or amber hydraulic fluid beneath the vehicle
  • Intermittent loss of power steering assist that recovers briefly before failing again as fluid level drops

  Typically $550–$2,200 to put right.

• Common issue

  Note whether the TPMS warning light is illuminated on the dash — a solid amber light after a reset attempt indicates dead sensors.

  See why

  TPMS Sensor Battery Failure and Module Faults

  The Z51 Murano uses wheel-mounted TPMS sensors with internal lithium batteries rated for approximately 7–10 years of service life. On 2008–2012 vehicles these sensors are now well past end-of-life and will trigger a persistent TPMS warning light as individual sensors go flat. Additionally, the TPMS control module fitted to early Z51 vehicles has a documented failure mode where it stops communicating with sensors and must be replaced separately from the sensors themselves.

  What you would notice

  • Persistent amber TPMS warning light that does not clear after inflating tyres to correct pressure
  • TPMS light that blinks for 60–90 seconds on startup then stays on
  • Scan tool shows one or more sensor IDs not responding or missing
  • Tyre pressure readings on the MID display showing dashes instead of figures
  • TPMS warning light returning immediately after a dealer relearn procedure

  Typically $350–$900 to put right.

• Common issue

  Operate all four windows fully up and down during the test drive.

  See why

  Power Window Regulator Cable and Clip Failure

  The Z51 Murano uses a cable-type electric window regulator in all four doors. The plastic end-clips that attach the cable to the window glass carrier are prone to fracturing, causing the window to drop suddenly into the door cavity and become inoperative. This is a very widely reported failure on this generation of Nissan products; the driver's window is most commonly affected due to frequency of use but all four doors are susceptible.

  What you would notice

  • Window drops suddenly into the door and will not raise
  • Grinding or clicking noise from inside the door during window operation
  • Window glass tilts or leans forward at the top when fully closed
  • Window moves slowly or intermittently before failing completely
  • Motor runs but window does not move, indicating a broken cable or clip

  Typically $180–$480 to put right.

• Common issue

  With the engine running and the air conditioning switched on, visually inspect the front of the compressor.

  See why

  Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch Failure

  The air conditioning compressor clutch on both Z50 and Z51 Muranos is a documented high-frequency failure. The clutch electromagnetic coil, clutch plate, and pulley bearing are subject to wear and heat damage. Clutch failure appears across multiple model years in NHTSA complaints and is a recurring topic on nissanmurano.org. The failure mechanism involves the clutch plate wearing or the electromagnetic coil losing sufficient magnetic draw to engage the clutch against the compressor pulley. Low refrigerant charge also prevents clutch engagement through the low-pressure protection switch, which can mask an underlying refrigerant leak as an apparent clutch fault. Once the clutch fails to engage, the air conditioning system produces no cooling regardless of system pressure.

  What you would notice

  • Air conditioning blows ambient temperature air with the compressor clutch visibly not engaging despite correct refrigerant pressures
  • Intermittent air conditioning operation where the system cools for a period then suddenly stops and the clutch disengages
  • Squealing or rattling noise from the compressor area when the air conditioning is switched on
  • Burning electrical smell from the engine bay caused by a shorted or overheating clutch electromagnetic coil

  Typically $480–$1,600 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Nissan Murano’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost
• CVT Gearbox Repair Cost

Other Nissan models