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2009 NISSAN MURANO

3.5L V6 VQ35DE•FWD•CVT•gas
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$16,251 maintenance + known platform issues
~$3,250/yr · 270¢/mile equivalent · $6,095 maintenance + $9,321 expected platform issues
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3.5L V6 VQ35DE
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2009 Murano with the VQ35DE is generally reliable, but the CVT transmission is the Achilles' heel. Engine oil consumption and catalytic converter issues also plague higher-mileage examples, with catastrophic engine failure possible if oil starvation isn't caught early.

CVT Transmission Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration, Whining or grinding noises, Hesitation when accelerating from stop, CVT fluid overheating, Check engine light with P0868 or P17F0 codes
Fix: Nissan's CVT (RE0F10A) suffers from valve body contamination and belt/pulley wear. Early failures can sometimes be addressed with fluid changes and valve body replacement (6-8 hours labor), but most need full CVT replacement or reman unit (8-12 hours labor). Always replace external cooler and flush lines during CVT R&R.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500

Excessive Engine Oil Consumption

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup, Low oil warning light, Rough idle, Check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: VQ35DE develops oil consumption from worn piston rings and cylinder glazing. Nissan had an extended warranty for some VINs but it's expired. Fix requires engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, and cylinder honing (20-28 hours labor) or short block replacement (18-24 hours). Some owners band-aid it by adding oil frequently, but risk catastrophic failure from oil starvation.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500

Catalytic Converter Failure

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0420/P0430 codes, Sulfur/rotten egg smell, Reduced power and fuel economy, Rattling noise from underneath
Fix: The pre-cats integrated into the exhaust manifolds fail, often accelerated by oil consumption issues fouling them. Nissan OEM manifold/cat assemblies are $1,200+ each side. Aftermarket options available but may not last. Labor is 4-6 hours for both banks on this transverse V6. Some states require OEM cats for emissions compliance.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Transfer Case/Front Differential Whine (AWD)

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining noise that increases with speed, Grinding during turns, Vibration through drivetrain, Binding sensation in tight turns
Fix: AWD models develop bearing wear in the transfer case and front differential, often from inadequate fluid changes. Requires transfer case/front diff rebuild or replacement (6-9 hours labor). Always change fluid every 30k miles to prevent this. If caught early, fluid change with friction modifier sometimes quiets it temporarily.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,800

Steering Column Intermediate Shaft Clunk

Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or popping when turning at low speed, Noise felt through steering wheel, Most noticeable when cold
Fix: The intermediate steering shaft U-joint wears and loses lubrication. Nissan released updated parts. Replacement takes 1.5-2 hours labor. Some techs re-grease the joint as a temporary fix, but replacement is the proper solution.
Estimated cost: $250-450

Transmission Cooler Line Corrosion

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: null
Symptoms: CVT fluid leaking at cooler connections, Pink fluid on ground, Transmission overheating warning, Low fluid level found on dipstick check
Fix: Steel cooler lines rust at connections to the radiator-mounted cooler, especially in rust-belt states. Small leaks become catastrophic quickly because CVTs are sensitive to low fluid. Requires replacing lines and often the external cooler (3-5 hours labor). Inspect annually if you're in a salt state.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Owner tips
  • Change CVT fluid every 30,000 miles with Nissan NS-2 or NS-3 spec fluid only — this is NOT lifetime fluid despite what the manual says
  • Check engine oil level every 500 miles religiously after 80k miles; catch consumption early before rod bearing damage occurs
  • Replace transfer case and front diff fluid every 30k miles on AWD models to prevent expensive whine issues
  • Inspect CVT cooler lines for rust annually in salt states; a $200 preventive line replacement beats a $4,000 CVT
  • Keep records of oil consumption if under 120k miles — Nissan had extended coverage that some owners successfully claimed even after expiration
Buy only with documented CVT and engine maintenance history, budget $2k-3k for likely CVT work, and avoid high-mileage examples unless you can verify oil consumption is under control — otherwise, keep shopping.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
526 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
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