2012 NISSAN MURANO

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration, especially from a stop, Whining or grinding noise from transmission, Hesitation when accelerating or loss of power, CVT fluid overheating, burnt smell, Check engine light with P0868 (transmission fluid pressure low) or P17F0 codes

Fix: CVT oil cooler failure is often the trigger—coolant contaminates transmission fluid and destroys internals. Early cooler replacement (~3 hrs labor) can prevent catastrophe, but most come in too late needing full CVT replacement (8-10 hrs labor). Nissan extended warranty to 120k on some, check eligibility.

Estimated cost: $500-1,200 for cooler only; $3,500-5,500 for full CVT replacement with remanufactured unit

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Burning through 1+ quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs (P0300-P0306 misfire codes), Low oil pressure warning if driver doesn't monitor levels, Engine knock or catastrophic failure if oil runs critically low

Fix: Piston rings fail to seal properly, often from factory defect or carbon buildup. Only real fix is engine teardown and ring replacement or short block swap (20-28 hrs labor). Some owners limp along adding oil constantly. If it grenades from low oil, you're looking at full rebuild or used engine.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000 for ring job or short block; $5,000-8,000+ for complete rebuild after failure

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking noise when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration felt through cabin at idle or during acceleration, Excessive engine/transmission movement visible under hood during throttle blips

Fix: The front and rear transmission mounts collapse from the CVT's weight and vibration. Straightforward replacement, 2-3 hrs labor depending on which mount(s). OEM mounts recommended—aftermarket often fail prematurely.

Estimated cost: $250-500 per mount

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Erratic or stuck fuel gauge reading, Intermittent no-start or stumbling under acceleration, Fuel pump whine audible from rear seat area, Check engine light with P0462 or P0463 (fuel level sensor) or P0230 (fuel pump circuit)

Fix: Fuel pump assembly or sending unit fails. Requires dropping the fuel tank (2-3 hrs labor). Sometimes just the sender, but pump is often replaced as a precaution since you're already in there.

Estimated cost: $400-800 depending on pump vs. sender only

Typical onset: null

Symptoms: VDC (stability control) and SLIP lights illuminated on dash, ABS light may accompany, Steering feels normal but systems disabled, Codes C1130 or C1132 (steering angle sensor)

Fix: Steering angle sensor needs recalibration after battery disconnect, alignment, or spontaneously. Often just a reset procedure (0.5 hrs), but sensor replacement needed if faulty (1.5 hrs labor).

Estimated cost: $100-150 for recalibration; $300-500 for sensor replacement

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant puddle under vehicle, typically passenger side, Overheating or temperature gauge climbing, Sweet smell from engine bay, Low coolant warning light

Fix: Radiator end tanks crack, or hose connections fail. Radiator replacement is 2-3 hrs labor. Critical to address before overheating damages head gaskets or CVT cooler (which shares coolant system—see problem #1).

Estimated cost: $350-650 for radiator replacement