2016 NISSAN MURANO

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Shuddering or hesitation during acceleration, especially from a stop, Whining or grinding noise from transmission, Sudden loss of power or failure to engage gears, CVT fluid overheating warnings, Judder when cruising at steady highway speeds

Fix: Nissan's Jatco CVT (RE0F10A/JF011E) is notorious for premature wear. Early intervention with fluid changes every 30k can help, but most end up needing CVT replacement or rebuild. Replacement involves dropping the transmission, which is 8-12 labor hours depending on AWD configuration. Remanufactured units are common; some shops offer valve body replacement as a Band-Aid for judder, but it rarely lasts.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Burning through 1+ quart of oil between changes, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs (oil-covered electrodes), Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Low oil pressure warning if neglected long enough

Fix: The VQ35DE can develop piston ring issues, especially if oil changes were stretched. Some engines consume oil without obvious external leaks. If caught early, top-ups and monitoring suffice, but once misfires start, you're looking at piston ring replacement (requires full teardown, 18-24 hours) or short block swap (14-18 hours). Many owners run these low on oil and grenade the bearings, necessitating full engine rebuild or replacement.

Estimated cost: $4,000-7,500

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Check engine light with P0420 or P0430 (catalyst efficiency below threshold), Sulfur/rotten egg smell from exhaust, Reduced fuel economy and sluggish acceleration, Rattling noise from underneath during startup or acceleration

Fix: The VQ35DE's cats tend to fail prematurely, often from oil consumption issues or running rich. Nissan OEM cats are expensive; aftermarket options exist but quality varies and some won't pass emissions in strict states. Replacement involves cutting out the old cats and welding in new ones, roughly 2-3 hours per bank. If you go with bolt-on aftermarket units, it's faster (1.5-2 hours per side).

Estimated cost: $800-2,200

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Milky or pink-tinged CVT fluid (coolant mixing with trans fluid), Milky appearance in coolant reservoir (trans fluid mixing with coolant), Transmission overheating or erratic shifting after coolant system work, Sudden CVT failure after radiator/cooler develops internal leak

Fix: The internal transmission cooler inside the radiator can fail, allowing coolant and CVT fluid to mix — this kills the CVT fast. If caught immediately, flush both systems and replace radiator (3-4 hours). If driven with contaminated fluid, the CVT is toast and needs replacement. Always inspect CVT fluid color during any cooling system service.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200 (radiator only); $4,000-6,500 (if CVT damaged)

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking noise over bumps from front suspension, Steering feels vague or wandering, especially on highway, Uneven or accelerated front tire wear (inner or outer edge), Vehicle pulls to one side after hitting bumps

Fix: The front lower control arm bushings wear out and crack, especially in rust-belt states. Alignment shops will flag this. Most replace the entire control arm assemblies rather than pressing in new bushings — it's faster and ensures proper fitment. Each side is about 1.5 hours; alignment required after. Not a breakdown risk, but worsens handling and tire wear.

Estimated cost: $600-900

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: ABS, VDC, and brake warning lights all illuminated on dash, Loss of ABS function (brakes work, but no anti-lock), Brake pedal feels spongy or has unusual travel, Codes for ABS actuator communication errors

Fix: The ABS hydraulic control unit (HCU) can fail internally, often due to corrosion or solenoid issues. This is related to the NHTSA recalls on ABS/traction systems for earlier Muranos, though 2016 models still see issues. Nissan dealer-only part in many cases; requires bleeding entire brake system after replacement. 2-3 hours labor plus expensive part (around $1,200-1,800 for OEM unit).

Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800