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2024 NISSAN MURANO

3.5L V6 VQ35DE•AWD•CVT•gas
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$13,785 maintenance + known platform issues
~$2,757/yr · 230¢/mile equivalent · $6,090 maintenance + $6,860 expected platform issues
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3.5L V6 VQ35DE
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3.5L V6 VQ35DE
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2024 Murano carries forward Nissan's proven VQ35DE V6, which is generally reliable, but this generation continues to suffer from the CVT transmission vulnerabilities that plague most modern Nissans. The frequency of catastrophic transmission failures and accompanying oil cooler issues makes this a higher-risk used purchase than competitors.

CVT Transmission Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration, especially from stops, Whining or grinding noises during operation, Hesitation or slipping when accelerating, Complete loss of forward movement, Check engine light with P0868 (transmission fluid pressure) or P17F0 (CVT degradation) codes
Fix: Nissan's Jatco CVT remains their Achilles heel. Full CVT replacement requires 8-12 hours labor including fluid flush and adaptive relearn. Some fail catastrophically with no warning, others degrade slowly. Extended warranty coverage expired for most pre-2024s, but 2024s have 5yr/60k powertrain. Fluid changes every 30k can help but won't prevent inherent design issues.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500

Transmission Oil Cooler Contamination

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Milky or strawberry-colored CVT fluid indicating coolant intrusion, Overheating transmission temperature warnings, Transmission slipping or loss of power, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks
Fix: The external CVT cooler develops internal leaks allowing coolant and transmission fluid to mix, which destroys the CVT. Requires cooler replacement, complete CVT fluid flush with filter change, sometimes full CVT replacement if contamination went undetected. Takes 4-6 hours if caught early, add 8-12 if CVT damaged. Check fluid color every oil change on these.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler only), $5,000-8,000 (with CVT damage)

Transmission Mount Failure

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive vibration at idle, especially in Drive, Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Shuddering during acceleration, Engine/transmission rocking visible under hood during shifts
Fix: The hydraulic transmission mount deteriorates and collapses, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. Often misdiagnosed as CVT problems. Replacement requires 2-3 hours labor, some subframe lowering depending on access. OEM mounts are recommended as aftermarket versions collapse prematurely.
Estimated cost: $400-700

VQ35DE Timing Chain Tensioner Wear

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise on cold start that disappears after warm-up, Check engine light with P0011 or P0021 (camshaft timing) codes, Rough idle or poor performance, Rattling that progresses to constant noise indicates severe wear
Fix: The secondary timing chain tensioners wear and allow slack, potentially leading to jumped timing or catastrophic engine damage. Requires timing chain kit replacement with guides, tensioners, and chains. Labor-intensive at 12-16 hours due to tight engine bay. Caught early with just tensioners, 8-10 hours. Use OEM Nissan parts only.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,500

Fuel System Contamination from Tank Sediment

Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, Loss of power or hesitation during acceleration, Check engine light with P0087 (fuel rail pressure too low), Stalling at idle or when slowing down
Fix: Fuel tank develops sediment buildup that clogs the high-pressure fuel pump and injectors. Requires fuel system cleaning, injector replacement, and sometimes fuel pump module. If severe, tank removal and cleaning needed (8-10 hours). Address early with fuel filter changes and quality gas to prevent $3k+ injector jobs. In-tank filter not serviceable separately.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200 (pump/filter), $2,500-4,000 (with injectors/tank cleaning)

Valve Body Bore Wear (CVT)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Delayed engagement when shifting to Drive or Reverse, Erratic shifting behavior or hunting between ratios, Loss of power on acceleration followed by sudden surge, Check engine light with P1778 (step motor function) codes
Fix: CVT valve body develops bore wear causing pressure regulation issues. Can sometimes be addressed with valve body replacement (6-8 hours) rather than full CVT, but 50/50 whether it solves the problem long-term. Many shops push full CVT replacement to avoid comebacks. Get valve body diagnosis confirmed with pressure tests before committing.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200 (valve body), $4,500-7,500 (full CVT)
Owner tips
  • Change CVT fluid every 30,000 miles religiously with Nissan NS-3 fluid only—aftermarket fluids accelerate failure
  • Inspect transmission cooler and lines for seepage every oil change; coolant contamination kills CVTs fast
  • Address any cold-start rattles immediately on the VQ35—timing chain issues get exponentially worse
  • Use Top Tier gasoline and add fuel system cleaner every 5k miles to prevent injector clogging
  • Budget $500/year for CVT-related issues after 60k miles—these transmissions are on borrowed time
Hard pass for a used buy unless under full warranty—the CVT is a ticking time bomb that overshadows an otherwise competent V6 engine, and repair costs can exceed the vehicle's value quickly.
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.
523 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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