The 2007 Murano pairs Nissan's reliable VQ35DE V6 with the CVT transmission—and that CVT is the Achilles' heel. Expect transmission-related issues to dominate ownership costs, with some oil consumption concerns on higher-mileage examples.
CVT Transmission Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or grinding noise during acceleration, Hesitation or shuddering when accelerating from stop, Slipping between gear ratios, RPM flare without acceleration, Check engine light with P0731 or P0732 codes, Sudden loss of forward movement
Fix: CVT replacement or rebuild required. Nissan extended warranty to 120k miles on some units, but many fail just outside that window. Replacement CVT runs 12-16 hours labor plus remanufactured unit. Used units are risky—often fail quickly.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
CVT Transmission Cooler Failure and Contamination
Common · high severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission overheating warning light, Coolant mixing with CVT fluid (strawberry milkshake appearance in reservoir), White smoke from exhaust if coolant enters CVT, Sudden transmission failure after coolant cross-contamination
Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and CVT fluid to mix—this destroys the CVT within days or miles. Requires radiator replacement AND full CVT fluid flush at minimum; if contamination sat, full CVT replacement needed. Preventive radiator replacement at 80k-100k is cheaper than the alternative. 8-10 hours labor for radiator and flush, or 14+ if CVT damaged.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (preventive radiator); $4,000-6,000 (if CVT contaminated)
Excessive Oil Consumption (VQ35DE)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Low oil warning light between changes, Burning 1+ quart every 1,000-1,500 miles, Blue smoke on cold start or hard acceleration, Spark plug fouling on cylinders 2, 4, 6
Fix: Piston ring wear and oil control ring failure common on higher-mileage VQ35s. Minor cases managed with more frequent oil checks; severe cases need engine rebuild with new rings, honing, and possibly pistons. Engine-out rebuild is 25-30 hours labor. Some opt for low-mileage used engine swap instead (18-22 hours).
Estimated cost: $3,800-6,500 (rebuild); $2,800-4,200 (used engine swap)
Transmission Mounts Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Vibration at idle especially with A/C on, Engine rocking visibly under acceleration or braking
Fix: Front and rear transmission mounts collapse from CVT vibration. Replace both mounts as a pair—doing one at a time leads to accelerated failure of the other. 2.5-3.5 hours labor for both mounts.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly Failure
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Humming or grinding noise that increases with speed, Noise changes pitch in turns (louder turning one direction), ABS or VDC warning lights, Wheel play detectable when lifted
Fix: Front wheel bearing assemblies wear, especially on AWD models. Replace as complete hub assembly with integrated ABS sensor—no separate bearing service. 2-2.5 hours per side. Rear bearings less common but follow same pattern.
Estimated cost: $400-650 per corner
Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leaks
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage visible on valve covers, Burning oil smell from engine bay, Oil drips on exhaust manifold creating smoke, Low oil without obvious external puddles
Fix: Both valve cover gaskets harden and leak over time. Not urgent unless leak is severe, but address before oil saturates ignition coils. Replace both gaskets and spark plug tube seals together. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $500-800
Buy only if transmission has been replaced or extensively documented service history exists—otherwise you're gambling $4k-6k against a ticking time bomb CVT.
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.