The 2022 Murano uses Nissan's aging VQ35DE V6 paired with the continuously problematic Jatco CVT. While relatively new, this generation inherits known weaknesses from its platform siblings, particularly CVT failure patterns and oil consumption issues that plague older VQ engines.
CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco RE0F10A/JF011E)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or juddering during acceleration, especially 20-40 mph, Delayed engagement when shifting into drive or reverse, Whining or grinding noises from transmission, Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Sudden loss of power or 'limp mode' activation
Fix: CVT replacement or rebuild required; Nissan extended warranty to 84k miles on some years but 2022s often fall outside goodwill coverage. Includes transmission removal, rebuild or replacement, and cooling system flush. 12-16 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid in coolant or vice versa (strawberry milkshake appearance), Transmission slipping or erratic shifting, Engine overheating or transmission overheating, Coolant loss with no external leaks
Fix: Replace external transmission oil cooler and flush both cooling and CVT systems completely. If cross-contamination occurred, CVT rebuild often needed. Cooler alone: 3-4 hours. With CVT contamination damage: add CVT rebuild time.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler only), $5,000-8,000 (with CVT damage)
Excessive Oil Consumption (VQ35DE)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Low oil light between changes (burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Fouled spark plugs, Rough idle or misfires
Fix: Piston ring failure or valve seal degradation. Nissan had recalls on earlier VQ engines; requires engine disassembly to replace rings. Some cases need full short block. Engine out preferred: 20-28 hours labor for ring job, 25-35 hours for short block.
Estimated cost: $4,500-6,500 (rings), $7,000-10,000 (short block)
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from park to drive, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible engine/transmission movement when accelerating, Thud or bang during hard acceleration
Fix: Replace transmission mount(s); CVT weight and torque characteristics stress mounts faster than conventional automatics. Front mount most common failure. 1.5-2.5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $300-500
Fuel System Issues (High-Pressure Fuel Pump / Injectors)
Rare · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, Loss of power under load, Check engine light with fuel trim or misfire codes, Rough idle or stumbling acceleration
Fix: High-pressure fuel pump or injector failure. Pump replacement: 2-3 hours. Injector set: 4-5 hours. Diagnosis critical to avoid parts-swapping.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (pump), $1,200-1,800 (injectors)
Head Gasket Failure (Both Banks)
Rare · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, Coolant loss without visible leaks, Overheating under load, Oil contamination in coolant or vice versa, Rough running or misfires
Fix: V6 head gasket replacement requires removing both heads, resurfacing, and new gaskets. Often discover warped heads requiring machine work. 18-24 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Hard pass unless you enjoy CVT roulette—even 2022 models aren't immune to Jatco's fundamental design flaws, and repair costs exceed the vehicle's depreciation curve.
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.