Reliable Auto DB

2012 Nissan Murano reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Nissan Murano has 135 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Murano years here — over the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Tire pressure monitoring.

2012 Nissan Murano
Photo by SsmIntrigue, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

135

Per year

6

Recalls

1

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (30 of 135), then Air bags (26) and Electrical system (13). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Murano has 74 complaints, 4 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Nissan Murano. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall tires, tire pressure monitoring 2012-02-22 · NHTSA campaign 12V068000
Summary NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 MURANO AND ROGUE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2012. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138,”TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.”
Remedy ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER INVENTORY. DEALERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS.

Complaints by component (135 total)

Powertrain
30
Air bags
26
Electrical system
13
Engine
13
Service brakes
12
Visibility
10
Visibility and wipers
10
Structure
6
Steering
5
Suspension
5
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Seats
3
Equipment
2
Wheels
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Speed control
1
Tires
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

3

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

3201252013112014720151020161520172120181920191320203202111202272023320244202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My tire light is on a my 2012 nissian murano. It flashes at startup, with the light on, telling me I have low tire pressure. I put air evenly in all four tires. The light still remains on; how can all four TPMS go bad?…"
    Suspension, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-23
  • "The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the contact and the front seat passenger attempted to exit the vehicle, but all the doors failed to unlock. Additionally, the…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-06-04
  • "Vehicles of previous model years, this model year, and future model years have all experienced this issue. Issue was reported on thru a youTube channel in order to let the public know and understand the issue and how to…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-03-15
  • "While driving, vehicle just quits and all dashboard lights flash quickly and then the car stalls out and won't restart. This has happened 4 times now. Had battery replaced, alternator replaced for a 2nd time, sensor…"
    Electrical system · filed 2025-11-30
  • "When accelerating from a stop vehicle does not move, with gas pedal to the floor will slowly advance or stall. Has a battery drain somewhere also."
    Unknown or other, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-09-06

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Nissan Murano Cross C AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Nissan Murano SUV AWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2012 Nissan Murano SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Murano all-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) All-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $3250
Murano CrossCabriolet 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) All-wheel drive 17 22 19 MPG $4200
Murano front-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $3250

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (Z52), 2012–2020
Body styles Crossover
Oil 0W-20 (3.5L V6) , 5.375 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R18 to 245/60R20 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 1,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 18V601000. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board. A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

Compare

Next year 2013 Nissan Murano See every Nissan Murano model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Murano reliable?

The 2012 Nissan Murano has 135 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Murano years here — over the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Tire pressure monitoring.

What are common problems with a 2012 Nissan Murano?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (30 of 135), then Air bags (26) and Electrical system (13). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2012 Nissan Murano more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Murano has 74 complaints, 4 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Nissan Murano been recalled?

The 2012 Nissan Murano has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Nissan Murano?

Owners have filed 135 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Murano with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Nissan Murano get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Nissan Murano is 19.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Murano take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner’s manual.

What generation is the 2018 Nissan Murano?

3rd generation / Z52 (2012-2020 before the 2021 refresh on this site).

What tire sizes does a Nissan Murano use?

Common US sizes run about 235/65R18 to 245/60R20 depending on trim.