VehicleVerdict

2003 Nissan Murano transmission problems

The 2003 Nissan Murano has 271 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

271

Transmission complaints

26%

Share of year

6

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Murano transmission complaints by model year271 complaints2003: 271 complaints2004: 147 complaints2005: 57 complaints2006: 43 complaints2007: 67 complaints2008: 3 complaints2009: 70 complaints2010: 40 complaints2011: 37 complaints2012: 30 complaints2013: 13 complaints2014: 31 complaints2015: 52 complaints2016: 15 complaints2017: 14 complaints2018: 5 complaints2020: 3 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 4 complaints
Murano transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V123000TransmissionMarch 31, 2003 · 128 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE NUT THAT ATTACHES THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR SHAFT TO THE CONTROL VALVE LEVER IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION NOT ACTUALLY BEING IN THE GEAR INDICATED BY THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION POSITION DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY NOT BE ON OR MAY BE INCORRECT.

Consequence

IF THE GEAR DISPLAYED IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GEAR ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL CHECK THE AFFECTED NUT IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER LINKAGE, AND TIGHTEN IT IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

What owners report

“THE PROBLEM WITH MY NISSAN MURANO LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IS THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I WASTED $125 DOLLARS. I ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN COOPERATE AND THEY HAVE NOT DID ANYTHING. NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A MANUFACTORY PROBLEM AND THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I AM SO FRUSTRATED…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 15, 2016 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2003 Nissan Murano have?

NHTSA has 271 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Murano transmission — 26% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Nissan Murano transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 03V123000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.