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2011 Nissan Murano problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
46 of 136 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2011 Nissan Murano are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2011 Nissan Murano have transmission problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 46 of 136 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Murano concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under power train (37). For comparison, the 2010 scores 25% and the 2012 scores 40%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
46
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
148
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
7 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES39 · 26%
POWER TRAIN37 · 25%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER23 · 16%
AIR BAGS13 · 9%
STRUCTURE13 · 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 7%

The years either side

2010
25%
44 of 193
2011
34%
46 of 148
2012
40%
44 of 135
2013
30%
19 of 74
2014
31%
41 of 145
2015
43%
71 of 204
2016
29%
27 of 107
2017
21%
20 of 107
2018
too few complaints
2019
3%
1 of 43
2020
12%
5 of 46
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2011 compares with other Nissan Murano years

Of the 10 Nissan Murano years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (34%). The worst is the 2015 (43%), the best the 2019 (3%). By volume, the 2011 drew 148 complaints (46 drivetrain), against 193 for the 2010 and 135 for the 2012.

Nissan Murano years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2011 Nissan Murano

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2011 Nissan Murano said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN04/02/2026
In July 2023, at 55,496 miles on the odometer, the original CVT transmission failed and was replaced at Port City Nissan (120 Spaulding Tpke N, Portsmouth, NH 03801), an authorized Nissan dealership, with a Nissan-supplied rebuilt CVT transmission at a cost of approximately $7,000. The rebuilt transmission was warrante…

One of 46 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2011 Nissan Murano? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2011 Nissan Murano

Does the 2011 Nissan Murano have transmission problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 46 of 136 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Murano concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Murano?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Nissan Murano is service brakes: 39 of 148 complaints (26%) name it, followed by power train (37) and air bags (13). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 34% of the relevant total.

Is the 2011 Nissan Murano reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 34% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Nissan Murano years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Nissan Murano?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2011 Nissan Murano.

Which Nissan Murano years are better?

Among the Nissan Murano years we track, the 2019 (3%), the 2020 (12%) and the 2017 (21%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (34%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-murano

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.