The Lemon Index2012 Nissan Murano.
The 2012 Nissan Murano is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 26 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 44, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 1 recall, and it gets 19 to 20 mpg combined. The best Nissan Murano year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 135 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Murano year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 27K to 97K miles on the car (97 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 50K–98K miles
Recalls 1
- tires 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 MURANO AND ROGUE VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 23, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2012.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 129 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been…
- ALL MODEL YEAR 2012 AND NEWER NISSAN VEHICLES; EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION…
- NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Murano SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Murano SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Murano Cross C AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3200–4200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicles moon roof inexplicably exploded from inside out while parked in driveway.
2012 Nissan Murano owner · NHTSA complaint 10478938
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Nissan Murano reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 44; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Murano year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Murano problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (23%), visibility (19%) and transmission & drivetrain (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Murano have?
1 safety recall (latest: tires). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Murano get?
19 to 20 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Nissan Murano safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Murano problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 27,800 and 97,500 miles. The middle report was at 65,000 miles, from 97 complaints.
Does the 2012 Nissan Murano have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Nissan Murano cost in fuel a year?
About $3200 to $4200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Nissan Murano have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Murano year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2021 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works