2012 Nissan Murano: Transmission – failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 Murano report: transmission – failure. CarComplaints.com lists 9 owner complaints, average mileage 109,100 miles.
NHTSA has 30 owner complaints for the 2012 Murano in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11534342 (filed 07/25/2023): “This car i purchased two months ago has the cvt transmission in it and has proven unsafe for regular traffic let alone highway driving. it randomly “lurches” , has a loss of power and hesitates when accelerating or lane changing .…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11428016 (filed 08/06/2021): “Cvt failure avail for insp immediate slowing in hiway traffic confirmed by ed martin nissan 317 359 9231 obd ii code p1778 cvt step motor function (cvt xmission) no other insp no warning lights/no symptoms on 02/august/2021…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace transmission (5 reports) replaced cvt (4 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,430 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: transmission replacement (automatic or CVT, remanufactured unit)
Average shop cost
$835
Range $400–$1,390 (labor)
4.0–10.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$1,255
Range $600–$2,085 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2013 Chevrolet Cruze: Transmission went out · 2015 Dodge Durango: Transmission failure · 2015 Jeep Cherokee: Transmission failure check engine light on · 2016 Subaru Forester: Transmission failure · 2018 Nissan Sentra: CVT failure · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Check engine light came on transmission failure
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