2003 Nissan Murano Reliability
The 2003 Nissan Murano has 799 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and electrical system. Compared with nearby Murano model years (2003–2005), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Murano's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
799
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
14
Complaints citing a crash
5
Complaints citing a fire
2003 Nissan Murano complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 model year, filed between 2003 and 2021. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 265 | 33% |
| Electrical system | 187 | 23% |
| Seats | 111 | 14% |
| Engine & cooling | 98 | 12% |
| Speed control / throttle | 58 | 7% |
| Engine | 45 | 6% |
| Visibility / wipers | 44 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 37 | 5% |
2003 Nissan Murano recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2003 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03V123000 | Mar 31, 2003 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl) | 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… |
| 03V455000 | Nov 17, 2003 | Engine & cooling | On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process. |
| 05V319000 | Jul 14, 2005 | Electrical system — alternator/generator/regulator | On certain sport utility vehicles, there is a possibility that a wire breaking inside the alternator could stop the battery from charging. |
| 06V003000 | Jan 10, 2006 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | On certain sport utility vehicles, due to the location of the forward edge of the fuel tank, in the event that a vehicle front tire runs over a small, sharp object in the road, catches it and propels it towards the rear of the vehicle, it may strike and… |
| 06V048000 | Feb 13, 2006 | Seat belts — rear/other | On some sport utility vehicles, in certain high speed frontal crashes, the webbing of a rear outboard seat belt may contact the rear seat back hinge where it can be cut by the sharp edge of the metal portion of the hinge. |
| 09V169000 | May 19, 2009 | Engine & cooling | Nissan is recalling 362,891 my 2003-2007 Murano vehicles. The intake air ducts, which are connected to the intermediate resonator in the air intake system of the engine, may separate from the resonator with engine movement. This separation occurs due to the… |
How the 2003 compares with nearby Murano years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Murano analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 (this page) | 799 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2004 | 678 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2005 | 987 | 6 | Seats | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2003 Nissan Murano
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Seats: try every power and manual adjustment and check seat heaters if fitted.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2003 Nissan Murano can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2003 Nissan Murano reliability FAQ
Is the 2003 Nissan Murano reliable?
The 2003 Nissan Murano has 799 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and electrical system. Compared with nearby Murano model years (2003–2005), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Murano's typical year.
What are the most common 2003 Nissan Murano problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Nissan Murano are powertrain / transmission (265), electrical system (187), seats (111), engine & cooling (98). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2003 Nissan Murano have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2003 Nissan Murano, including 03V123000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl)) and 03V455000 (engine & cooling). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2003 Nissan Murano compare with the 2002 and 2004 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2004 has 678 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2003 has 799 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2003 Nissan Murano?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Murano research
Other Nissan Murano model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2003 Murano, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.