2012 Nissan Murano Reliability
The 2012 Nissan Murano has 135 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and air bags. Compared with other Murano model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Murano's typical year, while the 2010 drew 193 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
135
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Nissan Murano complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 30 | 22% |
| Air bags | 26 | 19% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 17% |
| Visibility / wipers | 19 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 10% |
| Engine | 13 | 10% |
| Body structure | 6 | 4% |
2012 Nissan Murano recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V068000 | Feb 22, 2012 | Tires — pressure monitoring and regulating systems | Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Murano and rogue vehicles, manufactured from November 23, 2011 through January 11, 2012. During assembly, the tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) was not activated. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the… |
How the 2012 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 193 | 0 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2011 | 148 | 0 | Service brakes | Caution |
| 2012 (this page) | 135 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2013 | 74 | 1 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2014 | 145 | 1 | Unknown or other | Caution |
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 2012 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.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign 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 2012 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.
2012 Nissan Murano reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Nissan Murano reliable?
The 2012 Nissan Murano has 135 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and air bags. Compared with other Murano model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Murano's typical year, while the 2010 drew 193 complaints.
What are the most common 2012 Nissan Murano problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Murano are powertrain / transmission (30), air bags (26), unknown or other (23), visibility / wipers (19). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Nissan Murano have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Nissan Murano, including 12V068000 (tires — pressure monitoring and regulating systems). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Nissan Murano compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 148 complaints and 0 recalls (caution); the 2013 has 74 complaints and 1 recall (solid). The 2012 has 135 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2012 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 2012 Murano, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.