Buyer Research

2015 Nissan Murano — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $9,000–$14,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

One of the most comfortable seats in any mainstream crossover, attached to Nissan's CVT. The interior genuinely punches above the price. Whether that's a bargain depends entirely on how much transmission life is left.

What we checked

Reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 203 owner complaints for the 2015 Nissan Murano, across 5 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is the transmission and drivetrain at 26%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.

5 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Looked at and set aside: airbags (36) — 36 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2015 Nissan Murano

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Xtronic CVT failureHigh — wallet impact

The recurring Nissan story. Shudder, whine, and loss of drive, typically between 90k and 130k miles.

Repair cost (estimate): $4,000-$5,500

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (52), electrics and electronics (23).

CVT overheating and limp modeHigh — wallet impact

Reduced-power mode on grades and in summer traffic. A sign the fluid is finished.

Repair cost (estimate): $150 service to $5,500

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (52), the engine (20).

Air conditioning compressor failureMedium

Compressors fail and send debris through the system, requiring a full flush and condenser.

Repair cost (estimate): $900-$2,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Electronic parking brake and shifter faultsLow

Intermittent faults that prevent shifting out of Park.

Repair cost (estimate): $300-$800

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (52), the brakes (28).

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Shudder from a stop
✗Whine that rises with speed independent of engine RPM
✗Burnt smell from the CVT fluid
✗No transmission service records

Good Signs

✓NS-3 fluid changes at 30k intervals
✓CVT replaced under warranty with paperwork
✓Under 80k miles, mostly highway

Found a specific Nissan Murano?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2015 Nissan Murano in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.

Other Nissan Murano years

2017 Nissan Murano

$14,000–$20,000