2003 Nissan Murano Consumer Reviews

A lemon

Written by: Greatly Disappointed on 04/05/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

2003 Murano has had nothing but problems. Have replaced hatchback lock, rear wiper motor/blade, transmission, radiator, headlight, transfer case for a total of $6,000. The transmission was still under warranty. If it hadn't, that would have been another $4,000. Powertrain only warrantied to 60,000 so transfer case cost me $3,700. Nissan and dealership refused any assistance on repair cost despite well-documented history of these known problems for this model year. Dealer told me I should have bought the extended warranty when it was offered to me.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Stand behind your product, Nissan.

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Will definitely buy another

Written by: Jeff on 03/18/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

This is the second Nissan I've owned. I bought it with 16k miles about four years ago, and it just turned over 92k. I drove it back and forth from NY to VA several times, and it was very comfortable and got decent mileage. No major problems whatsoever. I step on the gas and response is immediate. Great speed-to-speed acceleration, too. The interior could be better, but I'm 6'3" and feel very comfortable inside. I wish it had an auxiliary hookup for audio devices, and the CVT has kind of a dynaflow effect every now and then; a 5-speed automatic or 4-speed with O/D would be better suited for the car. Once I refinance the mortgage, I'm getting a fully loaded '09 Murano LE AWD.

Favorite Features

Great gas mileage for an SUV, vast interior space, great exterior styling, responsive engine, fantastic speed-to-speed acceleration, stereo speakers don't sound like factory speakers, rear seats fold down super-easy.

Suggested Improvements

All these things are changed in the '09, but the older models needed a sharper transmission, a more luxurious interior for a $35k+ car, an auxiliary input for mp3 players, XM/Sirius etc., more cupholders, and not to discontinue the sunlit copper color!

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CVT needs replacement after 5 years

Written by: bummed about cvt on 03/17/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SE Fwd 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

At 60000 the transmission was already having problems. At 70000 miles and 5 years old my transmission needs replacement. While driving for about 10-15 miles, it would have resistance at a stop sign, trying to pull into traffic. I would press the gas pedal and the Murano doesn't want to go, it's scary when I pull into traffic and a car is coming. I love all other features of the Murano, just the CVT stinks. Today my Murano is stuck in the shop and I need $5000-$6000 to replace the transmission.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Nissan needs to back up their name and CVT. I believe a transmission should at least be good up to 100,000 miles, or longer than 5 years.

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Excellent All Rounder

Written by: denverdude on 03/12/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

I have consistently for the past 4 months including winter driving gotten 18 mpg city. For a solid cross over AWD with a V-6 in excess of 240 hp, there is not a competitor that really offers any better unless you look at hybrids. I bought mine used with low miles (29k). It is a very competent and comfortable vehicle. On worn OEM tires it performs well in 10 inch deep snow in the canyon roads west of Boulder. This has been rectified in later years. Better MPG than Pilot, Highlander, 4Runner. I spent months researching!

Favorite Features

Heated power leather seats, sunroof, bose stereo, smooth V6.

Suggested Improvements

Steering wheel controls are not lit. More rear cabin lighting.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Not Good if in an Accident

Written by: Gloria on 02/24/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SE AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

It was in a little fender bender. No air bags deployed; the car that hit me and my car were only going ten miles an hour but the repairs for my Murano were over $8000. My car was hit on the driver's side on the edge of the bumper. From the outside it looked like only the bumper was damaged, yet the battery encasement holder was pushed into the transmission and a whole new transmission was needed. Am wondering if this was just a fluke, or if these cars are just fragile.

Favorite Features

I love how the Murano looks!

Suggested Improvements

It does have a bumpy ride, would like more storage space in the back, no blind spots, would like a stronger body in case of accidents, and lastly, widh the gas economy was better. I only get 18-19 miles per gallon.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Nice Car BUT...

Written by: cherryja on 01/29/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SE AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

Overall, this car is a mess. I purchased a Nissan because I thought they were reliable cars. My Murano has been nothing but trouble, I had the car stop on me in the middle of traffic 3 times: 1. alternater 2. transmission (which had to be repaired 3 times) 3. battery. 4. Now I have to pay for a catalytic converter. Nissan did nothing to me make me happy except take my money. Because I drive a great distance to work, I was anticipating a reliable car, instead I got a over priced piece of junk that just looks good on the exterior. I will never buy another Nissan again.

Favorite Features

Bose system, wide seats.

Suggested Improvements

Transmission and cat. converter, customer service. Gas mileage.

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Murano

Written by: Allen Arndt on 01/10/2008

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

Our Murano is operated in very harsh enviroment in Minnesota and just keeps running perfectly. Maintenance is easy and i put new brake pads on at 60k miles. The finish is standing uo very well considering tree branch contact. Compared to my friends Lexus it rides better and we the CVT. I will buy one again unless they make changes that detract from its current performance. I almost forgot my wife hit in a parking lot in the left rear and bumper was damaged. I pulled it out by hand and it popped in shape and only minor scratches. I fix that problem in the spring. We feel very good about our murano and I feel its refined enough almost anyone taste.

Favorite Features

Performance of the CVT and engine plus I think it looks great. Nissan missed the boat here they should have made them in a variety of trims and interiors. This would have made more affordable for all. Maybe they could beat on Toyota and GM a little more if they had done.

Suggested Improvements

Backing without the TV camera is not good. We handle like an airplane. We have no trouble finding spots that we can drive straight out. Since both my wife and I are in our 70s I think that best and then there's no problems.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Tranmission Design Defect

Written by: jbhog330 on 12/30/2007

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

I just turned over 89750 miles on my Murano. Must to my surprise the transmission has gone bad. Come to find out this is a "typical" problem with this year and the 2004's yet the factory still fails to acknowledge it. The cost to fix, over $5000. Not a small pill to swallow. Nissan owes it to their customers to step up to the plate and rectify the situation. I am joining a class action law suit against Nissan for this defective transmission, specifically pressure sensor unit. This is a SERIOUS potential cause of death due to the way the tranny goes. You could be pulling out into traffic and it will not move for 10-15 seconds. Someone will probably die because Nissan does not want to lose $$

Favorite Features

Style and ride

Suggested Improvements

Fix the transmission problem on the earlier models. It was modified on the later models to avoid failure. That's admission in my book.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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2003 Murano SL

Written by: dag on 12/20/2007

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL Fwd 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

Bought our gold Murano new in 2003 and use it for long long road trips. We've put over 75000 miles on her and she's going strong. We checked out the Mercedes and Lexus SUVs at the time, and they were noisier. We enjoy the quiet ride of the Murano. We can carry on a conversation without yelling. There's lots of room for the two of us and our dog. The ride is great; there's power to spare. Gas mileage is so-so (20 mpg), but we have only used regular gas and the engine runs great.

Favorite Features

Leather seats with plenty of adjustments, the automatic window-opening feature of the key-fob, the big wheels, the great headroom of the tailgate (and the lights), the quiet ride, with little air noise or road noise. Automatic headlights.

Suggested Improvements

Input and output jacks for the Bose. Should be able to retro-fit the radio for satellite.

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Awesome Vehicle

Written by: mikedee on 10/01/2007

Vehicle

2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl CVT)

Review

I don't normally write reviews, but after driving many CUVs including the new Ford Edge, i bought an 03 Murano. It has been a great pleasure to drive, is classy, comfortable and smart on the inside without being snotty, holds cargo roads like a truck but drives like a car (good clearance and AWD for mountain roads, but it's no 4Runner). I can't comment on reliability yet, but it had 70k when I got it and was/is running great. if you're looking for a CUV type vehicle, at the very least you should test drive one of these - and don't worry, the initially weird CVT goes unnoticed after getting used to it.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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