Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
19–20 mpgcombined; city 17–18, highway 23; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$16,240–$17,100U.S. average; Ohio $14,510–$15,280 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
Owners have filed 803 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Murano. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Seats
402
2
0
4
Visibility
150
2
0
2
Power train
43
0
0
2
Steering
38
1
0
0
Suspension
30
2
0
0
Visibility/wiper
29
0
0
0
Electrical system
26
2
0
0
Engine
24
1
0
0
Unknown or other
23
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
21
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
21
0
1
0
Structure
21
0
0
0
15 more parts
Air bags
19
1
0
1
Engine and engine cooling
11
1
1
1
Vehicle speed control
10
1
0
0
Seat belts
8
0
0
3
Service brakes, hydraulic
8
2
0
2
Equipment
7
0
0
0
Wheels
7
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
2
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
0
0
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
Child seat
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 Murano over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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 PREMATURE AGING OF THE MATERIAL USED IN THE INTAKE AIR DUCTS WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE SHRINKING.
Risk: ENGINE MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE/REPAIR THE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." DURING AN INSPECTION OF SOME VEHICLES AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED WITH THE IGNITION KNOB IN THE "OFF" POSITION BUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Risk: IF THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING IN THE "PARK" POSITION, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CAN LOCK WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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.
Risk: IF THE WEBBING IS COMPLETELY SEPARATED, IT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTORS OVER THE WEBBING OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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 PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK.
Risk: A PUNCTURED TANK COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTORS IN FRONT OF THE TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 78 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Murano, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (15), equipment (14), engine and engine cooling (8), power train (8), suspension (7).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Murano.
EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Murano Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 23 / 20
Murano 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
17 / 23 / 19
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data