Why it cuts both ways
The 2015 Murano opened the third generation with a striking design, a comfortable, upscale cabin, and a smooth 3.5-liter V6. On comfort and style it punches above its price. But it pairs that V6 with a CVT that has one of the more troubled records of Nissan's continuously variable transmissions — and that single component is most of the buying decision.
The CVT is the whole question
Owners report shuddering, jerking, hesitation, and in some cases early failure — sometimes well before 100,000 miles, with expensive repairs. Nissan addressed the judder through a class-action settlement and service bulletins (reprogramming the transmission control module and, if needed, replacing the CVT) rather than a federal recall, and the settlement extended CVT warranty coverage to 84 months / 84,000 miles for 2015–2018 Muranos and reimbursed some prior repairs. The upshot for a buyer: a car with a documented CVT service history — or covered by that warranty extension, or already fixed — is very different from a neglected one. Feel carefully for judder or hesitation on a fully warm test drive.
Open recalls — check the VIN
Separately from the CVT, the 2015 Murano had recalls including an ABS-actuator fire-risk item. All are VIN-specific — look up the exact car's open recalls free by VIN at NHTSA; a Nissan dealer completes any open recall at no charge.
What a history report tells you — and what it doesn't
On a car like this, the individual car's history is most of the decision. A history report is a record of what got reported — title brands, reported accidents and damage, odometer readings over time, and service records where they exist. That is what separates a clean, maintained example from a salvage-title or flood car wearing the same badge.
What a history report is not is a forecast, and an absence of records is not proof of a clean past — plenty happens to a car that never gets reported. That is why the honest answer is always the pair: the documented history and an in-person inspection by a mechanic you trust, on the specific car.
On this car, transmission-service records and whether the CVT warranty extension or a prior replacement applies to the specific VIN are the key lines to look for.
The things to check before you buy
- CVT behavior Drive it long enough to fully warm the transmission, then feel for judder, shudder, or hesitation, especially under light acceleration.
- CVT service / warranty status Ask whether the CVT was reprogrammed or replaced, and whether the 84-month/84,000-mile extension applies to this VIN.
- ABS-actuator recall Confirm the ABS-actuator (fire-risk) and any other recalls are completed on this VIN.
- Maintenance history A documented service record overall.
- Accident and rust The usual panel and underbody checks.
What would make you walk
- A CVT that judders, shudders, or hesitates when warm This is the expensive failure — take what you feel seriously.
- No transmission-service history and no remaining warranty On this CVT, that's a real gamble.
- An uncompleted ABS-actuator recall the seller won't resolve This one is a fire-risk item.
- Structural damage or rust The usual deal-breakers.