Differential Unit problems of the 2004 Nissan Murano

Mechanic says the differential has to be replaced. Cannot afford a long list of repairs already spent on this car, and now this, impossible to afford and will never buy a Nissan product ever again. I just read the long list of issues with the cvt transmissions on the 2003-8 Murano that all of us are being saddled with. How does Nissan expect any customer brand loyalty?.

I have a 2004 Nissan Murano. I did only a little bit of research before I bought it because I really liked the way they looked and drove. Shortly after the purchase, I began to read about the poor quality of the cvt transmission. I bought the car with 100,000 kms on it so I was quite worried as I don't think many people can afford a new transmission at several thousands of dollars, especially me. Not long after that, Nissan came out with an extended warranty on the cvt's because pretty much every Murano owner has a problem with it sooner or later. Needless to say, im at 160,000 kms on it right now and sure enough, im having big problems now. A huge knocking noise is coming from the transmission that kind of sounds like a helicopter taking off. Every once in a while for some time now, when I've been at a stop light, I can literally put the gas pedal down to the floor and there will be no response for about 5 seconds, then the car will jolt forward. My Murano is at the Nissan dealership right now and they're telling me the problem is coming from the front differential and that they won't cover it under the new warranty. The differential is inside of the transmission and therefore part of it, yet they won't cover it. So right now im pretty much at the point where I need to get rid of this thing ASAP and get something else. If Nissan refuses to step up to the plate with this worldwide problem, unfortunately im going to have to turn my back on Nissan from here on out which is really too bad, because this is the 3rd Nissan ive had with only minor issues until now. The magnitude of this problem is more than enough for me to never buy a Nissan again. Somebody needs to do something about this. I wish I would have known that Nissan teamed up with fischer price to build the Murano. . . . . I never would have bought one!.

While driving the car to a family function (20 miles, mixed highway and local) heard a slight noise followed by a sound like a tire going flat. Slowed to check tires, when noise stopped. Continued to destination without another occurrence. Car sat for approximately 2 hours, then we returned home, again mixed highway and local roads. No noises or indicator lights on dashboard. Upon exiting highway, heard a very loud bang from the front end, similar to driving through a deep pothole. There were no potholes on the highway ramp. Limped to home (approximately 1 mile from end of ramp), car was smoking and there was some noise from front end, but it could still be driven. Upon arriving home, saw that the car was leaking clear fluid from the front center-right of the vehicle. Had car flat bedded to local service shop for diagnosis and repair. Local service shop could not repair. Flat bedded to Nissan dealer. Nissan indicated that the front differential had failed, and Nissan is the only source for this part. Car has been driven 70,000 miles. Drive train warranty 60,000. Cost of repair $3,800. Car has been regularly maintained. Car has only been driven on highways and local roads. It is absolutely ridiculous for a major drive train component to fail catastrophically on a vehicle that is driven gently and well cared for.