Short answer: the Nissan Murano kept one engine and one transmission for a full decade — and Nissan stopped covering both of them years ago. Every Murano leaves the lot with a 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The third-generation Murano ran from 2015 through 2024 with a single powertrain underneath — a 3.5-liter V6 and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) — so there is no menu of hardware to sort out. There is one question instead: what happens when the CVT, the most failure-prone and most expensive part on the vehicle, is entirely the owner’s bill? Do the fleet math. Every 2015 through 2020 Murano is now past its powertrain term on time alone, the 2021 cars follow through 2026, and even the final 2024 cars cross at 60,000 miles — on a crossover Nissan built 700,000 of in the United States, with sales peaking at 86,953 in 2016. The largest Murano fleet ever built is now driving out of warranty together, carrying the same transmission design whose problems were serious enough to produce technical bulletins, a warranty extension, and a class-action settlement. An extended warranty for a Nissan Murano — correctly called a vehicle service contract — picks up covered mechanical and electrical repairs after the factory warranty ends. At Empire Auto Protect, plans start at $69/month, coverage is honored in all 50 states, and you can cancel at any time. This guide covers what Murano owners actually face: the two factory clocks, the V6-and-CVT hardware story, the judder problem and the settlement extension that has now expired on time, the ABS recall that is Nissan’s free fix first, the repairs owners actually pay for, and how to judge the cost honestly. Start with a free quote online or call 1-888-345-0084 — open 24/7.

What “extended warranty” means on a Nissan Murano

Only Nissan can extend Nissan’s factory warranty, and what Nissan sells afterward is its own Security+Plus service contract, tied to the dealer network. What independent providers sell — Empire included — is a vehicle service contract (VSC): a contract that pays for covered mechanical and electrical failures after the factory terms end, at licensed repair facilities, following the contract’s authorization process. A VSC is not insurance, and it is not a factory warranty. The distinction matters on a Murano more than on most vehicles, because the Murano’s factory story has extra chapters most cars never get — a CVT warranty extension and a settlement — and owners regularly confuse those expired programs with live coverage. They are not the same thing, and none of them is still standing between a 2015–2020 Murano owner and a transmission bill today. For the brand-wide picture, see our Nissan extended warranty page and the Nissan extended warranty guide.

Two honest rules govern everything in this guide. First, anything Nissan still owes you comes first: an open recall is repaired free by a Nissan dealer at any mileage, and no service contract should ever be sold as a substitute for a free factory fix. Second, a service contract covers failures that happen after enrollment — a Murano whose CVT is already shuddering, slipping, or throwing codes has a pre-existing condition that needs diagnosis first, not a contract sold over the top of it. A healthy Murano with a quiet transmission is exactly the vehicle coverage is built for.

Nissan Murano factory warranty: two short clocks on a decade-long model run

Nissan’s factory coverage on the Murano is the same structure Nissan puts on every new vehicle it sells:

• Basic limited warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is the term that covers most components — electronics, infotainment, air conditioning, power accessories, and the long list of convenience hardware a premium-leaning crossover is loaded with.
• Powertrain limited warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This covers the engine, the transmission, and the drivetrain — on the Murano, that means the 3.5-liter V6 and the CVT.
• Corrosion perforation: 5 years with unlimited miles, for rust-through of body sheet metal.

Now lay those clocks over the Murano’s production run. The third generation was on sale for ten model years, 2015 through 2024 — an unusually long run with no powertrain change. A 2015 Murano passed its powertrain term in 2020. A 2018 passed in 2023. A 2020 passed in 2025, and the 2021 cars pass through 2026. High-mileage drivers crossed even sooner, at 60,000 miles, which an average driver reaches in four to five years. The practical result: essentially every third-generation Murano you can buy used today arrives with no factory powertrain coverage left, and the newest 2022–2024 cars are on their final stretch. Meanwhile the vehicle itself is built for a much longer life — a well-kept Murano is a 150,000-mile vehicle, and the fleet’s average age keeps climbing precisely because the model ran unchanged for a decade. The gap between a 60,000-mile factory horizon and a 150,000-mile working life is where Murano owners now live, and it is widest exactly where the expensive hardware sits. Our factory warranty expiration guide shows how Nissan’s clocks compare with every other brand’s.

One V6, one CVT: the Murano hardware story — and the 2025 reset

From 2015 through 2024, every Murano carries the same powertrain: Nissan’s 3.5-liter VQ35DE V6, rated at 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels or an available all-wheel-drive system through an Xtronic continuously variable transmission built by Jatco. There were no engine options, no transmission options, and no mid-cycle powertrain revision to learn. That simplicity cuts both ways. The V6 itself is one of Nissan’s most proven engines — smooth, durable, and used across the Nissan and Infiniti lineups for two decades. The CVT is the opposite story: it is the component that defines the Murano’s out-of-warranty risk, and because every single third-generation car has one, there is no “safe” trim or year that avoids it.

A CVT has no fixed gears. A steel belt runs between two variable pulleys, and the transmission continuously adjusts its ratio. When it works, it is smooth and efficient. When it wears, the failure pattern is distinctive and well documented on this vehicle: a judder — a shudder or vibration on gentle acceleration from a stop — along with hesitation, whining, overheating, and in advanced cases a sudden loss of power. Nissan’s own technical bulletins for the 2015–2021 Murano lay out a staged diagnosis for judder: software first, then the valve body, then full transmission replacement. That escalation ladder, published by Nissan itself, tells you two things at once: the condition is common enough to need a factory flowchart, and the final step on the flowchart is the single most expensive repair a Murano owner can face.

Nissan effectively conceded the design’s limits with the fourth generation. The redesigned 2025 Murano drops the V6 and the CVT entirely, replacing them with a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder (241 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque) and a conventional 9-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive or available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and a 1,500-pound towing rating. The new car is still inside its factory terms, and its long-term record is unwritten. The coverage question in this guide belongs to the 2015–2024 fleet — hundreds of thousands of V6/CVT cars whose owners are now the warranty. Owners cross-shopping the rest of the Nissan crossover line can compare our Nissan Pathfinder extended warranty guide and Nissan Rogue extended warranty guide — both share pieces of this same CVT history.

The CVT settlement extension has expired on time — check first, count on nothing

Because the Murano’s CVT problems followed a legal track as well as a mechanical one, many owners have heard that “Nissan extended the transmission warranty.” That is true — and, for almost every owner reading this in 2026, it is also over. Here is the honest timeline. Under the Beaver v. Nissan class-action settlement, Nissan extended the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for the transmission on 2015–2018 Murano vehicles (and 2016–2018 Maxima) to 84 months or 84,000 miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date, covering the transmission assembly — including the valve body and torque converter — and the automatic transmission control unit. The settlement also provided reimbursement for certain qualifying repairs owners had already paid for, subject to its claim deadlines.

Now do the time math the headlines skip. Eighty-four months from in-service is seven years. A 2015 Murano’s extension ended in 2022. A 2018 Murano’s ended in 2025. Every vehicle in the settlement class has now passed the extension on time, regardless of mileage. And the cars outside the class — 2019 through 2024 — never received the extension at all; their CVT coverage ended with the ordinary 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain term. So the correct order of operations for any Murano owner is: check your VIN against the settlement and any open Nissan campaigns first, because where a Nissan program genuinely covers a repair, Nissan pays first and a service contract is not the tool. But do not budget as if that protection still exists. In 2026, for the overwhelming majority of third-generation Muranos, the transmission is unprotected by anyone — which is precisely the exposure a vehicle service contract exists to carry.

One more honest boundary. A CVT that is already juddering, slipping, overheating, or storing fault codes has a pre-existing condition. Filing it as a fresh claim after enrollment is not how any legitimate contract works, and Empire will not sell you one on that basis. The Murano that qualifies cleanly is the one whose transmission is quiet today — no shudder on pull-away, no whine, no warning lights, fluid serviced on schedule. That car is not “too healthy to need coverage.” It is the car whose next 60,000 miles contain the risk, and it is the only version of this purchase that works.

The timing chain is not a bill coming due — and the ABS recall is Nissan’s free fix first

Two Murano topics generate needless fear, and both deserve straight answers. First, timing: every Murano ever sold in the United States uses a timing chain, not a timing belt. There is no belt, and there is no scheduled timing replacement interval in the owner’s manual — nothing like the four-figure belt service some rival V6s demand around 100,000 miles. The chain is lubricated by engine oil and designed for the life of the engine. That does not make it immortal: on high-mileage cars, worn tensioners and guides can produce a rattle at startup, and because the VQ35 is an interference engine, a rattle is a diagnosis-now symptom, not background noise. But the maintenance that protects the chain is simply on-time oil changes — maintenance no service contract pays for, and the cheapest insurance on this vehicle you will ever buy.

Second, the brakes. Nissan recalled certain 2015–2018 Muranos — beginning with NHTSA campaign 16V636 and expanded in later campaigns — because the anti-lock brake actuator pump seal could leak brake fluid onto an internal circuit board, creating an electrical short and, in rare cases, a fire risk. Nissan’s instruction was explicit: if the ABS warning lamp stays lit for more than 10 seconds after startup, park outside and contact a dealer. Dealers inspect the actuator and replace it where required, free of charge, at any mileage. If you own or are buying a 2015–2018 Murano, confirming this recall is complete is step one — before coverage, before anything. A recall is Nissan’s bill, forever, and no contract from any company should ever be positioned as paying for it. Where a non-recall ABS or brake failure occurs after the factory term on a part your contract lists, that is a different matter — and exactly the kind of mid-size bill that adds up next to the transmission risk.

CVT fluid belongs in the same honest category. Nissan’s CVTs are sensitive to fluid condition, and experienced Nissan specialists commonly recommend fluid service well inside the factory’s outer limits — typically every 40,000 to 60,000 miles, at a typical cost of about $120–$250. That service is maintenance: no service contract covers it, and skipping it is the fastest way to turn a healthy CVT into a pre-existing condition that no contract can help with. Budget for the fluid, keep the receipts, and let coverage carry the failures maintenance cannot prevent.

Most common Nissan Murano repairs owners pay for out of warranty

These are the bills that actually arrive on 2015–2024 Muranos after the factory terms end. Ranges are typical shop ranges from current market cost guides — context for judging coverage, never a quote from Empire:

• CVT replacement — typically $3,500–$5,500. The Murano’s defining repair. Most shops replace rather than rebuild a failed Xtronic CVT, because the unit requires specialized tooling and factory calibration. This single repair costs more than years of coverage at the starting price, and it is the reason this guide exists.
• CVT valve body — typically $1,500–$2,500. The middle step on Nissan’s own judder flowchart. Sometimes it resolves the shudder; sometimes it is a down payment on the full replacement above. Either way, after 60,000 miles it is the owner’s money.
• All-wheel-drive hardware. Transfer case and rear differential components on AWD cars work full-time and age with the vehicle. Failures are less common than CVT trouble but land in the same four-figure territory when they come.
• Air conditioning and electrical. The Murano was sold as the premium Nissan crossover, and its dual-zone climate system, power liftgate, driver-assistance electronics, and infotainment hardware are all basic-warranty items whose coverage ended at 36,000 miles — years before the failures typically start.
• Steering and suspension. Power steering components, struts, and wheel bearings wear on a heavy crossover that owners keep for 150,000 miles. Individually moderate, collectively relentless — the slow drip that makes high-mileage ownership expensive even when the transmission behaves.

Read the pattern, not just the prices: one catastrophic item (the CVT) surrounded by a ring of four-figure and high-three-figure items, all arriving in the mileage window — 60,000 to 150,000 miles — where the Murano spends most of its life and where Nissan covers none of it.

What an Empire plan covers on a Nissan Murano

Empire Auto Protect sells vehicle service contracts at several coverage levels, and the right level depends on which Murano you own. Powertrain-focused coverage protects the engine, transmission, and drivetrain — the Murano’s catastrophic-bill zone — while broader stated-component and exclusionary-style plans extend to the all-wheel-drive system, air conditioning, electrical system, steering, and suspension, subject to the contract’s covered-parts list. Every plan is priced from your vehicle’s year, mileage, and trim.

• Plans from $69/month, with the exact price set by your Murano’s year, mileage, coverage level, deductible, and term.
• Honored in all 50 states at licensed repair facilities — your own shop included — following the contract’s authorization process.
• Open 24/7. Humans answer around the clock, with a human-supervised AI agent also answering after hours — because a vehicle that fails on a Sunday tow cannot wait for Monday office hours.
• Cancel at any time. Empire’s model is monthly and straightforward: customers pay monthly and can cancel for any reason; refunds cover only the unused portion after cancellation, never time the policy was in effect.
• A technology platform, not a mailer. Covered claims move through a digital process designed for same-day approval, with direct, fast handling — service approved in minutes where the claim is covered and documented.

Empire is rated 4.4 stars on Google — check the live rating before you buy, as you should with any provider.

Nissan Murano extended warranty cost: how to judge it honestly

At Empire, plans start at $69/month. Always convert a monthly price into a total contract cost before you compare anyone’s offer, ours included: $69/month is $828 over 12 months, $1,656 over 24 months, and $2,484 over 36 months. For the full breakdown of how service-contract pricing works, see our vehicle service contract cost guide and the extended car warranty cost guide.

Now set that total against the repair list above. One CVT replacement at a typical $3,500–$5,500 costs more than four full years of coverage at the starting price. One valve-body repair, plus one air-conditioning repair, lands in the same territory as two to three years of coverage. That comparison — total contract cost versus the one or two real repairs a 60,000-to-150,000-mile Murano is likely to need — is the whole decision, and any seller who will not put both numbers in front of you is asking you to decide blind. Your exact Empire price depends on your vehicle: a low-mileage 2023 and a 140,000-mile 2016 will not price the same, and a higher-mileage vehicle may be offered a different coverage level. The quote is free and takes minutes — get your Murano’s exact number here.

When should a Nissan Murano owner buy coverage?

• Buy while the transmission is quiet. A service contract covers failures that happen after enrollment, not conditions the vehicle already has. The Murano whose CVT pulls away cleanly, whose ABS recall is documented complete, whose fluid service is on the receipts, and which shows no warning lights today is exactly the vehicle that qualifies cleanly — and exactly the vehicle whose next 80,000 miles contain the bills in the list above. Waiting until the judder starts turns a coverable vehicle into a diagnosis-first vehicle.
• Buy as the powertrain clock runs out — which, for most third-generation cars, has already happened. If yours is a 2015 through 2021, the 5-year powertrain hand-off is here, and the settlement extension that briefly softened it for 2015–2018 cars has expired on time as well. Even the newest used Muranos cross the line at 60,000 miles. Those hand-off points are where coverage earns its keep.
• Used buyers: buy at purchase, after an inspection. A used Murano’s factory cover is defined by its original in-service date, not your purchase date — most used third-generation cars arrive with no factory powertrain cover left at all. Have the inspection confirm completed recalls, a documented CVT fluid history, and clean, shudder-free acceleration from a stop — the specific test Nissan’s own judder bulletin starts with. An inspection that says the vehicle is healthy is the moment to put coverage in place: the inspection tells you the vehicle is sound, and the contract carries the risk from there.

Ready when you are: get a free quote or call 1-888-345-0084 — open 24/7, with coverage honored in all 50 states.

Considering Nissan’s smaller crossover instead? Our Nissan Kicks extended warranty guide covers the subcompact’s 1.6-liter CVT powertrain, why the Kicks has no CVT settlement extension behind it, and what coverage costs from $69/month.

Driving Nissan’s full-size truck instead? See our Nissan Armada extended warranty guide for the V8 and twin-turbo generations, the 3-year/36,000-mile and 5-year/60,000-mile factory clocks, and what coverage costs from $69/month.

Considering Nissan’s electric option instead? Our Nissan Ariya extended warranty guide covers the Ariya’s 5-year EV system term, its inverter repair costs, and the recalls Nissan fixes free first.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Nissan Murano extended warranty cost?

At Empire Auto Protect, plans start at $69/month. Your exact price depends on your Murano’s year, mileage, coverage level, deductible, and term. Always convert the monthly price to a total contract cost before comparing providers — $69/month is $828 over 12 months and $2,484 over 36 months.

How long is the Nissan Murano factory warranty?

The Murano carries a 3-year or 36,000-mile basic limited warranty and a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, with corrosion perforation coverage for 5 years and unlimited miles.

Is my Nissan Murano already out of warranty?

On time, yes for most third-generation vehicles. Every 2015–2020 Murano has passed its 5-year powertrain term, 2021 vehicles follow through 2026, and every vehicle crosses at 60,000 miles regardless of year. Confirm your in-service date with Nissan in writing.

What engine and transmission does the Nissan Murano have?

From 2015 through 2024, every Murano uses a 3.5-liter V6 with 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque paired with an Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The redesigned 2025 Murano replaced both with a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder (241 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque) and a conventional 9-speed automatic.

Does the Murano have a timing belt or a timing chain?

A timing chain. Every U.S.-market Murano uses a chain with no scheduled replacement interval. On-time oil changes protect it, because the chain is lubricated by engine oil. A rattle at startup on a high-mileage vehicle should be diagnosed promptly.

Did Nissan extend the Murano CVT warranty?

For certain vehicles, yes — and it has now expired on time. Under the Beaver v. Nissan settlement, the transmission warranty on 2015–2018 Muranos was extended to 84 months or 84,000 miles from the original in-service date, covering the transmission assembly, valve body, torque converter, and control unit. Eighty-four months after a 2018 in-service date ended in 2025, so no class vehicle remains inside the extension today. Check your VIN with Nissan first, but do not count on that program.

Are the Murano recalls something a service contract covers?

No — and they do not need to be. Nissan recalled certain 2015–2018 Muranos for an ABS actuator pump seal that could leak brake fluid onto a circuit board, creating a short and fire risk. Dealers inspect and replace the actuator free at any mileage. Have recalls done first; a service contract covers non-recall failures after the factory warranty ends.

Is Empire Auto Protect insurance?

No. Empire sells vehicle service contracts, which are not insurance and are not an extension of Nissan’s factory warranty. Empire is open 24/7 at 1-888-345-0084 and is rated 4.4 stars on Google — verify the live rating before you buy, as you should with any provider.