2009 NISSAN MURANO Structurebody Problems

After noticing a noise on the left rear of my car after hitting a pothole, I took my 2009 Nissan MURANO to my local mechanical garage. What was found was a rusted sub frame. Obviously this could have resulted in injuries

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a loud clunking type noise was present coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear subframe had separated due to severe corrosion and rusting and advised that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 133,000.

Right rear subframe rusted out - suspension has become disconnected from chassis. Car is unsafe to drive. The car is available for inspection. We could have lost control of the car because of this issue. Nissan did not identify the rust and sub-frame issue, another independent auto repair shop did (Worldwide Auto: bloomington, IN). Nissan missed this when we brought it in for investigation but rather blamed it on a steering wheel sensor malfunctioning. The component hasn't been inspected by police or insurance rep. Dashboard light came on before we brought it to Nissan, who then misdiagnosed the issue.

WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD YOU CAN HEAR A VERY AUDIBLE SQUEAK AND CLUNK COMING FROM THE PASSENGER REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE, I PLACED A JACK UNDER THE REAR DOOR ON THE PINCH WELD AND RAISE THE WHEEL OFF THE GROUND AND REMOVED THE TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THE THE RIGHT REAR SUBFRAME WHICH CONNECTS TO THE REAR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WITH ONLY A FRACTION OF THE METAL REMAINING AROUND THE BUSHING. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SUBFRAME CONNECTION IS ALSO RUSTED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, THE SUBFRAME ON THE DRIVER IS CONTACTING ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE BUSHING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME IS CONTACTING ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE BUSHING. THE RUST ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE FRAME AND FRONT SUBFRAME IS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN NEW JERSEY. THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELLED OVER A POTHOLE AND THE SUB-FRAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB-FRAME DETACHED DUE TO CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE AND HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE CAR. IT IS A MIRACLE SHE MADE THE 4 HOUR DRIVE WITHOUT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY A LOCAL GARAGE WITH AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION. THEY CALLED ME BACK TO THE REPAIR BAY AND TOLD ME THE MAIN REAR SUBFRAME OR 'REAR CRADLE' HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY IN HALF. THE CAR HAS 111,000 MILES IN IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE ENGINE AND INTERIOR ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION AND SHOULD PROVIDE MANY MORE YEARS OF SERVICE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS ARE UNWILLING TO MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF BOLTS BREAKING OFF IN THE UNIBODY FRAME. THERE ARE MANY MANY REPORTS OF THIS ONLINE AND NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX THE SITUATION AFTER CALLING AND WORKING THROUGH THEIR PHONE PROCESS. THIS IS A CONSUMER...

THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN INSIDE OR OUTSIDE ALSO THE ELECTRIC POWER DOORS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DON'T

APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAT EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE DOOR, BUT BASICALLY FLAPS LOOSELY, AND DOES NOT OPERATE WHATEVER DOOR OPENING MECHANISM SHOULD BE ENGAGED WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE IS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS DOOR. A FLAPPY LOOSE, INOPERABLE DOOR HANDLE. BOTH DOOR HANDLES STILL OPERATE FROM THE INTERIOR. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES(86,000 MILES), AND IS MAINTAINED IN REASONABLE OPERATING CONDITION. ONE DEALSER HAS QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $600 TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR EACH DOOR, AND ONE DEALER I CONTACTED WANTED AN ADDITIONAL $130 TO PROVIDE A REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR EACH DOOR. (SERIOUSLY, $260 TO TELL ME THAT SOME CHEAP PLASTIC PART THAT ENGAGES THE DOOR MECHANISM IS BROKEN)' MY IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS THAT BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES, AND IN THE EVENT THAT...

TAKATA RECALL LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY MURANO WHICH SOUNDED PRETTY BAD WHEN YOU WENT OVER ANY BUMPS. ACTUALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THEY FOUND SO MUCH RUST AND CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME. REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME HAS A CRACK IN IT AND UNTIL THEY TAKE IT APART THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF THERE IS MORE CRACKS, ETC SINCE THERE IS SO MUCH CORROSION. CAR ONLY HAS 112,000 MILES AND IN SUCH GOOD CONDITION OTHERWISE THAT IT LOOKS 4 YEARS OLD INSTEAD OF 9 YEARS OLD. NISSAN TECHNICIAN SAID IT ISN'T UNUSUAL IN THAT YEAR MURANO AS THEY MADE THE FRAME WITH THESE SMALL HOLES THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN WHICH IN THE NORTHEAST ALL THE WATER AND SALT GETS INTO AND SETTLES IN THERE WHICH THEN CORRODES AWAY AT THE FRAME. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE NOW IF YOU STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE IT SLIGHTLY LEANING TO THE RIGHT...

THE POWER LIFTGATE LATCH MECHANISM DOES NOT LATCH FULLY AFTER 3 OR 4 USES UNTIL THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL IS REMOVED AND PUT BACK ON. THEN IT WORKS PROPERLY FOR A FEW TIMES, ULTIMATELY NOT LATCHING COMPLETELY AGAIN AND COMPLETELY DISABLING USE OF THE LIFTGATE. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND POSSES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN LIFTGATE DOESN'T SECURE ITSELF. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND CANNOT PUT THINGS OR MY DOG IN THE BACK OF VEHICLE DUE TO THE RISK OF IT OPENING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. WHEN I TRIED TO DECELERATE I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR AND IT SWERVED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE WHICH WAS FORTUNATELY EMPTY AT THE TIME. IT FELT AS IF I WAS DRIVING ON ICE WITH THE ENTIRE BACK END MOVING SIDEWAYS. I WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM HOME AND UPON PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY I EXAMINED THE REAR END OF MY CAR. THE WELDS BROKE ON THE REAR SUB-FRAME AND THE CAR WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE FRAME.

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE LOCK DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE LOCK BUTTONS (EITHER DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER), KEY FOB, OR MANUAL LEVER CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT. THIS COULD CREATE A SITUATION OF DEATH BY BURNING.

EVERYTHING ON THE BOTTOMS OF THE SUV THAT I HAVE SEEN INCLUDING MINE ARE ALL RUSTING ON THE BOTTOMS. INCLUDING BRAND NEW ONES THAT ARE STILL ON THE LOT. NISSAN SAYS IT'S THE SALT IN THE ROADS BUT I DON'T FIND THAT THE CASE. NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE MINE KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. HAD 2006 AND IT WAS SAME WAY. *TR

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR STOPS WORKING TRAPPING THE RIDER IN THE CAR.

2009 NISSAN MURANO, FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, WILL NOT OPEN WITH EITHER THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE DOOR IS LOCKED CLOSED. IN THE CASE OF NORMAL OPERATION OR IN AN EMERGENCY THE DOOR CANNOT OPEN. IT APPEARS THAT NISSAN IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS AND THE INTERNET. THERE ARE SEVERAL YEARS IN WHICH THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS NO CORRECTIVE ACTION BEING TAKEN BY NISSAN, NOR IS THERE ANY NOTIFICATION FOR REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, RECALL, ETC. I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. I HOPE THAT NHTSA LOOKS INTO HAVING NISSAN PUT IN A CORRECTIVE ACTION. THIS ISSUE OF DOOR HANDLES NOT OPERATING ARE ON SEVERAL YEARS' MODELS AND HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

FRONT LEFT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE TRAPPING ME, THE DRIVER, INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRED LAST YEAR, 04/09/2013 @ 91,393 MILES, WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. AGAIN, TRAPPING THE PASSENGER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THESE FAULTY MANUFACTURED PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED: 80501-1AA0A & 80500-1AA0A (LOCK & REMOTE C).

I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH THIS MANY BLIND SPOTS! I HAVE HAD SO MANY "CLOSE CALLS" AND IT FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO ME. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE AND BACKED INTO A CAR. THE CAR WAS DOUBLE PARKED BUT I LOOKED IN MY MIRRORS AND OVER MY SHOULDER AND NEVER SEEN THE CAR. THIS BEING SAID, I WAS ALREADY SCARED OF MY MURANO PRIOR TO THIS BECAUSE OF THE SIDE BLIND SPOTS. I HAVE ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIANS, CARS, AND BICYCLISTS CROSSING THE STREET ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WHERE THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE IS WAY TO BIG, ALONG WITH THE MIRRORS, THERE IS A HUGE BLIND SPOT. I HAVE BEEN VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN TURNING BECAUSE OF THIS BUT NEVER REALIZED HOW THE BLIND SPOT IN THE SIDE REAR WAS I TILL I HIT THAT CAR. THE REAR BACK WINDOWS ARE SMALL BUT THE ISSUES IS...