NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 331 complaints against the 2021 Nissan Murano. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2021 Nissan Murano complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2021 Nissan Murano has generated 26 NHTSA complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If your 2021 Nissan Murano has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Nissan pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2021 Nissan Murano has 10 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The crash sensor light keeps engaging while driving, even when the vehicle is parked or idle. There is nothing in site to indicate a crash. Vehicle was taken to dealer on 5 or more occasions and finally it was replaced in December 2024 after Nissan Corp. got involved. The vehicle engaged the brakes while driving on the highway when NOTHING was present to indicate danger. This was mentioned to Nissan and the dealer (AutoNation) on my last visit in January 25 and the dealer stated they could not reproduce the issue, although the problem still exist, I was told by the dealer that it’s normal. Nissan Corp mentioned a senior mechanic will investigate, but was never sent to dealer. Instead, I emailed video of it happening to customer affairs at Nissan. The senior mechanic (Nissan Corp) and the mechanic at the dealer provided reasons like a piece of lint could be on the lenses (not while driving 55mph), could be sunlight blocking the sensor (what about at night), or the lenses could be dirty (maybe but not really). This seem to be a danger when driving and all of a sudden your brakes are engaged automatically while driving and the only reason given was possibly lint. The only recourse from the dealer was my option was to return vehicle (lemon law) and purchase another one. I’m retired and not in the position to start all over in acquiring a note. This vehicle was still under warranty (with less 25K miles) when this was first reported, why are customers responsible for any fees? I am afraid to drive most occasions and would like to know if anyone else has reported this (also asked Nissan – sure they’re not going to be truthful)? Will someone please investigate this matter and let me know my options? Have videos showing crash sensor engaging but the files are too large to upload. Thanks!” (NHTSA Complaint #11639696)
The 2021 Nissan Murano has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The driver side rear seat belt buckle does not engage, the red button on buckle does not pop up” (NHTSA Complaint #11666395)
The 2021 Nissan Murano has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “I’m not sure what this problem may be but I was at the traffic light with my foot on the brake and the car just accelerated by itself which was very frightening to my and my grandkids I had to pump the brakes twice before it almost ran into the car in front of me. So the engine rises also when this happens” (NHTSA Complaint #11664661)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2021 Nissan Murano have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 2 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “On Jan 15, 2025, my vehicle exhibited an unintended sudden acceleration event while applying the brakes to slow the vehicle. Shortly after applying the brakes, the vehicle’s engine revved very high and the car launched forward despite my foot on the brake and then struck another vehicle in front of me. The automatic emergency braking did not trigger. The air bags did deploy. No significant injuries, but both cars were damaged, my Murano likely totaled. I am confident that I did not accidentally hit the gas pedal.” (NHTSA Complaint #11637487)
The 2021 Nissan Murano has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The component of the vehicle is the passenger headlight. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time.I was unable to see at night clearly with the use of only one headlight because the other headlight went out. At the time that the headlight went out I was on a 2 Lane Rd. with no street lights and it became very dark and difficult to see.The defect has been confirmed at a Nissan dealership on September 23. The dealership found separation of the assembly, causing the condensation in the passenger side headlight causing it not to work. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other entity, besides the certified Nissan dealership. The system warning message appeared only when the headlight went out.” (NHTSA Complaint #11616501)
As of the date of this review, no active recalls have been issued specifically for the 2021 Nissan Murano. Recall status can change at any time. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the most current information. The absence of a recall does not mean your vehicle is defect-free — many lemon law claims proceed without a recall on file.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2021 Nissan Murano:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Nissan to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Nissan must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2021 Nissan Murano qualifies as a lemon under California law, Nissan may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Nissan a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Nissan dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Nissan pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Nissan a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Nissan is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2021 Nissan Murano has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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