The Nissan Murano is a popular, midsize SUV that offers the quality Nissan is known for. But as with every vehicle, not all model years are created equal. Some Murano model years have proved to be more capable and reliable than others, with some being more likely to experience problems. Out of all the models out there, here’s the worst Nissan Murano model year of them all.

The Nissan Murano model year to avoid at all costs

CarComplaints.com compiles all owner-reported problems for specific vehicles, and in its model year comparison of the Nissan Murano, it’s easy to see where Nissan nailed it and where it failed. Though the 2004 Murano model year earns the most complaints at 134, it’s not the model year Car Complaints says to avoid.

The 2009 Nissan Murano has the second-most complaints of all model years with 118 total. And while the 2004 model is also where the most-reported problem exists, the 2009 model year is where Car Complaints rates the Murano’s worst problem. That’s the one Car Complaints wants you to avoid.

Even Consumer Reports doesn’t think the 2009 Nissan Murano should be your first pick, rating it with an “iffy” reliability score of three (out of five). But in comparison to other years, the owner satisfaction rating of the 2009 Murano is even lower. Only 65% of owners said they would buy the 2009 Murano again.

Why the 2009 Nissan Murano is the worst Murano of them all

Out of 118 total complaints, the 2009 Murano’s most-reported problems lie in the brake category. Out of 37 complaints with brake problems, 24 complain of a soft brake pedal, 11 of the ABS controller malfunctioning, and 2 of master cylinder failure. But there are also 249 brake-related problems reported to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

According to Consumer Reports, there are also four NHTSA-issued recalls for the 2009 Murano, with one of those regarding the safety of its brakes. The 2009’s soft brake pedal makes for additional pedal travel time, increasing the risk of a crash.

Factoring in things like repair cost, mileage, and severity, the 2009 Murano’s soft brake pedal is Car Complaints’ worst-rated problem for all model years. According to Car Complaints, the problem happens at an average mileage of 90,950 and typically costs more than $2,000 to fix. It earns a Severity Rating of 9.2 (out of 10).

The second worst-rated problem with the 2009 Murano is also in the brake category, with an even less impressive Severity Rating of 9.5. According to Car Complaints, the extremely unsafe problem of the ABS controller malfunctioning happens at around 103,900 miles and costs an average of $1,680 to repair.

But brakes aren’t the only problem with the 2009 Nissan Murano. There are 18 transmission problems reported by owners and 16 reports of problems with interior accessories, which is also Car Complaints’ worst-rated overall problem category for all model years. The 2009 Nissan Murano also has nine complaints about electrical problems, eight regarding the ending, and five with steering.

The best model years to look for

Newer Nissan Murano models seem to garner fewer owner complaints, but that is to be expected. The Nissan Murano hasn’t received any complaints for the 2019 model year, only eight for the 2018 model year, and 10 for the 2017 Murano. But if you’re in the market for a used vehicle, you may need to look further back than that.

The 2016 Nissan Murano has only received 19 complaints and is new enough for modern features as well as lower mileage. Other model years with low owner complaints include the 2012 and 2013 Nissan Muranos, which have received 17 and 16 total complaints, respectively.