According to a safety report posted on carcomplaints.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has finished its investigation of 2009 Nissan Murano SUVs. The investigation was initiated after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received numerous complaints from Nissan Murano that the brake pedals were soft and going all the way to the floors. There were approximately 60 complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2017. The issue created a hazardous condition for Nissan Murano owners, who may have been involved in motor vehicle crashes as a result of the brake system defect.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified problems with the affected SUV’s antilock braking system hydraulic control units. Those control units manage the hydraulic pressure to the vehicle’s brake assemblies. One year after the initial investigation, NHTSA safety regulators upgraded the Murano soft brake pedal investigation. The investigation was upgraded following drivers complaining about the unsafe, extended stopping distances. The NHTSA reported that its investigation discovered that Continental, a tier-one automotive supplier, manufactured the 2019 Murano ABS hydraulic control unit.
The NHTSA’s final report stated that the issue was caused by the corrosion-preventive zinc coating used on the armatures of the normally closed (NC) valves chemically reacted with brake fluids, and they lacked sufficient corrosion-preventative additives. This chemical reaction led to the buildup of a gelatinous material that likely caused the NC valves to close gradually.
NHTSA investigators also reported that this gel buildup may solidify over time to the point that the valve spring becomes stuck in the closed position, keeping the NC valve in the open position. The NHTSA discovered that when NC valves remain open, brake fluid is then diverted to an accumulator. This causes a soft brake pedal without a total loss of braking power.
During the NHTSA investigation, the agency reviewed two crashes that caused injuries. These accidents were caused by Nissan Murano brake issues. Nissan stated that they received nearly 900 complaints and 16 accidents are attributed to the braking defect.
Nissan eventually issued a 2009 Nissan Murano recall and Nissan dealers were advised to flush the brake systems with DOT 4 brake fluid and to conduct performance tests on the hydraulic control units. If the controls were found to stick, new hydraulic control units would be put on the recalled vehicles.
According to the NHTSA, the new Continental hydraulic control units that have been put into newly manufactured vehicles do not have the same corrosion issue. The NHTSA also stated that this recall and along with Nissan’s customer service programs, resolved the Nissan Murano soft brake pedal issues. Although this investigation has been closed, the NHTSA stated that they might reopen the investigation if the situation changes.
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