2003 Nissan Maxima: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 206 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (26% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2022
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 206 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 225,000.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2023
“As I was driving on the highway the car jerked and felt like it was losing acceleration. The check engine light, tcs and slid light turned on. I began to feel scared I had my child, sister and brother in the vehicle. I proceed to drive home with caution. Once I arrived home, I turned the vehicle off and tried to restart it. The car would not start.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2021
“2003 nissan maxima. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. Consumer stated that they no longer own the vehicle. *ld *js”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“The car has stalled when stopped and while driving. Slip light and tsp warning lights go on along with service engine. I noticed the recall from 2003 was for similar problems. However I put in my VIN # and I'm assuming my car does not apply. Very very dangerous. My young daughter was driving when it died. Would like to know if repairs would be covered under previous recall.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jun 2020
“It has the check engine light on, when the car is up, it takes time to start and when it is driving it sometimes turns off, but if they turn it on again if it starts. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2020
“It has the check engine light on, it takes time to start and when it is driving it turns off (but it turns on).it goes off on flat surfaces, and when you are on a rise that's where it takes to catch on. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while attempting to exceed 3,000 rpm. The contact stated that while idling, the vehicle stalled while stopped at a traffic light. The contact shifted the transmission to neutral and the vehicle remained on. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the VIN was subjected to NHTSA campaign number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2020
“When driving down the street it just turned off. Said it was crank/ cam position sensors well changed them and put new throttle body. And now to find there is a recall however my VIN is not part of it. Well it should be. And be fixed. I have been trying to fix for 9 months. Been sitting longer. First had to figure out where to start.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2019
“Car stalls at lights and just stops running while driving down the street. The stalling problem has been going on for years but the car stalling while driving down the road is fairly new. Stalls at ligfhts, stalls while in motion”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2019
“The vehicle has twice lost power and engine died while moving down the street. The check engine light was on after this incident and showed code p0345: camshaft position sensor a (bank 2). This vehicle does not show up on the r3022 crankshaft/camshaft sensor recall. However, the vehicle was manufactured 06/2002 and the recall dates include from 02/2001 to 07/2002. This vehicle has 91,694 miles on it and thus should not be exhibiting this problem from normal wear and tear. This is a very serious problem and could cause a crash in the future.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2003 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Maxima by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Nissan Maxima reliable?
NHTSA has 206 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Nissan Maxima. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Nissan Maxima problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 88,500 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Nissan Maxima have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.