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2003 Nissan MaximaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 206 owner complaints about the 2003 Nissan Maxima, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-287 the manufacturer reports only 27% of affected cars repaired.

2003 Nissan Maxima
36
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.8× the Maxima median · #9 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 27%Owner complaints20625 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage84kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 18, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Nissan Maxima has problems

206 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling540
Engine432
Air bags3512
Exterior lighting260
Electrical system170
Vehicle speed control83
Power train71
Structure60
Equipment50
14 other systems363

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2003 Nissan Maxima recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

36%repaired · 2021 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-008 · Jan 9, 2020 · 307,962 vehicles · 111,354 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

27%repaired · 2017 Q1

Air bags

Recall 15V-287 · May 15, 2015 · 1,090,569 vehicles · 297,865 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 03V-455 · Nov 17, 2003 · 630,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

84kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 47 engine and engine cooling complaints. 66% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
6under 30k miles31under 100k miles16100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Maxima year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Maxima median. How we score

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Nissan Maxima safety ratings

2003 Nissan Maxima 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Nissan Maxima frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2003 Nissan Maxima side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Nissan Maxima, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Maxima owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000…
Complaint 10883669 · Jul 8, 2016
I HAVE THREE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS AND NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THEY ARE NOT VALID TO MY VIN. SO ARE THESE RECALLS NOT VALID OR DOES NISSAN NOT WANT TO RECALL MY VEHICLE? RECALL SUBJECT : PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MAY RUPTURE REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUN 24, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:…
Complaint 10619604 · Jul 30, 2014
MY 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE HAS HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE ABS AND THE TSC LIGHTS COMING ON. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WHICH I HAD ALREADY REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING, OR THAT I…
Complaint 10573648 · Mar 20, 2014 · 168,960 miles

Own a 2003 Maxima?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.