KnownCarProblems2003 Nissan Maxima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 206 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan Maxima, most often about the engine (47% of complaints, typically around 100,500 miles). It is 7th of 24 Maxima model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2003 Nissan Maxima problems
Engine
96 complaints · 47%Half of these problems showed up before 100,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Nissan Maxima. The service engine warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel and the vehicle stalled. The manufacturer was notified in reference to recall # 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). He was advised that since his vehicle identification number was excluded from the…
Car was being operated in normal fashion when it the engine shut off without warning during normal vehicle operation. Was able to get car off of road safely and then restarted, noticed check engine light was on. Took car home and called dealer to see if they could investigate. Took car to dealer and same thing…
Air bags
35 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 94,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Airbag burn/ injury ' my car hydroplaned and crashed against center divider on freeway during rainy weather. The driver-side airbag deployed upon crash and caused a bruise and 2nd degree burn to my left arm (inner forearm). The bruise injury was from the impact of the airbag deployment. Additionally, the Nissan logo…
To whom it may concern re: air bag light on . Took my car to Nissan dealer. Was told I needed dtcb1070 assist a/b module. Had r1407 pth max pass ab ntb13-062 replaced on sept 14 2014 why do I need this unit now.I want to know if I can drive my car with the light on. Is my safety compromise d,if so what are you going…
Lights
26 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
I have had the xenon hid headlights of my vehicle stolen three times over the past 6 months. I implore anyone even considering purchasing a 2002 or 2003 Maxima to reconsider. This is a marked car, and my attempts to gain the manufacturer's attention have failed. I hope if thieves take the lights again, that they steal…
Hid headlights stolen from 2003 Nissan Maxima. Police, insurance company, and repair shop all indicated that this is a frequent occurrence specific to this vehicle. This is poor vehicle design and manufacturer should develop a solution and recall and correct the condition. Dealer installed an additional alarm for…
Electrical
17 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 135,000 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
About 2 weeks ago my 2003 Nissan Maxima's engine just shut off while driving. Over the next two days this happened 3 more times. Upon taking my Maxima to be repaired the mechanic informed me of the recall for this exact problem. The mechanic told me the problem was with sensors for the cam, per the computer…
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Maxima. While the vehicle was stationary, all of the doors immediately locked without being prompted by the key fobik. The contact had to get the police to unlock the doors. The contact stated that the key fobik became inoperative on several occasions after exiting the vehicle. An…
Other or unspecified
10 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles.
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
Under low light driving conditions such as early morning or at dusk, during rain, snow, or haze, when headlights are required for safe driving, my instrument panel lights can blend with the dials and under the right light conditions can become unreadable. I drove for over one hour on one day and could not distinguish…
Speed control
8 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: linkages, accelerator pedal.
While stopped at a traffic light with my foot on the brake pedal the engine began to race. I pushed hard on the brake pedal to keep from being launched into the car ahead of me as the engine continued to accelerate. I put the gear shift in neutral and tapped on the gas pedal to see if that would affect the revved up…
Dt: the consumer stated on 2003 Nissan Maxima the rear brakes went out at 27,000 miles. After they were fixed in june there was a clicking noise coming from them. The vehicle died on july 11, 2005, while in traffic. She pulled the vehicle over and after 5 tries the vehicle finally started. The temperature gauge went…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 188,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
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.
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.
Brakes
7 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, disc.
While driving at 65 MPH driver applied the brakes to slow down t and lost control, causing the vehicle to hit a guard rail, and roll over twice. Vehicle landed upside down. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries. However, prior to the accident, when applying the brakes vehicle…
Horrible noises coming from the brakes. I went by the a Nissan dealer to have them check it out since the car had only 25500 miles on it. They said there was no recall and that the brakes needed to be replaced for both front and rear. I feel that this 2003 Nissan Maxima should not have had such a problem with so…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Nissan Maxima recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
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 occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
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 running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2003 Nissan Maxima
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (96 complaints, typically around 100,500 miles); air bags (35 complaints, typically around 94,500 miles); lights (26 complaints, typically around 18,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Nissan Maxima have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 9, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Nissan Maxima?
- It is 7th of 24 Maxima model years by number of complaints, with 206 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.