2003 Nissan Maxima problems
Owners have filed 249 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan Maxima. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 39% of complaints. After that come air bags (14%) and lighting (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 249 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 39% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 20 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 89,000 miles 175 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 25 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 19 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 26 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 14 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 11 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 9 |
| 200k+ miles | 12 |
What the data shows
Among the 175 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 88,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 101,000 miles (83 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 20 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Nissan Maxima with enough data (105 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 nissan maxima. The contact exited a parking area to enter a high traffic location. While the contact was traveling straight at 45 MPH, another vehicle driving at a high rate of speed crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. A gray substance emitted inside the vehicle. The driver sustained minor whiplash.
Our 2002 nissan maxima has been totaled. We no longer have it, but our son was in a major fatal car accident on a major city street 2007, to we ourself do not know exactly what was the cause, our son fell asleep. No drugs or alcohol involved. Courts stated speeding without investigated proof. Our son is incarcerated for 36 years...updated 11/08/17 ...updated 11/14/17 updated 9/12/18
On my 2003 maxima se, the "service engine :light" comes on and the moving vehicle stalls. My wife had a close escape from a crash when it happened to her yesterday. It happens when the vehicle has been in operation for a few miles. A scan of the failure code from the engine returned p0340 which implies camshaft position sensor circuit problem.
I no there was a volunteer recall on a couple different parts of this car , yet looking at the VIN number doesnt show a recall now. I bought my 5th gen maxima and since then ive had to replace the camshaft sensors in it now 3 times an even gotten new connectors installed to fix the problem. Ive had my car just suddenly die in traffic as im driving or soon as you try to accelorate it dies and is hard to restart.. Its frustrating to love the car and cant ever seem to get it right., it always seems to have a problem.