- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2003 Nissan Maxima Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 206 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (96) and the airbags (35). Those complaints describe 13 crashes, 2 fires, 12 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in August 2022 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2002 has 220 and the 2004 has 1,426.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Maxima year, for its age
#67 most complained-about 2003 vehicle
- Complaints
- 206
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 13
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 12
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 2003 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of all 206 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2003 Nissan Maxima recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
What owners say
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206 complaints about the 2003 Nissan Maxima
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 9.
See attached document for complaint
See attached document for complaint
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.
The steering shimmies and pulls to the right. Power steering fluids are within there limits.
Please fix your auto fill --- it just erased everything! Anyway, the engine cuts out while driving in traffic. The engine cuts out while waiting at a red light. The engine cuts out while turning. It's ALL random! The engine code shows P0340, Bank 1 and Bank2, and sometimes P0345. I have replaced the camshaft position sensors FIVE times!!!!! I have tried both Auto Zone and Hitachi, and neither of them solves the problem. I also paid to have the crankshaft sensor below replaced, and that didn't help. I am...
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told that this problem has been posted online and it was recommended to only use OEM parts. This is very dangerous to lose power while in traffic, and then having to wait until the engine will restart, which eventually it does. This is an ongoing problem. PLEASE help!!!
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.
2003 Nissan maxima. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. Consumer stated that they no longer own the vehicle. *Ld *js
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.
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.
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
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
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.
The airbags deployed without being in an accident
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
Takata recall-received a recall notice in the mail from nissan about a recall on my 2003 maxima passenger side air bags (nhtsa recall 14v-361). Scheduled an appointment for sept.26, 2014 @ 3Pm to have work done. Dropped vehicle off on the morning of sept 26, 2014 because I had to leave town before the time of appt. I picked my vehicle up later that day from the dealer. On april 15, 2016, I was at work on lunch break in our parking lot and I noticed a light on my dashboard on. I took my maxima to the dealer to...
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have light checked to find out it was about my airbag. Received an estimate of what needed to be done, total of work needed $1385 plus $90 I had to pay for the diagnostics done. The estimate was for the exact same work that was suppose to have been completed in sept. 2014. I finally had my mechanic fix the exact same problem that the dealership was suppose had fixed and I have not had an issue since.
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.
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED
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. The front passenger experienced head trauma and internal injuries, which resulted in the fatality of her unborn...
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child. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was sold to a salvage yard. Melloy nissan (7707 lomas blvd ne, albuquerque, nm 87110, (505) 545-6420) was notified of the crash. The vehicle was extensively damaged. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and investigated the non-deployment, but indicated that there was no air bag failure. The failure mileage was not available. *Dt *dt*jb *bf consumer stated due to the defective airbag consumer got into a car accident that led to the death of the consumer's unborn baby.*Jb
Tl* 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 independent mechanic was made aware of the failure and stated that the body control module was faulty and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
Car won't start. It turns on and it cranks but it doesn't start
Takata recall. On 10/24/18 I had the passenger side airbag fixed at the oxnard team nissan shop. I asked about the driver side airbag, and they said the only one to be taken care of was the passenger side for my car model, is this true? My concern is, as far as I know, the injuries and deaths have been caused by the driver side airbag. Can you clarify this for my peace of mind. Thanks a lot!
The subframe and the radiator support bracket are rusted out. Engine and radiator ready to come down.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 nissan maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure occurred every day for the past six months. The dealer (ingram park nissan, 6990 northwest loop 410, san antonio, tx 78238) was contacted by phone, but the vehicle was not taken in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 124,432.
I have experienced problems cranking the car, I purchased a new battery and battery terminals. This appeared to quick fix it but soon after the speedometer stopped working and the check engine light came on. Soon after followed tcs control and abs light came on. I took it to a mechanic and the diagnosis involved a problem with the camshaft position sensors and crankshaft position sensors. I purchased a book about the car and read that my make and model had a recall. After double checking online about the recall I...
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noticed it appeared to be the exact same problem. Convinced, I went to my local nissan dealership to have them check however it was explained to me that my vin number was not recalled. I want to have my vin number placed on the nhtsa recall list so that I may have my vehicle repaired. If this is not possible please advise further. Thank you.
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. I monitor nissan's website to see if they have any tsb's when I have an issuse an normally I find theres something from few years back that had a recall for it.
Nissan Maxima: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 129 | 1 | C |
| 2006 | 576 | 2 | F |
| 2005 | 948 | 2 | F |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 2 | F |
| 2003 | 206 | 4 | D |
| 2002 | 220 | 9 | F |
| 2001 | 181 | 7 | D |
| 2000 | 376 | 3 | F |
| 1999 | 174 | 4 | D |
2003 Nissan Maxima vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Nissan Maxima | 206 | 4 | D | |
| 2003 Nissan Altima | 883 | 10 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Nissan Murano | 799 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Nissan 350Z | 275 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Nissan Sentra | 180 | 10 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Nissan Pathfinder | 110 | 7 | D | Compare |
| 2003 Nissan Frontier | 77 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Nissan Xterra | 72 | 3 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 Nissan Maxima
Does the 2003 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2003 Nissan Maxima: inflator module (August 2022); inflator module (January 2020); air bags (May 2015); engine and engine cooling (November 2003). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (96), airbags (35), lights (26).
How many complaints has the 2003 Nissan Maxima had?
206 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 18, 2002 and the latest on March 18, 2024. Of these, 13 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 12 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 2003 Nissan Maxima a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 28 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Nissan Maxima year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Nissan Maxima years have the most complaints?
2004 (1,426), 2005 (948), 2006 (576). See every Nissan Maxima year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 Nissan Maxima has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data