Most common 2003 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of the 206 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Maxima complaints by model year
Best Maxima years: 2022, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005, 2006. Compare all years →
2003 Nissan Maxima recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags
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.
Engine and engine cooling
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).
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Nissan Maxima:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2003 Nissan Maxima owners say
Engine & cooling all 96 →
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.
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 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!!!
Air bags all 35 →
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 child. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was sold to a salvage yard. Melloy Nissan (7707 lomas blvd ne, albuquerque, nm 87110, [phone]) 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. …
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 @ 3 pm 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 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. …
Lights all 26 →
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.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the automatic headlight control sensor does not automatically activate. The sensor activates when conditions are completely dark. The failure has occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased, however, the contact first realized it at 5,000 miles. She has attempted to speak with the dealer on numerous occasions and was informed that someone would return her call. Her call has not yet been returned. The VIN, purchase date, powertrain, and engine size were unknown. The current mileage was 35,000 and failure mileage was 5,000. Updated 02-01-08 updated 02/01/08
2003 Nissan Maxima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Nissan Maxima a good car?
Based on 206 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Maxima rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Maxima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
The engine & cooling — 96 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (35) and lights (26).
How many recalls does the 2003 Nissan Maxima have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 Nissan Maxima, the most recent from January 9, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Maxima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005 and 2006. See the full Nissan Maxima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Nissan Maxima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 87,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.