2003 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 Maxima most often describe the engine shutting off while driving or at a stop, frequently diagnosed by mechanics as a camshaft or crankshaft position sensor, and many say the VIN was not covered by the 2003 sensor recall. A second large group reports problems with the cooling system, the check-engine light staying on, and airbag concerns, including the Takata passenger-side inflator recalls. Most reports come in between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, with a smaller cluster of early lighting and trim complaints under 30,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving (cam/crank sensor)

   • 67 complaints (33%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2023

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning while driving at 20-70 mph or while idling at a light, sometimes with the check engine light on and sometimes with no warning at all. Many say the car restarts after a few attempts or after sitting, and that mechanics diagnosed a camshaft or crankshaft position sensor. Several report the dealer or manufacturer told them their VIN was not included in the 2003 sensor recall, while others say the same sensor has been replaced more than once. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 175,000 miles, with several between 60,000 and 95,000 miles.

   Recall 03V455000

   What to check: Ask whether the camshaft and crankshaft position sensors have been replaced and keep the receipts; scan for stored cam/crank sensor codes before buying. Because coverage varied by VIN, confirm with a dealer whether the 2003 sensor campaign ever applied to this car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11363050, filed 2020-10, 170,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11331804, filed 2020-06, 138,240 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Check engine light on / engine runs rough or won't start

   • 69 complaints (34%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2023

   Owners report the service engine light coming on and staying on, sometimes after hard starting or rough running, and in some cases the car will not start at all or shuts off again shortly after. Complaints describe dealers clearing the light, finding nothing, or pointing to emission-control leaks, a faulty catalytic converter, or a sensor circuit; some owners say the light led to a failed inspection. Spread from roughly 5,000 to 225,000 miles, with many reports between 65,000 and 145,000 miles.

   Recall 03V4550002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the car scanned for stored and pending codes and ask for any repair history on sensors, the catalytic converter, and emission-control parts. Drive it long enough to confirm the light does not come back on after being cleared.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. Checking the internet I find that the manufacturer recalled this model for a bad solder on the camshaft position sensor electronic circuit board in 2003, but the dealer never informed me when I purchased the car. My vehicle has only 55000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10348581, filed 2010-08, 55,000 miles

   “Dt: contact stated a light illuminated on dashboard. She contacted the manufacturer. They told her to take the vehicle to a dealership. She took the vehicle to a dealership. They checked the vehicle and determined that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. She then took the vehicle to another mechanic, who determined that emission control system was leaking. The light stayed on all the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144088, filed 2005-11, 73,850 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag inflator recalls and airbag warning light

   • 25 complaints (12%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2020

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on, sometimes shortly after recall repair work, and being quoted for an airbag control module they believe should have been covered. Other complaints describe airbags not deploying in a collision, or a passenger airbag deploying in a case where the owner says there was no crash. Several owners mention receiving Takata passenger-side inflator recall notices. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 225,000 miles, with several reports between 70,000 and 145,000 miles.

   Recall 20V008000Recall 15V2870003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls and ask for written proof that the passenger-side inflator recall was completed. Make sure the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check on a test drive, and get any airbag module estimate in writing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 to do about it . Was!nt that part of the recall.I should not have pay for a recalled part. I would like this unit replaced by the Nissan corp. Thank you”

   NHTSA complaint #10838325, filed 2016-01, 69,320 miles

   “This is reference to two situation concerning Nissan recalls. In 2014 I took my car to sansone Nissan dealer on rt 1, nj to take care of the airbag recall issue NHTSA ref#15v287000. My airbag light was not on when I took it to the dealer, after I came home a week later the airbag light came on. I don't think the dealer took care of the recall issue, if they did my airbag light would not be on. I would like Nissan to give authorization to the dealer to correct this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10825049, filed 2016-02, 86,600 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights, automatic headlights, and instrument lighting

   • 23 complaints (11%)
   • median 16,000 mi at 0.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $650 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2010

   Owners describe the automatic headlight sensor not switching the lights on until conditions are nearly dark, and instrument panel lighting that makes the gauges hard to read at dusk or in rain. A separate group reports the xenon headlight units being removed from the car, with complaints saying the hood could be opened from outside and the lamps unbolted quickly, and that an anti-theft bracket kit was offered at extra cost. Mostly reported under 30,000 miles, including very low mileage on nearly new cars.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the automatic headlights come on in shade, rain, or dusk rather than only in full darkness, and confirm the dash is legible at low light. Ask whether hood-latch or headlight security hardware was fitted and whether both headlight assemblies are present and working.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The headlights to a 2003 Nissan Maxima have been stolen on two separate occasions. On both occssions the thiefs bent the internal metal frame that mounts the bumper to the car to provide access to the headlight from below. This frame is a sheet metal stamping that can easily be bent by applying a small amount of a persons body weight to the structure. The sheet metal construction of the fender and hood also allow a thief to gain access to the headlight by forcibly bending back these structures. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10083179, filed 2004-08, 22,000 miles

   “The xenon headlights were stolen. Headlights could be removed in just a matter of minutes. Consumer navigated into the NHTSA web and found many complaints on the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067191, filed 2004-08, 27,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Power door locks and windows not working

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 99,200 mi at 11.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2018

   Owners report door locks that will not release, in one case trapping the driver inside until they exited through the window, and in another the front doors only opening intermittently with a noise from the latch. Others describe power windows, seats, and the sunroof needing electrical repairs, and a window that reverses to half open when the auto-close feature is used. Reported from about 20,000 to 200,000 miles, including several under 30,000 miles.

   What to check: Lock and unlock every door from inside and outside, cycle each window through auto-up and auto-down, and test the sunroof and power seats. Ask whether any latch, window regulator, or body control repairs have already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I locked my car when underway. When I stopped and attempted to open my driver's door, the door would not unlock even though the door lock indicated it was unlocked. I could not open the door manually and exited through the window. The door would not unlock manually from the outside. I called my road service and they could not get the door to open. I am taking the car to the dealer but must enter through the window.”

   NHTSA complaint #10088841, filed 2004-08, 29,750 miles

   “Electrical problems; during warranty period and I had to take the car to the dealership numerous times because the driver' s and front passenger's seats quit working and required electrical repairs. The power sun roof also quit working and required electrical repairs during the warranty period. My car was no longer covered by warranty, and power windows have now quit working. I had so many different electrical problems since purchasing the car that I could not help but to think they wereall connected to the same common problem, and it made me wonder what will happen next. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10190441, filed 2007-05, 22,000 miles

Buying note. The main thing to verify on a 2003 Maxima is the stalling history: get sensor repair records and scan for cam/crank codes before purchase, and confirm recall status by VIN for the airbag inflator campaigns. These cars are old enough that maintenance records and a pre-purchase inspection matter more than any single item on this list.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.