2003 Nissan Maxima
The Verdict
The 2003 Nissan Maxima has 205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (100 complaints) and electrical (65 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 53/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Maxima, consider the 2023 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2023 has 99% fewer complaints
View the 2023 Nissan Maxima dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50 | 29 | 186 | 91 | 19 |
| 2001 | 48 | 22 | 59 | 44 | 8 |
| 2002 | 69 | 21 | 62 | 57 | 11 |
| 2003 | 29 | 5 | 65 | 100 | 6 |
| 2004 | 322 | 59 | 39 | 126 | 879 |
| 2005 | 83 | 21 | 24 | 108 | 711 |
| 2006 | 71 | 51 | 25 | 76 | 353 |
| 2007 | 46 | 22 | 20 | 29 | 12 |
| 2008 | 31 | 3 | 28 | 8 | 8 |
| 2009 | 190 | 6 | 109 | 23 | 11 |
| 2010 | 152 | 2 | 85 | 24 | 12 |
| 2011 | 38 | 2 | 33 | 15 | 18 |
| 2012 | 32 | 0 | 43 | 14 | 18 |
| 2013 | 7 | 2 | 26 | 5 | 22 |
| 2014 | 21 | 2 | 44 | 13 | 15 |
| 2016 | 46 | 17 | 30 | 29 | 20 |
| 2017 | 49 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 8 |
| 2018 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2019 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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 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, 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
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
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 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 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!
205 total