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Nissan Maxima 2003

The 2003 Nissan Maxima has a 3.5 L engine. It gets 20 MPG combined (17 city, 24 highway), per the EPA. 4 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Midsize Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Nissan Maxima
Representative photo of the Maxima. It may show a different year or version. Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
3,500 cc
6
Cylinders6
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,860 × 1,790 × 1,430 mm (191.3 × 70.5 × 56.3 in)
Wheelbase2,750 mm (108.3 in)
Curb weight1,476 kg (3,254 lb)
Body styleMidsize Cars

Dimensions and weight: median of the 2 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Nissan Maxima 4-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data
NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Nissan Maxima 4-DR. w/SAB
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
17 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Emissions
276 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

4 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 22E066000 · 2022-08-09 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 20V008000 · 2020-01-09 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

AIR BAGS 15V287000 · 2015-05-15 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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.

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 03V455000 · 2003-11-17 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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.

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.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS 2024-03-18 · NHTSA

See attached document for complaint

AIR BAGS 2024-03-12 · NHTSA

See attached document for complaint

ENGINE 2023-08-29 · NHTSA

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…

STEERING 2021-08-24 · NHTSA

The steering shimmies and pulls to the right. Power steering fluids are within there limits.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2021-06-09 · NHTSA

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 p…

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2021-02-23 · NHTSA

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 RESTA…

AIR BAGS 2020-11-09 · NHTSA

2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE. *LD *JS

ENGINE 2020-10-06 · NHTSA

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 OU…

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2020-06-30 · NHTSA

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 …

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2020-06-24 · NHTSA

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

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2020-06-24 · NHTSA

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

ENGINE 2020-03-20 · NHTSA

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 …

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Nissan Maxima have?
The 2003 Nissan Maxima has a 3.5 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
It gets 20 MPG combined (17 city, 24 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Nissan Maxima have recalls?
4 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Air Bags (2022-08-09).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Air Bags.

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