2003 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

UNDER LOW LIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS SUCH AS EARLY MORNING OR AT DUSK, DURING RAIN, SNOW, OR HAZE, WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE REQUIRED FOR SAFE DRIVING, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAN BLEND WITH THE DIALS AND UNDER THE RIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS CAN BECOME UNREADABLE. I DROVE FOR OVER ONE HOUR ON ONE DAY AND COULD NOT DISTINGUISH MY SPEED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IS POOR. I HAVE NOTIFIED NISSAN AND SENT LETTERS BUT HAVE NOT YET HAD A RESPONSE. THE DEALER INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS DECIDED THAT THIS IS HOW THE PANEL WAS DESIGNED. AFTER TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,403 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000222 at NHTSA ↗

AUTOMATIC WINDOWS DO NOT HAVE A SAFETY STOP BUTTON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004442 at NHTSA ↗

GAS MILEAGE IS VERY LOW. CURRENT GAS MILEAGE IS BETWEEN 15 MPG AND 20 MPG

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005331 at NHTSA ↗

DUE TO NISSAN'S BAD DESIGN OF THE 2003 MAXIMA MODEL, THE XENON HID HEADLIGHTS COULD BE REMOVED FROM A LOCKED CAR WITHIN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IS AT RISK.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010335 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD THE XENON HID HEADLIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE STOLEN THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. I IMPLORE ANYONE EVEN CONSIDERING PURCHASING A 2002 OR 2003 MAXIMA TO RECONSIDER. THIS IS A MARKED CAR, AND MY ATTEMPTS TO GAIN THE MANUFACTURER'S ATTENTION HAVE FAILED. I HOPE IF THIEVES TAKE THE LIGHTS AGAIN, THAT THEY STEAL THE WHOLE CAR, AND RELIEVE ME OF THIS CURSE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010920 at NHTSA ↗

FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM ALLOWS IT TO BE EASILY DISABLED. FLAW/DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF HID HEADLIGHTS IN THE 2002-03 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE LIGHTS ARE EASILY PRIED OFF THE CAR WITH A CROWBAR. CRIMINALS CAN STEAL THEM IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS. ANTI-THEFT KIT MADE AVAILABLE IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. ACCESS TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS GAINED WITH A SCREWDRIVER OR CROWBAR. RISK OF DRIVER INJURY IS INCREASED BECAUSE OF THIS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010941 at NHTSA ↗

HEADLIGHT THEFT. HEADLIGHTS STOLEN OUT OF MY 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. THE WAY THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED IT TAKES THIEVES UNDER 2 MINUTES TO STEAL THESE HEADLIGHTS. MINE HAVE BEEN STOLEN ONCE AND IT IS COSTING ME/INSURANCE $2,900 TO FIX. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013553 at NHTSA ↗

XENON HID HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN ON THE 2ND NIGHT I OWNED THIS CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HOOD CAN BE OPENED WITHOUT ANY ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. ONCE THE HOOD IS OPENED, 2 BOLTS ARE ALL THAT ATTACH THE HEADLIGHTS TO THE CAR. AN EYEWITNESS CLAIMS THE THIEVES HAD THE HEADLIGHTS REMOVED IN UNDER 2 MINUTES. NISSAN UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED SOME ATTACHMENTS TO PREVENT THE HOOD FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR. THE KIT COSTS ~$350 TO INSTALL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013576 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2015-05-15 (May 15, 2015)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.

Reported: 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)

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.

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

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. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.