2003 Nissan Maxima reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2003 Nissan Maxima — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 249
- 6 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 43 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 20 reported crashes · 17 injuries · 1 death · 4 fires
What owners report fails — 2003 Nissan Maxima
- ENGINE 43
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 39
- AIR BAGS 27
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 22
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14
2 recalls on record for the 2003 Nissan Maxima
- NHTSA 20V008000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 15V287000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2003 Nissan Maxima
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2003 Nissan Maxima units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Nissan Maxima reliable?
NHTSA has 249 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Nissan Maxima and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (43 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Nissan Maxima units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Maxima?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (43), engine and engine cooling (39), air bags (27), exterior lighting:headlights (22). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2003 Nissan Maxima?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.