The 2003 Nissan Maxima has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,028,531 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 249 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS20V0080002020-01-09307,962 affected
Defect
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…
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.
AIR BAGS15V2870002015-05-151,090,569 affected
Defect
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…
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…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING03V4550002003-11-17630,000 affected
Defect
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…
Complaints by component
ENGINE
43
1crashes1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
39
AIR BAGS
27
6crashes1fires7injuries1deaths
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
10
1crashes1fires1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
2crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
4crashes2injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
Total complaints249
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“See attached document for complaint”
“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…”
“The steering shimmies and pulls to the right. Power steering fluids are within there limits.”
“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…”
“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…”
“2003 nissan maxima. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. Consumer stated that they no longer own the vehicle. *ld *js”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Nissan Maxima as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.