77 complaints reported

2003 Nissan Maxima Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
77
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2023

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Jun 2020

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Mar 2020

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
Sep 2019

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2019
Aug 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. THE DEALER (INGRAM PARK NISSAN, 6990 NORTHWEST LOOP 410, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,432.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Aug 2018

CAR WON'T START. IT TURNS ON AND IT CRANKS BUT IT DOESN'T START

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Nov 2017

CAR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" IS ON. THE CAR RANDOMLY CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC AND AS DRIVING. WON'T START UP IMMEDIATELY. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE ENGINE TO STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2017
Jun 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SENSOR SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2017
May 2017

THE CAR HEAVILY BURNS OIL, THIS CAR AS WELL AS MANY OTHER CARS IN THE NISSAN LINE-UP WERE GIVEN THE VQ35DE MOTOR WHICH IS WELL KNOWN FOR BURNING OIL. I AM REQUIRED TO CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3000 MILES BECAUSE IT BURNS A LOT OF OIL. I FILL UP THE ENGINE 5 QUARTS WHICH IS ABOVE RECOMMENDED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO RISK RUNNING MY ENGINE DRY OF OIL BECAUSE IT GETS BURNED. EVERY 3000 MILES I GET RID OF ABOUT 2.8 QUARTS WHEN I START OFF WITH 5 QUARTS EACH OIL CHANGE. I ONLY DO CITY DRIVING AND NOT LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. MANY OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH THIS OIL BURNING ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2017
Apr 2017

EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AT 150.000 MILES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
Feb 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH CAR LOSES POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC SO I WAS ABLE PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR REGAINED POWER WITHOUT HAVING TO START ENGINE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A LITTLE FURTHER AND IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON AS THIS IS HAPPENING BUT DOESN'T STAY ON. (I CANNOT RUN TEST TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AS "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ONLY COMES ON AS THIS HAPPENING). THE ENGINE IS STILL ON/RUNNING BUT THERE IS NO POWER/ACCELERATION TO THE VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2017
Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE STARTING AND THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL SENSOR, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,171.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ UPDATED 09/29/16.8JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2016
Jul 2016

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT WAS MARYLAND STATE INSPECTED. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON A BUSY ROAD AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED OR HIT THE STALLED CAR. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NISSAN REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TWO DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT SENSORS. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PART WAS RECALLED UNDER NISSAN'S RECALL PROGRAM, SO I CALLED THEM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PART. THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED THESE PARTS BEFORE UNDER YOUR RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2016
Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Mar 2016

OIL COOLER LEAK REPLACED O RING 5 TIMES REPLACED NOT FIXED YET.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2012
Feb 2016

VEHICLE STALLS AT RANDOM, ROUGH/NO START, LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE LIGHT/CODE SHAFT SENSOR. SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL FOR THIS YEAR OUR VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2016
Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TITLE WAS RE-WORKED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER WAS NOT OBLIGATED TO PERFORM ANY RECALL OR WARRANTY WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2012
Nov 2015

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN AT SPEED OF 20 TO 35 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHT ON AND THE CAR CAN START AGAIN AFTER THE GEAR CHANGED TO NEUTRAL. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN A MONTH AND THEN MILEAGES IS 114000 MILES. THE NISSAN WORKSHOP CAN'T FIGURE OUT IT DUES TO CAMSHAFT SENSOR PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2015
Aug 2015

WAS DRIVING ON 4 LANE DIVIDED ROAD AT APPROX. 50 MPH. WHEN DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, CAR ACTED LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, IT ACTED NORMAL AGAIN. CAME UPON STOP LIGHT. AS I WAS WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ALL DASH LIGHTS FLASHED. I IMMEDIATELY CUT THE A/C, RADIO AND LIGHTS THINKING IT WAS MY BATTERY GOING BAD. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE APPROX. 15 MILES TO NEAREST AAA SHOP TO GET BATTERY CHECKED. BATTERY CHECKED OUT FINE AND MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS. I GOT HOME AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS YEAR NISSAN HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR CAMSHAFT PROBLEMS. THE DESCRIPTION OF CAMSHAFT PROBLEMS (ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNING OFF) MADE ME SUSPICIOUS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAD BEEN RECALLED. TOOK TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP NEXT MORNING AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS WEAK SO THEY REPLACED ($552.00 EXPENSE). DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THE NISSAN 2003 MAXIMAS WERE NOT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM ASKING THAT NISSAN CONSIDERING RECALLING ALL THE 2003 MAXIMAS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED WHEN ENGINE CUT OUT AND COULD HAVE BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND REAR-ENDED. I AM GRATEFUL I WAS STOPPED WHEN IT HAPPENED AND NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, WHERE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 9/25/2015 *LN ..UPDATED 10/19/15 *BF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CRANK TWICE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2015
May 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 7/13/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HARD TO START. UPDATED 07/16/15*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2014
Apr 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Nissan Maxima has 77 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.