There are 5 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Nissan Maximain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
NORMAL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE - OIL CHANGE, TIRE REPLACEMENT - CAR WAS ON A LIFT. MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT I "THINK" ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE CAR AS THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS VERY VERY RUSTED AND WHILE NOT "UNSAFE" YET, IS BECOMING UNSAFE. I UNDERSTAND FROM CONSUMERS REPORTS THAT THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A RECALL FOR FRAME RUST AND STABILITY AND REPAIRS ARE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER BUT NOT THE 2003. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET TO SEE IF THIS WOULD FALL UNDER THEIR RECALL. THE QUALITY OF THE METAL ON THIS CAR IS VERY POOR (I HAD TO REPLACE AN OIL PAN DUE TO RUST WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED). THE REAR PANELS OF THE CAR ARE RUSTING THROUGH AS WELL. OTHERWISE CAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RELIABLE (ONE OWNER) AND I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT YET. *TR
ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN SERVICE MANAGER THE SUN ROOF MECHANISM ON MY 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS FAILED DUE TO WARPING OF CABLES. THE REPAIR COST IS ALMOST $2500 AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I'M INTERESTED TO LEARN IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT NISSAN SUN ROOFS, AND IF ANY FIRES OR FAILURES OF THESE SYSTEMS HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE DAMAGE OR SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR
PAINT BLISTER. SUBMITTED TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. WAS ADVISED THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAINTED. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE BEGINNING AND HAVE NEVER EVEN APPLIED TOUCH UP PAINT ANYWHERE. HAD A SECOND OPINION ELSEWHERE TO FIND THAT THE GOLD FLECK IN THE PAINT WAS NOT DISTORTED, RENDERING THE "REPAINT" THEORY FALSE. ALSO, PAINT CHIPS ALL OVER THE HOOD FROM THE POOR PAINT JOB.*AK
PAINT SEEM TO CHIP VERY VERY EASY ! IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO PRIMER UNDER BASE COAT.*AK
DIFFICULTY READING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. *PH *NM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026