Problems · by component

2003 Nissan Maxima exterior lighting problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan Maxima cite exterior lighting, 13% of all 206 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
13% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“IT HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, IT TAKES TIME TO START AND WHEN IT IS DRIVING IT TURNS OFF (BUT IT TURNS ON).IT GOES OFF ON FLAT SURFACES, AND WHEN YOU ARE ON A RISE THAT'S WHERE IT TAKES TO CATCH ON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2020Exterior lighting, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11330520
“IT HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WHEN THE CAR IS UP, IT TAKES TIME TO START AND WHEN IT IS DRIVING IT SOMETIMES TURNS OFF, BUT IF THEY TURN IT ON AGAIN IF IT STARTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2020Exterior lighting, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11330525
“THE XENON HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVE BECOME CLOUDED WITH DRAMATICALLY REDUCED LIGHTING EFFECTIVENESS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ONE HEADLIGHT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE OTHER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SHORTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2010Exterior lightingODI 10373598
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL SENSOR DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE. THE SENSOR ACTIVATES WHEN CONDITIONS ARE COMPLETELY DARK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FIRST REALIZED IT AT 5,000 MILES. SHE HAS ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD RETURN HER CALL. HER CALL HAS NOT YET BEEN RETURNED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2007Exterior lightingODI 10197919
“HEADLIGHTS STOLEN FROM VEHICLE TWICE IN 4 MONTHS. APRIL 15, 2004 AND SEPTEMBER 1, 2004. BECAUSE OF DESIGNE HEAD LIGHTS CAN BE REMOVED QUICKLY WITH A LONG SHARP OBJECT.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2004Exterior lightingODI 10088937
“THE XENON HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN. HEADLIGHTS COULD BE REMOVED IN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES. CONSUMER NAVIGATED INTO THE NHTSA WEB AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. *AK *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2004Exterior lightingODI 10067191

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.