Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
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
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
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
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
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
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
THE HEADLIGHTS TO A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVE BEEN STOLEN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON BOTH OCCSSIONS THE THIEFS BENT THE INTERNAL METAL FRAME THAT MOUNTS THE BUMPER TO THE CAR TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE HEADLIGHT FROM BELOW. THIS FRAME IS A SHEET METAL STAMPING THAT CAN EASILY BE BENT BY APPLYING A SMALL AMOUNT OF A PERSONS BODY WEIGHT TO THE STRUCTURE. THE SHEET METAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE FENDER AND HOOD ALSO ALLOW A THIEF TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE HEADLIGHT BY FORCIBLY BENDING BACK THESE STRUCTURES. THE PLASTIC BRACKET THAT HOUSES THE HEADLIGHT AND MOUNTS IT TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR IS SHATTERED BY PRYING IT FROM THE FRAME WITH A TOOL. THIS PLASTIC STRUCTURE IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY STRONG ENOUGH TO DETER A THIEF FROM STEALING THE HEADLIGHT. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL SHEET METAL STRUCTURE THAT MOUNTS THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT HOUSING TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THIS STRUCTURE HAS AN ELECTRICAL BOX ATTACHED TO IT. IN BOTH CASES OF THEFT THIS STRUCTURE WAS FORCIBLY BENT BACK TO ACCESS THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT FOR REMOVAL. THIS STRUCTURE TOO IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT A THIEF FROM FORCIBLY GAINING ACCESS TO THE HEADLIGHT. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED STRUCTURES WERE COMPROMISED SO EASILY, THIS VEHICLE'S ARMED, PROPERLY FUNCTIONING, FACTORY EQUIPPED ALARM SYSTEM WAS NOT SET OFF DURING THE THEFT. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO POUGHKEEPSIE NISSAN FOR THEM TO INSTALL THE 'ANTI-THEFT DEVICE'. I DON'T KNOW IF OR WHAT WAS DONE BUT OBVIOUSLY IT DID NOT DETER THE THIEF(S). I HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY BURDENED BY THIS. NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE BUT HAVE TO RENT A CAR.*AK
NISSAN KNEW SINCE AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 2002 THAT THIEVES WERE TARGETING THE XENON HEADLAMPS IN MAXIMAS, THEY FAILED TO INFORM CONSUMERS PURCHASING 2002 AND 2003 MAXIMAS, AS WELL AS EXISTING OWNERS AND LESSEES, OF THE RISK OF THEFT OF THE XENON HEADLAMPS, AND FAILED TO INFORM OWNERS AND LESSEES OF THE CARS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ANTI-THEFT KIT., REPAIRS FOR THE 3 THEFTS HAVE COST OVER $7000 WITHIN AN 8 MONTH TIME FRAME. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A FAULTY DESIGN THAT IS COSTING CONSUMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH DAY IN EITHER INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES OR HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT. THE COMPANY HAS REDESIGNED THE XENON HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS FOR THE 2004 MODEL. AND THEY NOW OFFER A MODEL WITH HALOGEN INSTEAD OF XENON. I PROPOSE AN INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY NISSAN CORP HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CARS AND REPLACED THE XENON LIGHTS WITH A MORE REASONABLE LIGHTING SYSTEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. *AK
HID HEADLIGHTS STOLEN FROM 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. POLICE, INSURANCE COMPANY, AND REPAIR SHOP ALL INDICATED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE SPECIFIC TO THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS POOR VEHICLE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD DEVELOP A SOLUTION AND RECALL AND CORRECT THE CONDITION. DEALER INSTALLED AN ADDITIONAL ALARM FOR HEADLIGHTS AT A COST OF $400 TO ME. THE ALARM FAILED TO FUNCTION.*AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY EASILY REMOVED.AS A RESULT, TWO SETS OF HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN.*AK
VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS WERE STOLEN FROM A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. *MR *SCC *JB
PROBLEMS WITH THEFT OF VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS.*MR VEHICLE WAS VANDALIZE THREE TIMES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS INSTALLED. AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT, THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A $500.00 INCENTIVE TOWARDS A TRADE IN. CONSUMER SUGGESTED NISSAN GIVE HIM ANOTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT THE HEADLIGHTS, REFUND HIS MONEY, OR RECALL THE VEHICLES DUE TO POOR ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP THAT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE CONSUMER WOULD MAKE A REASONABLE DEAL. *PH *JB
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKE IT EASY FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE STOLEN BY JUST "POPPING" THEM OUT. THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE'S FRAME. ANY OBJECT CAN BE INSERTED IN THE SPACE TO DISLODGE THE HEADLAMP. *PH *SCC *JB
THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED NISSAN SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. *PH *JB
BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS (XENON) WERE STOLEN FROM MY 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR REFUSE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS WITH THOSE OF THE 2001 MODEL. I FOUND A DEALERSHIP THAT INSTALLED THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS OF THE 2001 MAXIMA ON MY CAR. NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO CONSIDER THIS PROBLEM AS A DESIGN FLAW AND OFFERS NO HELP TO OWNER TO SECURE THESE HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE SO EASILY STOLEN.*AK
I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE HEADLIGHTS WHERE STOLEN. NISSAN HAS MADE THE HEADLIGHTS TO EASY TO TAKE. *NLM
THE HEAD LAMPS (HEADLIGHTS) WERE STOLEN TWICE. EACH HEAD LIGHT WAS $800.00. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD BE REMOVED EASILY. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A POOR DESIGN. *NLM *TS *JB
I PURCHASED THE 2003 NISSAN MAXIMATHE END OF JANUARY 2003, I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE CARS ARE EASILY REMOVEABLE, BY SIMPLY POPPING THEM OUT WITH A SCREW DRIVER. SO ON MAY 21, MY CAR'S HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN. I COMPLAINED TO THE NISSAN CORP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTH THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, IN FACT THEY HAVE ALREADY INTRODUCED THE 2004 MODEL WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TAMPER PROOF. THE POLICE TOLD ME THAT THIS MODEL CAR IS VERY POPULAR WITH THE THIEVES AND I SHOULD NOT KEEP THIS C AR IN THE STREET FOR MORE THEN 10MINS AT A TIME. SO BASICALLY, I BOUGHT A CAR TO KEEP UNDER LOCK AND KEY AND NOT USE AT ALL. WHY CAN'T NISSAN RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS ARE STOLEN, THE DEMAGE IS MORE THEN $2,000.00, ALSO WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM A DISTANCE AWAY AND THEY STEAL MY HEADLIGHTS, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME OR RISK DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AND MAYBE HURT MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER AND ADVISE ME.
PASSENGER HID LIGHT STOLEN AND WIRES CUT. LITERALLY TOOK THIEVES MINUTES, PERHAPS SECONDS.
HID HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN. TOOK LESS THAN 10 SECONDS FOR THIEF TO STEAL HEADLIGHTS. *NLM
I HAD MY XENON HID HEADLIGHTS STOLEN THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS. IT SEEMS THAT IF THE ASSEMBLY AROUND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS POPPED OUT SLIGHTLY, THE CONTACTS UNDERNEATH CAN BE SHORTED AND BOTH WINDOWS LOWERED. ONCE IN, IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO TAKE THE LIGHTS. IT'S NOT THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE AFTER, RATHER THE HARDWARE THAT POWERS THE LIGHTS. ONCE THEY HAVE THE HARDWARE THEY CAN PUT IT IN ANY CAR. HAD I KNOWN THAT THESE LIGHTS WERE SUCH A HOT ITEM, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE PROVIDED REPAIR FACILITIES WITH REPAIR KITS TO MAKE THE TURN AROUND TIME SHORTER. BUT THAT DOES NOTHING TO THE FEELING OF HAVING YOUR CAR VIOLATED. I DRIVE IN FEAR NOW. I CAN'T GO TO THE MOVIES. IF I GO TO THE MALL I HAVE TO SIT IN THE CAR AND SEND THE WIFE IN TO DO THE SHOPPING. NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS GETTING WARM AGAIN I WORRY EVEN MORE. I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE AT LEAST $500 (DEDUCTIBLE) ON A CREDIT CARD SOMEWHERE FOR THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL. *JB
XENON HID HEADLIGHTS WERE STOLEN ON THE 2ND NIGHT I OWNED THIS CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HOOD CAN BE OPENED WITHOUT ANY ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. ONCE THE HOOD IS OPENED, 2 BOLTS ARE ALL THAT ATTACH THE HEADLIGHTS TO THE CAR. AN EYEWITNESS CLAIMS THE THIEVES HAD THE HEADLIGHTS REMOVED IN UNDER 2 MINUTES. NISSAN UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED SOME ATTACHMENTS TO PREVENT THE HOOD FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR. THE KIT COSTS ~$350 TO INSTALL. *JB
HEADLIGHT THEFT. HEADLIGHTS STOLEN OUT OF MY 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. THE WAY THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED IT TAKES THIEVES UNDER 2 MINUTES TO STEAL THESE HEADLIGHTS. MINE HAVE BEEN STOLEN ONCE AND IT IS COSTING ME/INSURANCE $2,900 TO FIX. *NLM
FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM ALLOWS IT TO BE EASILY DISABLED. FLAW/DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF HID HEADLIGHTS IN THE 2002-03 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE LIGHTS ARE EASILY PRIED OFF THE CAR WITH A CROWBAR. CRIMINALS CAN STEAL THEM IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS. ANTI-THEFT KIT MADE AVAILABLE IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. ACCESS TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS GAINED WITH A SCREWDRIVER OR CROWBAR. RISK OF DRIVER INJURY IS INCREASED BECAUSE OF THIS. *JB
I HAVE HAD THE XENON HID HEADLIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE STOLEN THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. I IMPLORE ANYONE EVEN CONSIDERING PURCHASING A 2002 OR 2003 MAXIMA TO RECONSIDER. THIS IS A MARKED CAR, AND MY ATTEMPTS TO GAIN THE MANUFACTURER'S ATTENTION HAVE FAILED. I HOPE IF THIEVES TAKE THE LIGHTS AGAIN, THAT THEY STEAL THE WHOLE CAR, AND RELIEVE ME OF THIS CURSE. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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