Comments: 1-15, 16
I was very excited when I got the 2003 Nissan Maxima, but the car quickly disappointed me in it's cheap quality and poor assembly. After about 3000 miles, the car began to have weird clicking noises in the engine area. Performance is not affected at this point, but when the car accelerates, the engine noise resembles as it something is loose with the engine compartment. Took it to service, but nothing was found. Weird noises also began to appear from the center console area when the car hits a bump. The car is very cheaply put together and the plastic pieces do not gel well as various noises are everywhere.
I would not recommend any Nissan vehicles to anyone since this cheap parts and assembly problem exists on not just the Maxima line. I previously owned a Altima and it had the same problem. My father also owned an Altima and it was the same problem. Nissan Maxima is fairly priced for this market segment, but the quality lacks far behind it's competitors. Even the Camry V6 is better in quality. I am sorry that I purchased my 2003 Nissan Maxima. I should have spent $5000 more to get the Infiniti G35 or the Audi A4 which all felt more "solid". I guess this is the last time that I cheap out in getting a car.
Sounds to me like the 3.5's are worse off than the infamous outstanding 3.0's? I'll stick with my 2000 3.0 till they fix all the problems with the 3.5's. And to think Nissan discontinues an engine that gets top 10 best engine for 9 years straight and replaces it with a 3.5 in which everyone I know who has one tells me that it has a pinging noise from time to time and still managed to make it into the top 10,, wow goes to show what else is out there.
I wish I had such a problem! Chose a VW Jetta and have had major engine failure! At least the Maxima runs when new!
I bought a Max SE 03' in May and have a problem with it driving straight. I feel it constantly pulling from one way to other based on the crown on the road. At no point can I hold the wheel straight and the car goes straight. I have to move it back and forth just slightly, the steering wheel, to stay in the lane.
I've brought it back to the dealer several times and they tell me the alignment is straight, nothing they can do. Has anyone else had a similar problem like this?
Thanks, Adam.
He said in the review that his previous car was a Nissan Altima, yet when asked he put Toyota Camry. Interesting...
I don't buy this review... I agree Nissan has some bad dealers/service compared to others, but I find it hard to believe the dealer was unable to fix the problem.
I have owned a 3.5SE for the past 6 months and love it.
This is the same engine as the famous 3.0, it is not new, simply larger and more powerful. This engine remains one of the best in the world, and is very reliable, even if it ticks a bit from time to time. If you find that it pings, put higher octane fuel in it.
I don't mind the interior at all, but I admit that it could be better though.
Robmac.
I agree with the poor quality of the plastic, etc. on the 2003 Maxima. My 2003 SE has 8,000 miles, but the rattles started almost immediately. My center dash under the radio rattles, the roof right near the sunroof, the driver door has a faint buzz that I cannot find and the power window switches are of such thin gauge plastic that they constantly vibrate. It is a shame that the quality of plastic inside this car is so cheap because it ruins the ownership experience of an otherwise great car. Interesting to note, before I purchased the car a number of reviews in magazines indicated that the quailty of the interior materials was subpar. When I test drove the car, I thought the interior looked a little cheap, but I could live with it given the better aspects of the car. I did not realize the cheapness related to the extreme numbers of rattles. Bottom line, I like Nissan's performance edge over Toyota and Honda, but I will never buy another one because they just do not have the attention to detail.
I just purchased a 03 max it run excellent the guy at the top may have got a bad build like all cars I had a toyota it ran good the suspension and the ride wasnt as comfortable the interior get a plus by my self and many of my friends. i do hear a few rattles in the door I've taken it to the dealership and they where very helpful and they helped with any little minimal problem. my steering wheel does turn on the crest of the road my toyata would do the same thing. the thing I wished nissan would have done was keep the front end of the 03 max and put it on the 04.we don't want 2 altimas the max should have the best looking design and not be confused with the altima. i am very happy with my 03 max.
Ramon.
I'm glad that you like your 2003 Maxima. I'm thinking about buying a 2003 Maxima next year. I think that they are so pretty. But, before I purchase it, can you tell me of any other problems that you have had with your vehicle. Because right now, I'm stuck between two cars the 2003 Maxima and the 2002 Galant. What do you think? Anybody?
If I was to purchase a car... i would first look at what I can afford and then look at reliabilty plus think about how much driving do I need the car for. I previously owned a 96 nissan maxima 166k and my mother owns a 97 100k. The 3.0 engine is perfect for heavy driving, I drive 88 to 120 miles a day. The 3.0 engine is a ten best. I don't have any knowledge about the new 3.5. The 3.5 is still new. At any rate, for heavy driving I would buy a nissan for minimal driving any other car will do as long as I change the oil and don't drive like a race car driver. Hope this helps. -Hani.
I purchased an 02 Maxima SE last November. I am having the same problems with the 3.5 Engine the rattling noise when I accelerate and the rattle when I start the engine. I also, experienced the vibrating seat noise when I hit a speed bump or a bump in the road. I also, agree that Nissan has used to some inexpensive parts to construct the Maxima. I owned to Hondas in my past and both cars were made out of sturdy body parts.
I purchased a 03 SE in May 2003. I drive the car for business and put on average 2000-2500 miles per month on the car. I have not had one single problem, it drives like a rocket, I find the quality excellent, and love driving it everyday. The only thing I dislike is the turning radius which is worse than my wife's 04 EB Expedition. However, when I attempted to trade it in on an 04, the dealer only offered me $14900 with a little less than 25K miles on it. Another dealer only $15K. I was really disappointed at that point.
Loving it in Louisiana.
Hello, I am a proud nissan owner. I've had a 280z for the last 25 years and it now has 298,286 miles on the transmission without ever having a service done to it. And that's a fact!!! I had the engine rebuilt because of the mileage because of stupid smog standards (CA). I am now restoring this vehicle. It is a 1976 2+2. I tried american cars plenty of times. Had a Ford truck... pretty tough vehicle. Only Ford I'll ever recommend. GM vehicle's...my goodness... GM had to buy them back because I was driving their rentals more than my own car. So I finally stopped being chip trying to save 2 or 3 thousand and bought a 2003 maxima. I swear... after driving this car it feels like driving a Rolls Royce compared to the cheaply built, poorly designed, poor workmanship, lack of horsepower having (ford), least warranty, unexperianced machanics... I could go on, that I experienced in over 7 american cars that I have purchased. Its actually pretty sad. Foreign cars are designed better and outlast 90% of american cars. Think I'm lying? Ask yourself whats the difference in resale value between the two? Why's the blue value so low on my american car? Why do I lose over $3500 as soon as I drive it off the lot? If anyone wants to argue with me about this feel free. I have facts and have been in the car industry for a long time...
Louisiana I had an 02 I needed to sell. The dealers did the the same to me with only 17,000 miles on and 6 months old they offered me 9,000 less than I paid. I took it to Carmax, they gave me top dollar on the spot. I purchased my next car from that same dealer.
P.S. My Maxima was a fantastic auto, but other obligations were more important. Good luck.
I hope you realize that an Infinity IS a Nissan!?