<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEPARULO PETER V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001/share</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.70</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>50</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>1000</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-05-14</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>71310</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>50</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Warrants (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.70</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>20104</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-09-12</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-03-12</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>20104</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>20161</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 14, 2003, Mr. Leparulo acquired 27 shares of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series B Stock") and secured subordinated convertible notes in original principal amount of $23,000.  These notes are convertible into 23 shares of Series B Stock.  In connection with this transaction, Mr. Leparulo also received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 20,104 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.70 per share including warrants issued March 12, 2003.  The warrants are not exercisable until September 12, 2003. The rights, preferences and privileges of these securities, including certain limitations on conversion and exercise, are set forth more fully in the Company's Proxy Statement filed on April 15, 2003 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Information created to satisfy SEC form input requirements. The Series B Stock has no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Leparulo also holds options to purchase 839,355 shares of common stock and 1,103 shares of common stock as previously reported pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patrick T. Waters, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

