<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001241283-03-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030814
<FILING-DATE>20030820
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MUTUAL TRUST MANAGEMENT BERMUDA LTD
<CIK>0001241283
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>03858000
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>HEMISPHERE HOUSE
<STREET2>9 CHURCH STREET PO BOX HM951
<CITY>HAMILTON HM DX BERMUDA
<STATE>D0
<ZIP>0000
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC
<CIK>0001022652
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7370
<IRS-NUMBER>860824673
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
<PHONE>8583208800
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241283</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MUTUAL TRUST MANAGEMENT BERMUDA LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HEMISPHERE HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 CHURCH STREET PO BOX HM951</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON HM DX BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>0000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-08-14</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>87</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-08-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>124286</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>940</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Series B stock has no expiration date</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 87 shares of Series B Preferred Stock if conversion had occurred on 8/14/03.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents conversion into Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of $87,000 principal amount of Secured Subordinated Convertible Notes. Held as Trustee for Sofaer Funds/Global Hedge Fund. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tim Whyte</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
