<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001258618-03-000006
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031113
<FILING-DATE>20031113
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DANNA LEONARD P
<CIK>0001269494
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09511
<FILM-NUMBER>03999782
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>350 WOODVIEW AVENUE
<CITY>MORGAN HILL
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95037
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC
<CIK>0000728303
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5013
<IRS-NUMBER>942490990
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1982 ZANKER RD
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95112
<PHONE>4084368611
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1982 ZANKER RD
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95112
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>COAST RV INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19880619
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-13</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000728303</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>crv</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DANNA LEONARD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>350 WOODVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORGAN HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>No securities owned</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Leonard P. Danna</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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