Four problems related to alternator/generator/regulator have been reported for the 2003 Nissan Altima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Nissan Altima based on all problems reported for the 2003 Altima.
Everything I have had to replace/repair on this car is linked to recalls, but Nissan is denying this & refusing to help. They said my vehicle was not part of any recalls but everything that's failing is related. It has died on me in the middle of highway traffic w/ my child in the car several times. This car is defective & no one from Nissan is concerned!!!! butterfly screw/valve issues, cam/crank shaft issues--related to engine cooling, high oil consumption; alternator failing; oil leaking.
I am on my 3rd set of tires on my 2003 Altima it has only 78,000 miles on it . I rotate my tires every 5,000 miles the tires sound like they are coming apart. The headlight lens are turning foggy and yellow cutting down on the headlight visibility. Motor busing went bad car would not pass state inspection. Alternator went bad at 50,000 miles. Driver door hinge is bad want stay open if car is a little uneven. Had to replace crank sensor cause car wouldn't start at around 65,000 miles the dealer said there were no recall on any these problems.
While driving about a week ago with no warning while making a left turn 2003 Nissan Altima just loss power and died it was so suttle I kept pressing the gas thinking the car was still running. All along stuck in the middle of oncoming traffic with a 4 and a 2 year old in the back seat. In the past week it has happened twice luckily just in my subdivision. About for months ago I went through the same thing and Nissan said it was the alternator gone bad had it replaced now problem is back. If something can be done it needs to be because someone is going to be seriously hurt with these cars just shutting off with no warning. All my symptoms seem to point to crank position sensor that I've been reading about . Now im going to have to fork over 5-600 hundred bucks to fix a problem that shouldn't be. Something needs to be done now!!!!.
: the contact stated the engine intermittently operated at a reduced speed while driving. Each time this happened the contact pulled over and turned off the engine. Afterwards, the engine restarted and the contact was able to proceed. No warning indicators were present when this occurred. The vehicle was seen by a dealer and the battery was replaced. The problem persisted, and the contact was referred to another dealer, who determined the problem was the alternator, which was replaced. The replacement of the alternator solved the problem. Updated 02/26/06.