2015 Nissan Altima Exterior lighting Problems

When driving at night, the low beam headlights were noticeably dim. The headlight bulbs were replaced and the lenses were cleaned on both headlights. This did not fix the issue. I have also adjusted the angle of them, and they’re still dim. My safety is at risk when I drive at night since I am almost completely unable to see the road using the low beams at night. The problem has not be confirmed by a dealer, but I am willing to let them inspect and confirm it. There were no warning lights when this occurred. I contacted the manufacturer and they were unhelpful.

NHTSA ID

11740293

Incident

Mar 19, 2021

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights were very dim. Due to the failure, the high beam headlights were activated while driving in low light conditions. No warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11733243

Incident

Apr 15, 2025

Mileage

110,000 mi

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds with the headlights activated, the illumination from the headlights was extremely dim, as if the headlights were not turned on. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer, where it was determined that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced because the filament behind the light bulbs had disintegrated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11725621

Incident

May 20, 2024

Mileage

150,000 mi

I didn't have a accident or got stopped by the police. I can't see anything at night from my headlights I wasn't aware of the recall in 2022. I may have gotten a letter but I do not recall. I would not be reaching out to you all if it was not affecting my driving at night & is really bad we have a bew black top road on [XXX] I can't even see the road properly nor the shoulder but when I put on my bright lights I can and I also live off of [XXX] & there are no street lights. Could someone please assist me on this matter involving my headlights. Thank you & have a Blessed day! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11721405

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

Got a post card stating that the headlamp covers were recalled I called Nissan to make an appointment and Nissan has fought me every step of the way. I am unable to see at night with my headlights on and I have to turn on high beams at night just to see. It's very frustrating to not being able to see and very expensive to pay tickets for driving with high beams on.

NHTSA ID

11712357

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds at night, the low beam headlights would independently dim. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Service Campaign Number: PC861; however, the warranty had expired in March 2022. Another local dealer was contacted for a second opinion, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11704559

Incident

Dec 5, 2025

Mileage

100,000 mi

I am unable to see at night because my headlights are dim but keep passing inspection, and I am afraid I am going to crash... I have complained to my Nissan dealership since the recall was in effect but it has expired and I continuously pass inspection but when I drive at night I have to use high beams and can not see a thing. This is my 4th attempt for help. I almost hit a deer the other night. The lights are so dim that it seems that they are not even on..I have to turn my high beams on just to see and I was warned that I can recieve a ticket for driving with high beams on..I went to the Nissan company and they said there was nothing they could because they didn't honor the recall on the headlight assemblies anymore and I would have to pay $1500 to replace them. I'm disabled and can not afford to do that..what else can Nissan do I am getting ready to get rid of this and advise everyone of Nissan practices.

NHTSA ID

11688813

Incident

Sep 19, 2025

While driving at night in a poorly lit area, I could barely see. I turned on the high beam but it blinded on coming traffic. I checked into this and found out Nissan was sued for this and had a short (approximately 3 months) period when you could get it fixed for free from the dealership. No recall issued even though Nissan was well aware of this. But when I tried to get it fixed, the dealership did not have the parts. There is only one dealership in Sacramento, so by the time I could get back with them, this repair window was closed. I think this was too short of a repair time for such a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11686291

Incident

Oct 13, 2022

I can not drive at night because I can see at all and I am afraid I am going to crash..The lights are so dim that it seems that they are not even on..I have to turn my high beams on just to see and I was warned that I can recieve a ticket for driving with high beams on..I went to the Nissan company and they said there was nothing they could because they didn't honor the recall on the headlight assemblies anymore and I would have to pay $1500 to replace them. I'm disabled and can not afford to do that..please help me

NHTSA ID

11685089

Incident

Dec 6, 2024

(NOT RELATED TO CURRENTLY OPEN HOOD LATCH RECALL) I’m the current owner of a 2013–2018 Nissan Altima, a model range known for a headlight delamination defect. This issue causes the reflective coating inside the headlamp to degrade, severely reducing light output. It’s a major safety risk for drivers, other motorists, and pedestrians—especially at night. A class action lawsuit acknowledged this and led to a limited repair program. However, I—like many others—only discovered the issue after that window had closed. As a second owner, I reached out to Nissan requesting a “goodwill repair,” which they define as a discretionary repair for issues outside normal coverage. Nissan declined. I was told by Erica on the executive team that goodwill repairs are more likely if there’s a history of maintenance at a Nissan dealership. In other words, if the previous owner spent money at a dealership, Nissan would be more willing to repair a known factory defect. This policy is unfair. Routine maintenance should have no bearing on a company’s responsibility to fix a well-documented safety defect. That logic leaves many current owners—who had no control over previous maintenance decisions—without support. Over 1.5 million affected Altimas are still on U.S. roads, many now in the hands of second or third owners. These drivers may be unaware of the issue or unable to afford repairs for something that should never have occurred in the first place. I’m asking Nissan to re-open the repair program or evaluate on a case-by case basis, considering fairness and safety. This could be offered to anyone who purchased the car after the repair window. Until then, I—and many others—are left to drive with dangerously dim headlights, putting ourselves, our passengers, and the general public at unnecessary risk. This is about more than customer service. It’s about corporate responsibility and public safety.

NHTSA ID

11666073

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the contact became aware that the headlamps failed to provide adequate illumination. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with both headlamp assembly, observing that the headlamp assemblies had delaminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11658211

Incident

May 1, 2025

My regular headlights are not bright and cannot see 10 feet in front of my car without my high beams on. I have had my headlights "restored" by professionals and I can still not see in front of my car with my regular running headlights. This has now been an on-going issue and I am unable to drive at night because I cannot see in front of my car and I feel VERY unsafe in doing so. I feel like I am at risk because I cannot see unless my high beams are on and then that puts the oncoming traffic at risk as I am blinding them. I feel like oncoming traffic cannot see my normal headlights and at a risk of getting hit. I fortunately have NOT had any accidents but I cannot drive at night because of this issue. I do not feel safe for myself, my family or other drivers at this point.This has been an on-going issue that seems to be getting worse as the brightness continues to deteriorate as more time goes by.

NHTSA ID

11657561

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

The head lights don’t illuminate properly and the headlight assembly was never changed. You are more than welcome to inspect them please do. I can’t see at all if normal lights are on only if high beam are. I have been pulled over for riding with my high beams on citing it’s a hazard but when I put my normal lights on I was also pulled over because they couldn’t tell my headlights were on. I could potentially crash or cause a crash trying to drive at night. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the police or insurance. There were no warning lamps or messages and the problem first appeared in 2023

NHTSA ID

11654851

Incident

Apr 10, 2023

the headlights are very bad and have to basically drive with the high beams on in order to see because on low beam i almost ran someone over i changed the bulbs a few times but it has not improved any and while changing them that it seems as the bulb burnt something. I have been on the nissan forums and theres many complaints saying that nissan knows something is faulty and they refuse to recall and fix it

NHTSA ID

11653340

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Headlight brightness has diminished to levels below safe operation of vehicle in darkness. Changing bulbs, adjusting beam pattern and restoring outer shell of headlight assembly did not increase brightness. Internal reflectors, which cannot be cleaned or replaced, have lost their effectiveness over time. Driver, pedestrian and all other driver’s safety are at risk. Independent observation and multiple video streaming service videos have reported similar issues. The only recourse is assembly replacement at the expense of the consumer.

NHTSA ID

11632853

Incident

Dec 2, 2024

I purchased my 2015 Nissan Altima in July, 2022 with 56,530 miles on it. At this date it has approximately 71,500 miles on it. I have driven it 14,970 miles in 2.5 years. On [XXX] I was driving home from Thanksgiving in East Brunswick, NJ to my home in South Philadelphia on [XXX] in New Jersey when my car suddenly began to have a slow down in ability to accelerate. I ended up pulling over after a moment of slowing down and not knowing what was happening. When I got to the break down lane, the car stalled. I ended up getting road side assistance to tow me to Ward's Automotive in Mt. Laurel, NJ, where my family and I have brought cars for many years (we used to live in Moorestown, NJ. Ward's ended up telling me the following Monday that my engine was "bad." I have no idea how my engine died after only 71,500 miles on this car! I got oil changes on it every 5,000 miles. I did report to the dealership in December, 2022 that I was hearing weird noises coming from the right front side but they told me they heard nothing. What can I do??? I am still paying for this vehicle (approx. $3,100 left on loan). I did not purchase an extended warranty when I bought it used. I have learned my lesson, but I need help understanding what rights I have. I don't know if there is any Manufacturer's Warranty on the car. Please help me! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11630690

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam head light illumination was extremely dim, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact stated that the headlight bulbs were replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The cause of the failure was yet not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not eligible for the Extended Coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11624196

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

Mileage

165,000 mi

I take my wife's Nissan Altima (2015) to dealer (Jackie Cooper, Tulsa) regularly and (in 2020) asked them why the headlights were so dim. Told me there was a class action suit ongoing and that we could fix it and wait for the settlement to submit receipts, or we could wait and that they would call when the suit was settled. Was never notified by dealership that we could bring it in to get replaced. Called again to check status (10/24) I found out that the deadline is now passed and we can not get it repaired unless we pay. No dealer notification and because Nissan did not ever inform us, we now need to do it on our own. Unsatisfactory (and expensive). It is a known defect and should have been repaired when we brought it in for regular service. This car is unsafe to drive at night, but not due to anything we have done and it should be fixed since we were not notified. 2015 Nissan Altima with 74478 miles and has always been well cared for. Because this is a know problem, mileage and length of time should not have anything to do with fixing it, ESPECIALLY since they neglected to call us. It is a safety problem. My wife (the driver) is [XXX] and needs headlights that work. I never drive the car but I did last night to get gas. The lights are terrible. Dim and yellowish. I spent 80.00 on a kit to buff out the clear lens but that did little to nothing. THIS IMPACTS SAFETY AND I WANT IT FIXED!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11621336

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

The low beam lights on the vehicle are almost non-existent. You have to use high beams for visibility which of course comes with the risk of blinding other drivers. I’ve replaced the headlight housing and still the lighting is poor. I don’t understand why these vehicles weren’t part of a recall after the class action lawsuit showed the lighting to be faulty. This is a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11616740

Incident

Sep 26, 2024

Head lights dim; can barely see at night.

NHTSA ID

11616578

Incident

Oct 20, 2023

The low beam headlights are very dim. I’ve replaced headlight bulbs and tried even clearing headlight lens and still not good visibility

NHTSA ID

11611808

Incident

May 23, 2024

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE VERY BAD LOW BEAM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. ITS SO TERRIBLE THAT ITS LIKE HAVING NO LIGHTS ON AT ALL AND RIDING WITH THEM ON CONSTANT HIGH BEAMS HAS RESULTED IN ME BEING PULLED OVER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BY POLICE BUT ITS ALSO UNSAFE TO ALL OTHER DRIVERS I PASS. THE LOW BEAMS WERE WHY I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN NOV OF 2023. THAT RESULTED IN ME GOING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT HITTING A TREE HEAD ON. FROM THAT ACCIDENT I ALSO LEARNED THE AIR BAGS WERE FAULTY BC THEY DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. I WAS ONLY INJURED WITH A FEW SCRAPES, BRUISES AND ALOT OF SORENESS BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. I HAVE THE PHOTOS FROM THAT WRECK THAT SHOWS THE DAMAGE BUT ALSO HOW THE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY AS WELL. I PLAN TO LOOK INTO WHAT OTHER ACTIONS I CAN TAKE AGAINST NISSAN SINCE THEY KNOW THESE ARE ISSUES AND HAVE NOT FIXED THEM. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER OF 2015. I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN THIS OCCURED BC I COULD NOT SEE BC OF THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. I WAS ONLY GOING MAYBE 5 MPH. 10 MPH TOPS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH QUESTIONS.

NHTSA ID

11610014

Incident

Nov 16, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the front headlights were dim and failed to function as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that in the past five years the headlights had been replaced two times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. Additionally, the contact was informed that a previous warranty for the repair had expired. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11604100

Incident

Jul 2, 2020

I wasn't aware of the recall on my 2015 Nissan Altima headlights. The headlights on my vehicle are so dim, I am unable to drive at night. I was told the recall has expired for this function, which I never received any notification of the recall. This is very disturbing to know that a recall expires and I do consider this a safety hazard due to not being able to see while driving at night. Can someone please assist me with this recall. I would really appreciate any help due to the fact, it's very expensive to replace a recall item to my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11589128

Incident

May 10, 2024

I understand there was a voluntary recall and a lawsuit regarding the headlight system on Altimas between 2011-2018. I also understand we were supposed to have received a notification which we never received. We own 3 Altimas that fall into this grouping and never received notification on any of them. The 2015 Altima's lighting is pretty much non-existent. You cannot see at night and it's dangerous. Took it to Carson Nissan and although they were very nice, we were advised that we were too late and there is nothing they can do. It would be very expensive if we fixed at our expense.

NHTSA ID

11588683

Incident

May 1, 2024