10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,658 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #75

Jan 012017

Altima

  • miles
Lights on low beam are hazardous because they don't provide enough light to see at night while driving. I have to use high beams to see at night while driving. It apparently is a defect on 2013 Nissan Altima and it must be fixed before something bad happens!

- Plainville, CT, USA

problem #74

Nov 052018

Altima

  • 77,000 miles
While driving the car at night the headlights seemed extremely dim I could barely see items on the side of the road and was definitely out driving the distance the low beams were casting down the road. The had gotten progressively worse over time but driving it everyday you get used to it until I drove my wife's car and noticed the major difference. After having it diagnosed simply replacing the headlight bulbs wouldn't fix it and the entire headlight assemblies had to be replaced which would cost nearly $1,000. The bulbs basically melted the inside face of the projector lens and wouldn't let light thru. After complaining to Nissan usa they said they would cover 70% of the cost. I don't believe an owner should be expected to replace an entire headlight assembly after 5 years and that they've made a product that is unsafe and set to fail.

- Blue Bell, PA, USA

problem #73

Nov 302018

Altima

  • 95,000 miles
Low beam lights are really dim. I can't see any more than maybe 15 to 20 feet in front if me with the lights on dim. It is extremely dangerous when driving at night. When you add in rain it is horrendous. This is very dangerous to every Nissan owner who is having to deal with this issue. Driving on any roadway is dangerous especially in areas where there are no streetlights. I live in the city and it is still extremely difficult to see when driving at night. This issue makes a 15 minute drive feel like hours. I have gotten to the point that I hate driving at night.

- Bessemer, AL, USA

problem #72

Dec 052018

Altima

  • miles
After purchasing this vehicle brand new, first owner in September 2013, 4 months later the left fog light went out did not think anything of it. Two months later the right head light went out. Thought it was weird but did not stress myself about it. A year later the right rear light only works when you tap it. Now I am driving all the lights are out from the car. No brake lights no park lights no lights. Took my vehicle to tire kingdom to change bulbs only to find out the new bulbs are not working either and the vehicle has a N electrical problem. Never did understand why drivers behind me would honk their horns at me or be flashing me with their high beam lights. Nissan needs to fix this issue as well as their air conditioning problem. The vehicle only gets cool when the vehicle is in motion. You cannot have the A/C on when being stationary the A/C only produces heat during that time.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #71

Dec 012018

Altima

  • miles
My headlight on my nissian Altima on den is to light at night I cannot see the road I have to put them on bright to see. That is very dangerous when meeting another vehicle and U can't hardly see the road. It cost also $800 to get new light. Everyone I talk to with same model car are having same problem. Come home after dark I was meeting another car light on den, also hit another car on the road.

- Shuqualak, MS, USA

problem #70

Oct 272018

Altima

  • 56,000 miles
Headlights are too dim. Visibility appears to be limited to maybe 50 feet. I have difficulty seeing see road markings (such as dividing lines) and median curbs when crossing intersections -- especially in rainy conditions. I noticed this because I have rented comparable vehicles while on travel and did not have this issue. I recently blew the driver's side front tire because I could not see the median curb while crossing an intersection.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #69

Nov 232018

Altima

  • miles
Since my wife bought this car new, the low beam headlights have been dim and continue to diminish in usefulness to the point where driving with the high beams on is the better alternative. We have tried hid lighting kits but the wiring circuit can not handle the amps and the fuses will blow. Nissan needs to handle this as a recall and repair the headlights in the interest of public safety. Thank you.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #68

Nov 212018

Altima

  • miles
The headlights are progressively getting more dim over time. Lights are dim all the time, not related to idle or other functions. Mileage is 72.000 miles. Night driving is hazardous. The headlights are lighting only a few feet in front of the car, not illuminating traffic signs, difficulty when making turns at a corner or driveway. I have to use my high beams at night, the high beams work fine but are a hazard for oncoming traffic. I reported this to Nissan dealer over a year ago and they adjusted the aim of the light upward but this did not help much. This is now a safety hazard that needs immediate attention.

- Angola, NY, USA

problem #67

Nov 192018

Altima

  • miles
My low beam headlights have no outward projection. It's not a headlight bulb issue. We bought new bulbs-did not help. I can only see 10 ft clearly. I have to use my high beams. I'm told I need to purchase new headlight assembly. This is a manufacturing issue not mine. This is a safety issue.

- Glenville, PA, USA

problem #66

Nov 012018

Altima

  • 140,000 miles
The low beam headlight coverage only extends about 2 feet in front of my car. This became noticeable about 2 weeks ago and it has gradually gotten worse. At times, it looks as if I don't even have my lights on. I have to drive with my high beams on the majority of the time and this poses a safety risk for all drivers in front of me. I have no choice but to drive like this. I was about to get my bulbs replaced and decided to do some research and that's when I came across the many, many individuals with the same problem and now I see that this is a known issue. Unfortunately it seems as though nothing is being done or the question is, how many complaints have to be filed before a recall is issued bc it is obviously some sort of flaw in the manufacturing of these vehicles. Please help because I can't afford to pay $1000 to replace a whole assembly when all one should have to do is clean off the buildup on the outside of a headlight and/or replace a bulb.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #65

Nov 072018

Altima

  • 129,000 miles
2013 Nissan Altima sv. Over the past several months I have noticed the low beam headlights getting dimmer and dimmer. Thinking I just needed to replace the bulbs, I started researching what bulbs to get to replace them. It was then I discovered the true issue: The reflective coating in the headlight projector housing is being burnt off by the heat of the bulb resulting in progressively dimmer headlights over time. The high beams are fine as they are separate bulbs and do not seem to suffer this same issue. I commute 44 miles one way to work in the dark 5 days a week on 2 lane country roads. The progressively dimming headlights are a safety hazard. Soon I will not be able to safely drive this vehicle at night without using the hi beams which is a hazard to other drivers.

- Paint Lick, KY, USA

problem #64

Jan 302016

Altima

  • miles
Because this complaint involves my low beam lights my car is moving. I commute 100 miles a day to and from work. I leave when its dark in the morning and I drive home at night when its dark. My low beams are so dim I cannot see anything further than the hood of my car. If I am driving with my low beams on oncoming traffic is flashing me to put my lights on. If I am driving with my high beams on in order to see the road I am being flashed to turn my high beams off. This started about 2 years ago and has gotten progressively worse. I paid Nissan dealership $200 labor to be told they could not find a problem witht he wiring and I would have to leave it with them longer to research further. I took it to a second mechanic who told me it was not the wiring that infact the reflectors are defective and I should call Nissan. Its not a warranty issue and the only fix is to replace the entire headlight assy at $1,000 each. I do not have that kind of money if I did I would not be commuting 100 miles a day to have a job. I have read endless complaints on this same issue and nothing is being done. I even found where a class action suit is being done and was told that once I fix the problem to please send them my defective lights for them to further research...really!!!!

- Sebastian, FL, USA

problem #63

Aug 012018

Altima

  • 80,000 miles
Headlights are not safe to drive at night. After a few years the vehicles lights fail and you can not replace the bulbs to get your lights to work. The design is flawed and makes the owner have to replace the whole headlight assembly to be able to safely drive at night again. The lights are so dim that it does not even look like you have your headlights on.

- Franklinville, NJ, USA

problem #62

Oct 012017

Altima

  • miles
Low beams don't work properly even after replacing bulbs. This issue started around late 2017.

- Spring Branch, TX, USA

problem #61

Aug 012015

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
Dim low beam (projector lens) bought the vehicle new in July of 2013. The low beams functioned normal for the first three years then became more and more dim. Replaced the low beam bulbs with brighter aftermarket bulbs which seemed to only marginally help. As time went by the brightness still continued to diminish to the point the vehicle was not drivable at night or in the rain unless kept on high beam. Internet research revealed little until recently when the topic on a car forum revealed that the projector lens coating was defective and is a known issue by Nissan which they deny. Replaced both headlight assemblies myself with an aftermarket brand and low beam brightness has returned. The low beam issue is a very serious safety issue and should be acknowledged by Nissan and addressed accordingly.

- Decatur, TX, USA

problem #60

Oct 202018

Altima

  • 152,000 miles
Vehicle low beam headlights are unsafe for night driving they are too dim. They have progressively worsened since I bought a the car new. I often have to ride with high beams on for fear of running over something, or running off the road being I can't see with low beams.

- Sneads Ferry, NC, USA

problem #59

Jun 012018

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
My low beam head lights are a hazard to my night driving, they are extremely dim. And through months have worsened to where it is a hazard to drive at night. I have taken my vehicle to my dealership, and they agree that the entire head lamp system needs to be replaced, I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs, who contacted my dealership, they agreed, and stated they would pay 70 %, so my issue is, if they are willing and agree to pay 70%, this is a vehicle malfunction, and this should not be my responsibility, there should be a total recall on this issue, and full payment for this issue. There are multiple complaints on carcomplaints.com as well. Please look in to this issue, and take care of this hazardous issue. I am waiting for a reply, from you and my dealership. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Ormond Beach, FL, USA

problem #58

Sep 012017

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
Low beam headlights are so dim I cannot see the road in front of me. I have to use my high beams at all times to see the road. This is severe safety issue

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #57

Feb 012018

Altima

  • 185,000 miles
Low beam lights are so dim that there is near no night time visibility, I am having to drive with high beams on and that is causing safety concerns for oncoming drivers.

- Wideman, AR, USA

problem #56

Apr 012018

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
My low beam head lights are extremely dim, and a hazard to night driving. I have contacted my dealership. Along with Nissan Consumer Affairs. They agreed to pay 70% to replace the head lamp system, but I feel this is a safety hazard, and if they agreed to pay 70%, then they feel it is not a consumer issue, it is a vehicle/manufacture issue, and I feel they should replace this for me at their cost, especially if they are willing tompayn70%, they know it is a manufacturer issue, there are hundreds of complaints about this issue on car complaints.com. I feel this needs to be a manufacturer recall issue. I would appreciate your understanding this issue, and compliance with this hazardous situation. It has just been getting worse and worse, so I finally had taken it to my local dealership daytona Nissan/.daytona auto mall/ daytona beach, Florida. I have been in contact with Mr. Gary yeoman's ( owner of dealership)secretary/ (xxxxx) parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Ormond Beach, FL, USA

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