9.4
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $620
- Average Mileage:
- 85,450 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 50 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (30 reports)
- replace both headlight assemblies (20 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I was researching replacing the bulbs with LED's and I recently read that the problem is not the bulb but the coating on the bulb housing. If that's the case, Nissan should be responsible for fixing this dangerous problem. Driving at night is very scary and if it's raining, it's VERY scary. I don't know if a replacement housing would do the same thing after a while. Plus, replacing the housing is very expensive. Nissan should be forced to do a recall on these inferior parts.
- Mark D., Cockeysville, US
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Very dim lights - I can see NOTHING in the dark. Changed light bulbs didn’t fix anything. Have to change a whole assembly which costs a half of car price.
- nadiaa, Miami, US
My wife and I started to notice the dimness over a year ago, but it became more apparent when we drove through some back country with winding roads for a weekend getaway with the family. It was stressful, scary at times and obviously a hazard. I pretty much had to keep my high beams on for the whole stretch of the dark roads especially on sharp and blind turns. Since that experience, we try to steer clear of taking trips in the evening... but even now on regular routine drives on freeways or even pulling up to my court the dim beams are more obvious than ever.
I went to get my oil change service done today, and mentioned my issue with the headlights and inquired about replacements. They suggested running a diagnostic to identify the source but it would cost $375 or something just to do that... I mentioned that they recently did a diagnostic (that I paid for when they were trying to figure out another concern I had with the brake light going and no issues were found, just needed to top off the brake fluid) so I passed on it... I then inquired about replacements and was told they would be about $400 to replace both sides. From that point I googled cost to compare and came across articles, forums that brought to light that I wasn’t alone with my concern and issue with the headlights. And some comments mentioned replacements such as HID or LED didn’t do much to help the dim beam. I am not sure now if I want to spend the money to replace or keep googling on ways to help fix the problem in a more cost effective way. Hopefully there is a recall because the dim low beam is a hazard that fixing will save lives and make it less stressful at night to drive... especially when carrying special cargo.
- Raymund O., Hercules, CA, US
My lights are so dim. If it weren't for the fog lights, I wouldn't see at all.
- Dawn L., Middleton, WI, US
This car has the worst headlights!! The low beam is super dangerous! At first I thought it was the light bulbs problem so I had it changed to hid twice and that never fixed the issue so I changed it to led lights and that also didn't fix the issue. its super dangerous to drive at night! I cant see anything and everybody that rides my car tells me the same thing!!!
I just watched so many youtube videos about people with the same issue. Everyone's complaining about how dangerous this low beam light is! Everyones ending up changing the whole bucket after changing their light bulbs many times which didn't do anything!! There are lawyers looking for people with this same issue to put a lawsuit on Nissan.
- Jung C., Pflugerville, TX, US
This headlight issue is extremely dangerous when driving at night. LED or any other type of bulbs do not fix the problem. Nissan should issue a recall on these headlights and replace them in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 models.
- ht092381ht, Claxton, US
Low beam headlights are getting progressively dim. Have to drive on high beams to see safely. This is a safety hazard. Have read online this related to the lens projection assembly failure over time but Nissan dealer claims they've never heard any complaints.
- etu, Tennille, US
Low beam lights are horrible ... very dangerous. Especially is raining, you cannot see at all. Have to use high beam lights in order to see.
- Lynda W., Bristol, US
My lights have been dim for over two years now. I have taken my car to multiple auto shops to have them fixed, but their solution was to swap out the light bulbs which didn’t change anything. For a long time, I thought I was the problem and I needed glasses since multiple mechanics thought they fixed the issue. It wasn’t until someone else drove my car and has the same complaints that I realized that it was definitely a problem and it was just me being crazy.
I finally had a mechanic get in my car, after replacing my bulbs again with supposedly the greatest LED lights, to show him exactly what I was experiencing. They took my car in for a better diagnosis and told me about a class action that is in progress with respect to the low beam headlights. The biggest shock of all is the fact that they quoted me over $1100, after paying for multiple new light bulbs replacements.
It is soooooo scary and dangerous driving at night in my car and barely being able to see the the road and the street signs. It scares me thinking what if someone jumps in the road but I can’t see them. There needs to be a recall for this headlight issue. $1100 is no chump change!
- Elishama P., Hillsboro, OR, US
I bought a 2014 Nissan Altima Sv for my wife today, January 30th, 2021.
The first time she got to drive it in the dark, she wasn't able to see anything because the low beam headlights were severely dim. She had to drive with the high beam headlights on so she could see.
I have seen many complaints on the same problem, I believe that Nissan needs to fix the headlight system. I think a recall should be taken care of.
- Ira S., Tulsa, OK, US
Low beam headlights are very dim and I can hardly see road. I changed bulbs, cleaned head lights, but nothing fixed the problem. I need to change headlights completely.
- Hriday R., Orlando, FL, US
In unlit areas, have to use high beams to see. This is incredibly dangerous.
- Jeff K., Lawrenceville, US
click to see larger images
I'm tired of the extremely bad visibility of the low beam headlights in my Nissan Altima SV 2014. I can't drive safely in the night because I can't see the road unless I use the high beams. I replaced the bulbs in the headlights and the problem is still there. I paid to get the exterior of the front headlights restored and the problem is still there. I recently had a car accident during daylight (not related to this issue) and the right headlight of my car had to be replaced. What a difference! I can see now the right side of the road with the low beam headlights. Visibility in the left side is still very bad. Do I need to have a car accident on the left side in order to get my left headlight replaced or is Nissan going to do something about their very bad design?
- Hector A., Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Headlights are extremely dim. Have changed them to LED but they do not help.
- glarsen, Sa, US
My car lights are so dim I have to use the high beams everyday. The worst experience. My poor mother can't even use my car because it's so difficult to see at night.
- Rachel S., Irving, US
Need to use high beams at night to see, if I don't I'm afraid I will hit something and it is hard to see road. I talked to dealers, mechanic said it is very expensive to replace the units, something I can not afford as I am on a fixed income. I have always had Nissan and never had this problem.
- Elizabeth H., Sicklerville, US
Many owners of Altimas from 2013-2015 are complaining of a deterioration in their headlight assembly. Changing bulbs does not work as it is apparently the reflector materials that have failed. The repair costs around $900 according to my dealership (though they have made offers to subsidize a bit of it).
At present, the car cannot be safely driven at night as the headlights, on low beam, provide no light at all. High beams do solve the problem but can blind or bother oncoming traffic.
- jsmusic, Silver Spring, US
Just pay for repairs or put in a recall service, so it can be fixed.
- ezequiell, Beaumont, US
I have always had good luck with Nissan. I brought this car in December and noticed the headlights were horrible and brought it to my mechanic. He told me the headlights were defective, the chrome had worn off and they didn't work properly and need to be replaced or drive with hi-beams. Nissan wanted $100+ to diagnose the problem. Disappointed in Nissan
- Anita C., Deville, US
Low beams are too dim for safe driving. Can’t see while driving at night and if raining at night.
- mischin, Spring Hill, US