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moderate Owners of the 2005 Nissan Altima have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Altima (this page) | 12 |
| 2006 Altima | 6 |
| 2007 Altima | 4 |
| 2008 Altima | 3 |
| 2009 Altima | 7 |
Misalignment of the lights diminishes frontal illumination which could result in a vehicle crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
NISSAN: EXTERIOR LAMP FOGGING. OCCASIONALLY WATER IS NOTICED IN THE EXTERIOR LAMPS. THIS IS GENERALLY NOT DUE TO A DEFECT. ALL CURRENT EXTERIOR LAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE (NOT SEALED). THIS IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW FOR EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF AIR FROM TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS (WARMER OR COLDER) WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE LAMP. MOISTURE IN THE AIR SOMETIMES TRAVELS INTO AND OUT OF THE LAMP ASSEMBLY THROUGH THESE VENTS. CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE MOISTURE TO CONDENSE. THE FOGGING/CLOUDINESS SHOULD DISAPPEAR OVER TIME WHEN THE LAMP IS IN A DRY ENVIRONMENT. NO MODELS LISTED. UPDATED 5/7/10. UPDATED 12/9/13.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: XENON HEAD LAMP SERVICE. A XENON HEADLAMP IS NOT FUNCTIONING BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY (AN INTERNAL ISSUE). IN MOST CASES, REPLACEMENT OF A BULB OR HID CONTROL UNIT WILL SOLVE THE INCIDENT. THIS INCLUDES ALL MODELS WITH XENON HEAD LAMPS. NO MODELS LISTED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗EXTERIOR LAMP FOGGING.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners report consistent problems with 2005 Altima headlights that compromise night driving safety. Low beam projection falls far short of older vehicles — one owner measured a 2005 Altima projecting less than two-thirds the distance of a 1998 Altima. Adjustment mechanisms fail to enable proper beam aim because high and low beams move together; attempting to angle low beams correctly pushes high beams into the ground.
Headlight lenses develop internal fogging and oxidation within weeks of cleaning or after years of garage storage. Dealerships quote around $1,000 per lamp for replacement with only one year coverage. One owner noted lenses appear burned on the inside and cast dim light comparable to driving in fog.
High beam misalignment sends light straight up into the sky rather than down the road, visible 10-15 feet above the vehicle. Radio display suffers insufficient illumination and contrast, unreadable while driving even after Nissan acknowledged the design defect. Some rear and parking lights fail completely, unresolved by bulb replacement.
Nissan cited "design" as the reason for low beam weakness and acknowledged design problems with the radio but refused repairs or replacements. Recall 07E087000 addresses certain TYC halogen headlamp assemblies with misaligned photometrics, though some dealers claim it does not apply by VIN.
Low beam headlights project significantly less light distance than comparable older models, creating dangerous night-driving conditions. One owner directly compared a 2005 Altima to a 1998 Altima and found the 2005 projected less than 2/3 the distance. Adjustment screws affect both high and low beams proportionally, making proper aim impossible.
When: Present from new; one case at 230,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low beam headlights project far less light than expected; Difficult to see road at night; Dangerous night driving; Adjustment screw adjustment affects both high and low beams equally; Cannot achieve proper beam alignment
Codes mentioned: 07E087000
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealer cited 'design' as reason for insufficient projection; no fix offered. Recall 07E087000 exists for misaligned TYC halogen headlamp assemblies (P/N 20-6644-00) but some dealers claim no recall applies by VIN.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan acknowledged complaint, claimed no defect, cited design. Recall 07E087000 issued for certain TYC halogen headlamp assemblies with misaligned photometrics not complying with FMVSS 108.
Headlight lenses fog up internally within weeks of cleaning or develop internal oxidation/burn marks over time. Owners report lenses become opaque and dim despite regular cleaning or garage storage. Dealership stated faulty design; replacement cost quoted near $1,000 with only 1-year guarantee.
When: Within weeks of cleaning; one case after 5 years of storage
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight lenses fog up internally; Lenses oxidize and become opaque; Lenses appear burned or discolored on the inside; Headlights very dim at night, like driving in thick fog; Fogging returns within weeks of cleaning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted replacement cost at approximately $1,000 per lamp with 1-year guarantee. Owners unable to afford replacement; repeated cleaning provides only temporary relief.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged faulty design but offered only expensive replacement option.
High beam headlights cast light straight up into the sky rather than down the road. Beam is visible 10-15 feet above the vehicle, creating distraction and safety hazard. Appears related to adjustment mechanism that couples high and low beams together.
When: Present on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: High beam casts light straight up to sky; Beam visible 10-15 feet above vehicle; Creates distraction and dangerous visibility condition
Codes mentioned: 07E087000
Repairs/costs cited: Related to headlight assembly misalignment per recall 07E087000; no repair outcome documented in complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 07E087000 addresses photometric misalignment in certain TYC halogen assemblies.
Rear lights, license plate lights, and parking lights fail to operate. Owner replaced bulb but lights remain non-functional.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Rear lights not functioning; License plate lights not working; Parking lights not working; Bulb replacement did not resolve issue
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced bulb without success; no further diagnosis or repair documented.
Radio face plate display lacks sufficient luminosity and contrast, making information unreadable while driving. Problem occurs both during day (sunlight washing out display) and at night. Nissan acknowledged the design defect stemmed from radio location placement but refused to replace unit.
When: From new
Symptoms owners cite: Radio display lacks sufficient illumination; Poor contrast makes text unreadable; Impossible to read while driving without looking directly at unit; Sunlight washes out display during day; Display hard to see at night as well
Repairs/costs cited: No repair offered; Nissan indicated redesign would occur in 2006 model year.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan acknowledged problem was caused by radio location being too high, refused replacement, indicated redesign coming in 2006.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Based on the 12 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 122,667 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.