Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign REVISED August 18, 2023 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from March 2, 2023 has been revised to include the following changes: ⢠Dealer headlamp support by email requests thru âFQA_Inspection_Support@nissan-usa.comâ for claim review will no longer be considered after September 23, 2023 ï See Claims Information, section 2 & 3
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Nissan Altima lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Nissan Altima have filed 280 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 81,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
280
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Altima | 4 |
| 2013 Altima | 420 |
| 2014 Altima (this page) | 280 |
| 2015 Altima | 261 |
| 2016 Altima | 37 |
| 2017 Altima | 16 |
| 2018 Altima | 12 |
4crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 280 lighting complaints filed for the 2014 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 280 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 12 model years of Nissan Altima in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
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.
HEADLAMP, FOG LAMP, OR REAR COMBINATION LAMP FOGGING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign REVISED March 2, 2023 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from September 16, 2022 has been revised to include the following changes: ⢠The parts restriction will be removed on the following parts and dealers will be able to order, as needed, via normal ordering process beginning March 9, 2023: ï 26060-3TA9A LAMP ASSY â HEAD (LH) (Headlamp Assembly) ï 26010-3TA9A Lamp ASSY â HEAD (RH) (Headlamp Assembly)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Halogen Headlamp Warranty Extension REVISED September 27, 2022 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from April 12, 2022 has been revised to include the following: ⢠The claims information section has been updated with parts ordering information: ï Parts must now be ordered using PC914. ï Parts orders using PC861 will no longer be accepted. Prior orders placed using PC861 will continue to be filled as parts become available.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2013-2018 ALTIMA SEDAN; FRONT COMBINATION LAMPS (HEADLAMPS) INSPECTION Voluntary Service Campaign ID # PC861 is no longer active. ï· Repair orders opened after this bulletinâs published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # PC861. ï· Discard all previous versions of NTB22-024.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently describe low-beam headlights that progressively dim over several years of ownership, with many noticing the problem around 3–5 years in. Bulb replacement—including high-quality or LED alternatives—does not restore brightness, and owners report having to use high beams for normal night driving. Many complain the issue makes it impossible to see the road, hazardous in rain or on unlit stretches, and forces them to limit evening travel.
Owners identify the root cause as internal degradation of the halogen headlamp assembly—specifically delamination or clouding of the reflective coating or projector lens inside the housing. One owner noted a visible film-like substance; another observed discoloration of internal chrome coating. Replacing individual bulbs has zero effect. A Nissan dealer confirmed the reflective part goes cloudy as "standard wear and tear," not under warranty.
Nissan has issued a voluntary service campaign (PC807, PC861/PC890) and an extended warranty program for halogen headlamps that expired in 2020. Owners report being placed on waiting lists with no parts availability for years. One owner mentioned a settled class-action lawsuit (Suarez v. Nissan) and referenced the settlement website, confirming Nissan's acknowledgment of the defect. Full assembly replacement costs range from $800 to $2,300 at dealers. The defect affects 2013–2018 Altimas, and Nissan has not issued a recall despite hundreds of complaints.
Same Nissan Altima lighting reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Halogen headlamp assembly delamination/reflector degradation
Reflective coating or projector lens inside the low-beam headlamp assembly degrades, delaminates, or becomes clouded over time, causing severe dimming that renders the low beams nearly non-functional. This is a manufacturing defect affecting the internal optics, not the bulbs or external lenses.
When: Typically 3–5 years into ownership; one complaint noted onset at 2 years, another at 6 years; onset around 75,000–135,000 miles on some vehicles, but many owners do not specify mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Gradual progressive dimming of low beams over months to years; Low beams appear almost non-existent or provide minimal light to roadway; Owner must use high beams continuously for safe night driving; High beams work normally; issue is specific to low-beam projector; Headlight bulbs appear visibly discolored or dark inside the lens when inspected; Replacement bulbs, including LED or high-quality alternatives, provide no improvement; Replacement of entire bulb assembly or re-aiming does not resolve problem; High beams and fog lights work properly, confirming issue is internal to low-beam assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Full headlamp assembly replacement required; dealer estimates $800–$2,300 per owner reports. New bulbs and cleaning have no effect. One owner reported $200 spent on bulbs, re-aiming, and lens cleaning with no improvement. Nissan authorized repair only (aftermarket assemblies mentioned by one owner as alternative). One owner noted aftermarket lens assemblies carry 10-year warranty vs. Nissan's 1-year warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued voluntary service campaign numbers PC807, PC861/PC890 and an extended warranty program on halogen headlamps that expired in 2020. Owners placed on waiting lists; Nissan cited supply chain delays and did not provide ETAs for parts. Class-action settlement (Suarez v. Nissan) acknowledged defect; settlement website referenced (altimaheadlightsettlement.com). Nissan denies coverage as 'standard wear and tear' after original warranty; refuses repair requests from owners outside the window period. One dealer confirmed issue as 'fairly common' and known; another suggested bulb replacement was all that could be offered within warranty limits. One owner reported Nissan told them to pay for diagnosis ($200–$375) and repairs despite knowing the issue.
Synthesized from 280 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
My headlights are very dim I have replaced them both which has not helped and know they have both went out and I have to drive with my hi beams on at all times. Which prior to them going out I drove with hi beams just to see. Very in safe driving conditions. I have spoke with Nissan regarding this and they tell me they have had no complaints regarding my year or model. Basically they don't have…
Main headlights are extremely dim. They have gotten progressively worse over the past two years and now help almost not at all. If I did not have fog lights I would have to drive with the high beams on in order to see at night.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Nissan altima. While driving at unknown speeds, the headlights failed to produce adequate lighting. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 103,000. *dt*jb manufacturer was notified *jb
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…
The projectors in the headlight assemblies have failed after a couple years. The low beams are so dim that we can barely see at night time. We have replaced the bulbs with numerous different bulbs and the bulbs are not the problem, it is the projectors in the headlight assemblies. As can be found online, this is something that is happening a lot with the 5th generation altima. A recall needs to…
Had lighting trouble with your 2014 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2014 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 280 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 148 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 59,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 81,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 59,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
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.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.