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 ↗2014 Nissan Maxima lighting problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Nissan Maxima have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 90,000 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
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Maxima | 9 |
| 2014 Maxima (this page) | 17 |
| 2016 Maxima | 4 |
2crashes
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
2009 ? 2014 MAXIMA DOOR MIRROR TURN SIGNAL REPLACEMENT This bulletin has been amended. The PARTS INFORMATION section has been updated. No other change were made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FOG LAMP AND/OR HEADLAMP FOGGING This bulletin has been amended to add Fog Lamps and modify one step in the flow chart on page 3. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 ? 2014 MAXIMA DOOR MIRROR TURN SIGNAL REPLACEMENT IF YOU CONFIRM If you confirm the turn signal in the left or right side door mirror assembly needs to be replaced. ACTION Replace ONLY the turn signal. Replacement of the entire door mirror assembly is no longer required.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION Occasionally customers may notice water vapor or fog in the headlamps. The information, illustrations, and flow chart in this bulletin are provided to help you in determining if an incident for water/condensation in the headlamps is normal or not. Nissan?s new vehicle limited warranty does not cover physically damaged (cracked or broken) headlamps. All current headlamp 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 headlamp. - Moisture in the air sometimes "travels" into and out of the headlamp assembly through these vents. - Cert
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 on the 2014 Maxima as dangerously dim—so dim that turn signals and fog lights appear brighter. Driving at night requires continuous use of high beams just to see the road, and even then visibility is severely limited. Replacing bulbs with premium aftermarket units makes no difference, leading owners and technicians to conclude the fault lies in the headlight assembly itself.
Mechanics and dealers have identified a projector failure within the sealed headlight unit. One owner's dealer inspection revealed opaque and yellowing material inside the assembly that cannot be accessed. The problem appears early in ownership or low mileage and persists after attempted repairs. One owner reported a dealer-performed TSB that failed to resolve the issue. Full headlight assembly replacement is the only identified remedy, requiring bumper removal and substantial cost. Owners across multiple forums report this same defect affecting 2013–2015 Maximas and Altimas, yet no official recall has been issued despite the documented safety hazard to nighttime driving.
Failure modes owners describe
Dim low-beam headlights
Low-beam headlights fail to provide adequate illumination, with owners reporting visibility hazards at night. The high-beam output appears equal to or brighter than the low-beam output. Replacement bulbs—even premium aftermarket units—do not resolve the issue, pointing to an assembly-level defect rather than a bulb problem.
When: Occurs at night during normal driving; reported from 82,000 to 107,270 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely dim low-beam illumination; Inability to see roadway ahead safely; High beams perform normally or better than low beams; Fog lights or turn-signal lights brighter than low beams; No warning lights reported; Issue persists despite bulb replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners cite dealer diagnosis of failed headlight assembly requiring full replacement. One owner noted internal degradation: opaque and yellowing material inside the sealed headlight assembly cannot be accessed. Assembly replacement requires bumper removal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports dealer performed an unknown TSB at 90,000 miles; the failure recurred. No recalls or TSBs formally mentioned by other owners. One dealer reportedly acknowledged this as a common problem for the model.
Projector headlight failure
Multiple owners and mechanics identified projector failure within the headlight assembly as the root cause of dim output. The sealed, integrated design prevents repair of internal optical degradation.
When: Evident during night driving; timing varies by vehicle mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Dim light output from projector-type headlights; Internal yellowing or opaque material visible through lens
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of entire headlight assembly. Internal projector cannot be individually serviced.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While using low beam headlights at night, lights are very dim and dangerous to see the road ahead. Very dangerous to see ahead of me. I have tried replacing bulb with little effect. Possible that projectors are burnt out and will need entire headlight assembly replacement.
Low beam headlights are dangerously low. No matter the quality of bulbs or the clarity of the lights the low beam headlights offer extremely limited visibility. Requires high beams when driving at night. I have had numerous mechanics look at the issue and it stems from a failure of the projector in the headlamp.
Had lighting trouble with your 2014 Nissan Maxima?
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 Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 87,000 and 107,270 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 87,000; a quarter make it past 107,270. 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/Maxima.
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.