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 ↗2016 Nissan Altima lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Nissan Altima have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Altima | 4 |
| 2013 Altima | 420 |
| 2014 Altima | 280 |
| 2015 Altima | 261 |
| 2016 Altima (this page) | 37 |
| 2017 Altima | 16 |
| 2018 Altima | 12 |
What stands out
Owners have filed 37 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.
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
The 2016 Altima has a widespread headlight problem that's not bulb-related: the reflective coating inside the housing degrades over time, leaving low beams nearly useless. Owners consistently report dim light output that starts gradually and worsens, forcing them to drive with high beams or avoid night driving altogether. Replacing the bulbs doesn't help—the issue is in the lens assembly itself, which deteriorates internally, likely from heat exposure or manufacturing defect in the reflective material.
Safety is the core complaint. Owners report difficulty seeing obstacles, wildlife, and road markings, with some citing near-misses. One owner got a traffic ticket for using high beams; another hit road debris because visibility was too poor. Visibility becomes especially poor in rain.
Nissan settled a class-action lawsuit (Suarez v. Nissan North America, Inc.) and replaced some assemblies free of charge, but the settlement window has closed for most owners. Nissan also issued a warranty extension on headlight failures, though owners dispute the exact start date and coverage terms. Out-of-warranty owners have been denied remedies. Dealers confirm the issue is known but often refuse to cover the ~$1,200 assembly replacement cost. One owner with condensation inside the lens saw it burn out the turn signal, creating an additional safety hazard.
Same Nissan Altima lighting reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Dim low-beam headlights due to reflector/lens degradation
Low-beam headlights fail to provide adequate illumination due to fading or deterioration of the reflective coating inside the headlight housing. The issue is inherent to the headlight assembly design, not the bulbs. Owners report needing to use high beams to see the road, and bulb replacement does not resolve the problem.
When: Typically becomes noticeable within a few years of ownership; owners cite various mileages from as low as 20 miles to 109,000 miles, with most reporting the issue becomes apparent gradually
Symptoms owners cite: Dim or nearly invisible low-beam illumination; Unable to see the road ahead at night even with headlights on low beam; Forced to drive with high beams on; Safety hazard; difficulty seeing obstacles, wildlife, or road markings; Bulb replacement does not fix the problem; High-beam performance also degraded in some cases; Visibility particularly poor in rain or adverse weather
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight housing assembly replacement required; one owner cited $1,200 cost. Bulb replacement alone does not correct the issue. Some owners have had housing assemblies replaced under class-action settlement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class-action lawsuit (Suarez v. Nissan North America, Inc.) settled; free replacement of headlamp assemblies offered, but coverage windows have expired for many owners. Nissan issued a safety notification and warranty extension (described as 3 years from January 2022 in one complaint, though start date clarity disputed). Nissan has denied remedies to some owners outside settlement or warranty windows. Dealers have confirmed the known issue but refused coverage to out-of-warranty owners.
Headlight lens condensation and water intrusion
Moisture enters the headlight assembly, filling the lens with condensation and water, leading to electrical shorts that burn out turn signals and other lighting components.
When: At least one complaint reported within approximately one week of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Visible condensation and water inside headlight lens; Turn signal bulb burned out due to moisture; Risk of additional lighting failures
Repairs/costs cited: Owner noted the vehicle was recently purchased; no repair information provided
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Headlight lowbeams are dim. Replaced with new bulbs, no improvement. Headlight lens are crystal clear from being clear vinyl wrapped when purchased new.
The headlights on the Nissan Altima are dangerously dim. In dry weather the only way to see at night is with the high beams on. When it is raining even that doesn't help. I paid several hundred dollars to have the bulbs replaced at a Nissan dealer and they advised they likely will not help. At no time did the Nissan dealer tell me that there was a recall on the headlights, so I found this out…
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when the head lamps had failed. The contact stated they now had to drive with the high beams illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who were unable to identify a failure. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated that the way the head lamps were made the…
The low beam is almost useless due to not providing enough light to drive with them on. I need to use my high beams just to make it safe for me to drive at night. Not safe for me or other drives on the road. Must be a problem for all 2016 Nissan altimas. Thinking about trading because of this problem.
Had lighting trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 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?
Based on the 37 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 85,143 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.
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/2016/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.