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 ↗2017 Nissan Altima lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Nissan Altima have filed 16 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
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Altima | 420 |
| 2014 Altima | 280 |
| 2015 Altima | 261 |
| 2016 Altima | 37 |
| 2017 Altima (this page) | 16 |
| 2018 Altima | 12 |
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 dominant complaint across these narratives is dim low-beam headlights that progressively worsen over the vehicle's life, typically appearing between 40,000 and 90,000 miles. Owners consistently describe the low beams as too dim to drive safely at night and are forced to use high beams for visibility. Bulb replacement does not resolve the dimness—indicating the problem lies in the headlight assembly or its electrical circuit, not just worn-out bulbs. Lens oxidation is absent in these cases.
Nissan issued an Extended Warranty Program covering headlight replacement for six years from purchase and has a class-action settlement in place. However, enforcement remains problematic. Several owners report that dealers initially tested and cleared the headlights despite clear dimness, or that warranty claims were denied because coverage allegedly expired. Parts shortages have delayed repairs by months. One owner's interior dome light assembly also failed at 42,000 miles when the ceiling clip broke, causing the fixture to detach and strike the driver—the manufacturer offered no assistance for this issue.
The safety impact is consistent across narratives: owners cannot see oncoming traffic, nearly collide with unseen obstacles, and feel unsafe driving after dark.
Same Nissan Altima lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Dim Low-Beam Headlights
Low-beam headlights progressively dim over time or fail to provide adequate illumination at night, making nighttime driving unsafe. Bulb replacement does not resolve the issue, indicating a problem with the headlight assembly or electrical system rather than just the bulbs themselves.
When: Between 42,000–87,850 miles; reports span from early ownership through extended periods
Symptoms owners cite: Low beams become progressively dimmer; Low beams provide insufficient illumination for safe nighttime driving; Driver must rely on high beams to see the road; Bulb replacement does not restore brightness; Lens oxidation is not present, ruling out typical aging causes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers typically recommend replacement of the entire headlight assembly. Parts have been reported on backorder for extended periods, delaying repairs. One owner mentioned that bulbs were changed with no improvement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended Warranty Program issued for headlights covering 6 years from purchase (some owners were notified, others were not). Class action settlement in place providing for headlight replacement. However, warranty coverage has been disputed when owners fail initial dealer testing or when initial diagnosis is delayed.
Interior Dome Light Assembly Detachment
Interior dome light assembly clip failed, causing the fixture to detach from the ceiling and strike the driver while the vehicle was in motion.
When: At 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Interior dome light assembly detached from ceiling while driving; Fixture struck the driver's head
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis indicated that the interior dome light assembly clip had failed and the entire assembly required replacement. Vehicle was not repaired; no cost information provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified but no assistance was offered.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 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 16 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 57,370 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/2017/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.