The low-beam headlights on 2013–2018 Nissan Altima vehicles are allegedly too dim for owners to drive at night, according to a class action lawsuit.
The Nissan Altimas’ halogen headlights feature reflecting parts that are supposedly flawed. Headlights lose their brightness when the reflective surface ages. When this occurs, police may stop moving vehicles to check the headlights.
Nissan is accused of being aware of the headlight issues since at least 2013, but failed to alert customers. Nissan doesn’t provide free replacement parts; instead, customers must pay up to $1,200 for costs associated with the headlamp assemblies.
The reflector cup inside the assembly supposedly cannot survive the heat produced by the halogen light bulbs and loses its capacity to reflect, which is why customers claim that changing the headlight bulbs does not solve the issue.
The projector cup’s reflecting coating burns off, leaving behind burned material that eventually covers the headlights’ lens and weakens the beam.
The reflector cup cannot be changed or the haze removed since the headlight assembly is sealed. The seals do not adequately guard against moisture, which can harm the cups.
In This Article...
What should the range of my headlights be?
Depending on the headlights you’re using, your headlights should shine a certain distance. High beams or brights should shine 350 to 400 feet in the distance, while low beams or dipped lights should shine roughly 150 to 200 feet away. For maximum effectiveness, fog lights must be positioned at a specific height; they do not need to illuminate the road in front of them.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about how far your headlights must shine, including how to examine each type, align them, and more!
How Far Should Your Headlights Shine While on High Beam (Brights)?
High beam headlights, sometimes referred to as brights, should illuminate the road in front of you for approximately 350–400 feet (107–122 meters).
High beams are advised for when you’re travelling quickly, thus this is roughly twice the distance needed for conventional headlights.
Are the headlights on the 2014 Nissan Altima being recalled?
On July 26, 2021, United States District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr. approved the agreement and stated that it is “fair, reasonable, and adequate for Altima drivers.” The settlement only applies to Nissan Altimas with halogen headlamps from the 2013 to 2018 model years. Xenon or LED headlamps are not included by the settlement. You can read more about the exact models covered and uncovered by the agreement here.
For eligible Altima drivers, the following relief is offered:
- reimbursement for headlamps that need to be changed because of fading before October 25, 2021;
- an addition of three years to the guarantee covering headlamp dimming brought on by delamination, raising the total warranty time to six years;
- For Altimas that are or will be outside the extended warranty period as of January 2022, a single headlight replacement from an authorized dealer.
- For owners whose vehicles are still covered by the six-year extended warranty, Nissan will pay for an immediate headlight replacement from an authorized dealer, and
Owners and lessees of Nissan Altimas who meet the requirements can submit a claim for out-of-pocket costs associated with headlamp replacements here. (Note: According to the settlement website, the online form will be available on or around August 12.) The application for reimbursement must be submitted no later than April 25, 2022.
Drivers of Altima vehicles who are past the six-year extended warranty period will receive a postcard notice from the administrator once the settlement goes into effect informing them that they have 65 days to complete a form asking for free headlight replacements. After that, a six-month window will open up for customers to get free headlamp replacements from a licensed Nissan dealer.
Even if you don’t take any action, you will still be covered and receive a three-year extension of the warranty on your Altima’s headlamps.
On the settlement website, you can find answers to frequently asked issues.
How do I brighten my headlights?
The brightest headlight bulbs are those made of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). They last five to ten times longer, use half the energy, and are 500% brighter than halogen bulbs. LED bulbs emit a clean white light, which vastly increases vision at night, in contrast to halogens, which produce a dim, yellowish light. For these reasons, switching to LED bulbs is the best method to drastically enhance the lighting systems in your car.
New luxury vehicles like Bentleys, Rolls Royces, BMWs, and Audis now outfit some high-end versions with LED headlights due to their exceptional performance. You’ve probably seen their blazing lights, which provide a strong white glare. The good news is that the headlights on your vehicle may be just as bright.
Using an LED headlight conversion kit, stock halogen headlights can be changed over to LED. Since the LED bulbs fit perfectly into your halogen housing and connect directly to your headlight power harness, the conversion process is actually fairly easy. Even your grandma can do this; it’s no different from simply changing a halogen bulb!
Does the Nissan Altima have a headlight recall?
This class action complaint claims that halogen-headlamp-equipped 2013–2018 Nissan Altimas (the “Class Vehicles”) have a flaw that causes the internal reflecting surface of the headlamp to deteriorate, which causes the low beam headlights to fade.
Nissan North America, Inc. (“Nissan”) has consented to a class action Settlement despite vigorously disputing all charges of misconduct and culpability. All genuine Nissan replacement parts have been produced with a new design from December 2018.
It is only a synopsis on this page. For further information, click the sections above. To all current and previous owners and lessees of Class Vehicles, the Settlement offers the following sorts of relief:
(1) Headlamp replacement reimbursement before October 25, 2021: Prior to October 25, 2021, you may make a claim for compensation if you spent money replacing your headlamps because they were dimming. The reimbursement claim submission deadline is April 25, 2022. For further information about reimbursement, see the FAQs.
(2) 3-Year Extension of the Manufacturer’s Warranty Covering Headlamp Dimming Due to Delamination: Nissan will offer a 3-year extension of the manufacturer’s warranty covering headlamp dimming due to delamination, for a total of 6 years of coverage, starting on the Settlement’s Effective Date, which is anticipated to be on or after January 20, 2022. The same conditions that apply to the normal warranty also apply to this transferrable warranty. Bring your Class Vehicle to a Nissan Authorized Dealer during the extended warranty term to receive replacement headlamps.
(3) The choice to get an immediate replacement from a licensed Nissan dealer and receive payment: You can pay out-of-pocket for replacement headlamps from an Authorized Nissan Dealer and submit a claim for reimbursement if you are currently inside the 6-year extended warranty period and do not wish to wait until the Effective Date of the settlement. The deadline for reimbursement claims is April 25, 2022.
(4) One-Time Replacement for Class Vehicles That Are or Will Be Outside the Extended Warranty as of the Effective Date: If your Class Vehicle will not be covered by the extended warranty on January 20, 2022, you will be eligible to receive a single set of headlamps as soon as the settlement is finalized.
Class members who are not covered by the 6-year extended warranty will receive a special postcard notice from the claims administrator when the Settlement becomes effective. Members of the class are thus notified that they have 65 days to submit a form requesting free replacements. After that, a six-month opportunity will open up for you to get free replacement headlamps from a Nissan dealer. Keep a look out for the postcard notice anytime after January 20, 2022, as this is time-sensitive.
How can headlamp alignment be checked?
You must first determine whether the headlamp alignment is correct and whether it has to be adjusted. This can be done in a few simple steps.
Remove any extra weight first, such as objects in the boot, as these could cause your reading to be off. Additionally, make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. Once parked, keep your vehicle around 60 cm from any walls or garage doors.
Now you can turn on the headlights, making sure they are not set to the beam or the fog light settings but rather the regular option. On the wall, the headlights will appear as a circle. Use two pieces of tape or a pencil to draw a plus symbol on the wall. Both lines should run horizontally from side to side and vertically from the top of the circular to the bottom. The center of your headlights is where the two lines converge in the middle.
Use a tape measure to make sure the plus signs’ centers are the same height. If they aren’t the same height, you might need to decrease one plus sign.
Reverse your automobile so that it is around eight meters from the wall once you are satisfied with your marks and they are both the same height. You don’t need to modify anything if the middle of your headlights still falls within your marks. You must readjust your headlights if they are dropping above, below, or to the side of the plus symbols.
What is the cost of changing the headlights?
Headlamp alignment adjustments typically cost between $40 and $51. Between $40 and $51 is the expected labor cost range. Taxes and other costs are not included in this range, nor are your particular vehicle or geographic area taken into account.
With low beams, how far should you be able to see?
Two headlamp settings are available for usage in various circumstances.
high beams and low beams (dimmed headlights) (bright headlights). Depending on your speed and visibility, using the incorrect type of headlight setting can be disastrous and cause an accident.
As a motorist, it is your obligation to be aware of when to use low and high beams.
How Far Can You See With Low Beams?
- Low-beam headlights are ideal for speeds up to 25 mph and provide visibility for roughly 200 feet. The “dimmed” or “dipped setting is another name for the low-beam setting.
- High-beam headlights are appropriate for speeds more than 25 mph and provide visibility out to around 350 feet. Only certain circumstances should call for the usage of the high-beam setting (read more here).
In essence, low beams at night emit significantly less light than high beams. When traveling at speeds greater than 25 mph at night while using low beam headlights, it can be too late to stop before colliding with an item.
Since low beams are much weaker than high lights, they can be employed without endangering other drivers’ vision.
You must switch to high beams when you require more light than low beams can offer (if legal). Keep in mind that while high beams will help you see wider in front of you, improper use of them risked blinding other motorists.
How far should low beams be projected?
The following determines whether to use high- or low-beam headlights:
About 200 feet, or half a city block, of the road is illuminated by low-beam headlights. High beams should be used when you can no longer see more than 200 feet in low beams, unless:
200 feet away and coming at you from the opposite direction is another automobile.
When used in poor weather, high lights can produce glare and become dangerous. And you should return to using low beams if using high beams could cause someone to get blinded on or near the road. However, in general, when there are no other vehicles around and the weather is good, you should use your high lights on both city and rural routes at night.