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.
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Are the headlights on the 2013 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:
- For Altimas that are or will be outside the extended warranty period as of January 2022, a single headlight replacement from an authorized dealer.
- 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 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 can I raise and lower my headlights?
Have the helper turn off the headlights while you are standing in front of the vehicle. Next, have the assistant switch on one headlight while you cover the other with the dark cloth or cardboard. Locate the adjusting screw and slowly move it in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction to change the height of the lights.
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.
What are typical Nissan Altima issues in 2013?
Transmission breakdown happens on average at 78,200 miles and is more expensive to repair than vibration and shuttering problems, which tend to start at 50,000 miles. Other common issues with the 2013 Nissan Altima include the transmission shifting at stop/idle, the gear shift being stuck in park, and growling noises coming from the transmission at lower RPMs.
How much does it cost to replace the headlight on a Nissan Altima?
Estimated cost to replace the headlight bulbs on a Nissan Altima. Nissan Altima headlight bulb replacements typically cost between $195 and $239. While parts are priced between $139 and $168, labor costs are predicted to range between $56 and $71.
Is Nissan Altima the subject of a class action lawsuit?
A class action complaint against Nissan claims that the continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) in the 2017–2018 Nissan Altima and Sentra models are defective and that this leads to acceleration issues such as juddering, shaking, clunking, and jerking.
According to the class action lawsuit, cooler issues that make the gearboxes prone to overheating are to blame for the CVT transmission failures. The CVT transmission omits a radiator in favor of a tiny cooler, which is said to be ineffective in controlling the temperature of the transmission fluid. The fluid keeps the belts, pulleys, valves, and other transmission parts lubricated. However, if the transmission fluid is not adequately cooled, the transmission will overheat and have performance issues.
In April 2017, the main plaintiff in the lawsuit bought a brand-new 2017 Nissan Altima. The owner of a Nissan Altima claims that when accelerating uphill, her car lost power. The owner claimed that as she tried to speed, she felt the brakes apply even while she was pressing the accelerator.
The complainant brought her Nissan Altima to the dealership in September 2020 and mentioned these acceleration issues. The lawsuit claims that despite the technician reprograming the transmission control module, the transmission issues persisted.
When the Nissan Altima allegedly crashed against another car in January 2021, the delayed acceleration problem allegedly reappeared.
The plaintiff brought her Nissan Altima to the dealership, which, allegedly, failed to address the gearbox issues despite having the car for 33 days and assuming the fault was with the brakes.
Nissan is accused in the Nissan CVT transmission lawsuit of being aware of the issues with CVT transmissions at least since 2013. Customers who request transmission replacements allegedly receive a CVT transmission that is also flawed.
However, unless they are active duty military personnel, we are unable to assist those who live outside of California or who bought their car outside of California. We will also be unable to direct them to a lemon legal firm in their state. Visit our California Lemon Law Guide for more information to find out more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights.
What is the ideal distance between headlights?
Your vehicle’s ride height can be subtly altered by suspension issues or a large cargo load, which may also cause one or both headlights to move. Your lights may become out of alignment as a result of a collision or running over a road obstruction.
Parking the car on a level surface and shining the headlights on a wall or garage door 25 feet in front of you can help determine whether the headlights are accurately aimed (some cars may require a different distance). For the majority of vehicles, the top of the low beam that shines on the wall should be at or just slightly below the height of the center of the headlight lens. You can anticipate that the light pattern will be lower on the driver’s side to avoid blinding other cars and higher on the passenger’s right side to highlight traffic signs. This should help you determine whether the beams on both sides are pointed in the right directions.
Another approach is to park the car five feet from the wall and then mark the wall’s vertical and horizontal light beam centers with masking tape. Reposition the car 25 feet back. The light beams should be around the same height both vertically and horizontally with the help of the tape line.
For adjusting headlight height, vehicles typically feature a screw or bolt on the headlight assembly. Some vehicles additionally include a screw for adjusting horizontal aim. A bubble level is also included in some cars to aid in modifications.
Without taking apart components like the battery, you might not have much room or even be able to reach the adjusters on some vehicles. Additionally, the vehicle must be perpendicular to the surface you’re shining the headlights on, be on properly level ground, and have no damage to the suspension system, flat tires, or baggage that would impact the ride height.
The owner’s manuals of many vehicles offer scant or no advice on headlight aiming. Ask a repair business to check if you’re unsure. A dealership may inspect the headlight aim and align it for free if the car is still under the basic warranty.
View the video below for a visual representation of everything mentioned above. Additionally, remember to regularly clean your headlights.