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Exterior lightingPart report

2006 Nissan Altima Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
9about this part
Share
1%of 824 total for the year
Median mileage
117,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2006 Nissan Altima, 1% of the 824 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 117,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The headlights on the front of the car are misaligned and it is hard to see at night and in the fog. Even after cleaning the headlights, it is hard to see at night. There have been multiple times, especially in bad weather that I have had to use the high beams in order to see. This is a problem living in the country where there are animals constantly crossing roads. Our vehicle is not covered under this recall and it should be.”

NHTSA complaint #10641388, filed 2014-10, 112,000 miles

“While driving my entire vehicle will periodic jerk. Its done it numerous times since its began. Now the service engine light is on. The paint on my vehicle is also faded and the clear coats has come off. I have seen plenty of other people on forums complaining about the same things. So it appears to me that Nissan is falling down on the job and should be issuing a recall of some sort about these problems. I have two small children and cant afford something catastrophically happening to my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10703075, filed 2015-04, 123,000 miles

“2006 Altima-sluggish performance-had to put 2 quarts of oil in car today-just had oil change two weeks ago. While driving up a slope car starts to jerks hard-pulled off road-cut the car off-took several tries before car would start. It has been doing this for the past two days...”

NHTSA complaint #10392169, filed 2011-03, 89,994 miles

“Takata recall I need to file a complaint against Nissan for the following problems, first is the paint in my car. I just purchased my car 2 years ago at a dealer and the cars paint and clear is fading and my car looks ugly, I have quoted at a paint body shop and they trying to charge $800 or more. I am still paying this car and don't appreciate that I have to pay for something that is a defect from the company. The headlight are awful and I can barely see at night or specially in the rain and afraid to use the high beams to prevent accidents.”

NHTSA complaint #10817617, filed 2016-01

“I noticed that my 2006 Nissan Altima has a design defect. When you start up the engine the speedometer cluster lights up automatically, even if the driving lights are turned off. At night time, this can lead the driver to believe that his driving lights are on as well, since most other cars require for the lights to be turned on, in order to turn on the illumination on the speedometer cluster. I have seen other Nissan altimas driven at night (including a 2010 Nissan Altima hybrid), which LED me to believe that this is common design flaw for these cars.”

NHTSA complaint #10368700, filed 2010-12

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202213%
202011%
201910%
2018136%
2017185%
2016428%
201527028%
201429927%
201344219%
201251%
201121%
201072%
200991%
200891%
200741%
200691%
2005131%
200462%
2003172%
2002414%
200021%
199811%
199744%
199644%
199511%
199422%
199332%

Other parts of the 2006 Nissan Altima

Body and structure
221 complaints
Engine cooling
189 complaints
Engine
166 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
79 complaints
Electrical system
72 complaints
Other or unknown
64 complaints
Air bags
43 complaints
Vehicle speed control
38 complaints
Fuel system
32 complaints
Brakes
26 complaints
Electronic stability control
21 complaints
Suspension
18 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Nissan Altima

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology