2013 Nissan Altima Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 442about this part
- Share
- 19%of 2,314 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 442 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2013 Nissan Altima, 19% of the 2,314 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The low beam headlights provide very little illumination which makes the car unusable at night. I did report to my dealer who suggested I purchase a new set on the internet and they would install them. I did that and thosre worked well for less than a year. The 2013 needs to be recalled tol replace the headlights with a newlly designed version.”
NHTSA complaint #11309143, filed 2020-02, 60,000 miles“My Nissan Altima 2013 headlights are so poor that I cannot drive it at night. When I have to drive, I will either follow a car in front of me closely at night or use high beams. Degradation started to get worse by 3 year, I replaced with better bulbs and then with hids but still lighting is so poor that I only use this vehicle during day time.”
NHTSA complaint #11350451, filed 2020-08, 25,000 miles“Low beam headlights are extremely dim!! I have to drive with the high beam headlights on. Oncoming traffic never flashes their lights at me, so the high beam lights must be dim, also. The low beam headlights are so dim, that cars behind me at night, cast a shadow in front of my car. My low beam headlights don't even put out enough light to prevent a shadow being formed in front of my car!!”
NHTSA complaint #11413517, filed 2021-04, 50,000 miles“I have a 2013 Nissan. I start to notice the lights getting dim 2016-2018. My headlights are so dim I can't drive my car at night. I have put myself and others in danger because of this problem. I have contact Nissan about the problem and they act as if putting people in danger is not a issue to them. I have replaced bulbs and the problem seems to be worse than before.”
NHTSA complaint #11230567, filed 2019-07, 190,000 miles“The low beam headlights have gotten so dim we cant even drive at night with out high beams this I feel is a safety issue and we are not the only ones having this problem with the same make and model from 2013 to 2015 Nissan should recall and replace them as this is a safety issue that started about 4 years ago”
NHTSA complaint #11373647, filed 2020-11, 80,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10242160Aug 18, 2023Halogen 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…
- 10235698Apr 5, 2023HEADLAMP, 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.
- 10234095Mar 2, 2023Halogen 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…
- 10222728Sep 27, 2022Halogen 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…
- 10222727Sep 23, 2022Expiration Notification - Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Dealer Announcement ***** On May 20, 2022 Nissan conducted a Voluntary Service Campaign (VSC) on 40…
- 10222726Sep 23, 2022Expiration Notification - Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Dealer Announcement ***** On March 25, 2022 Nissan launched a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain…
- 10222723Sep 23, 2022VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2013 ALTIMA COUPE; FRONT COMBINATION LAMPS (HEADLAMPS) Voluntary Service Campaign ID # PC889 is no longer active. ï· Repair orders opened after this…
- 10222721Sep 23, 2022VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2013-2018 ALTIMA SEDAN; FRONT COMBINATION LAMPS (HEADLAMPS) INSPECTION Voluntary Service Campaign ID # PC861 is no longer active. ï· Repair orders…
- 10220252Sep 16, 2022Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign REVISED September 16, 2022 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from May 20, 2022 has been revised to…
- 10218765May 20, 2022Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign REVISED May 20, 2022 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from March 25, 2022 has been revised to…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 13 | 6% |
| 2017 | 18 | 5% |
| 2016 | 42 | 8% |
| 2015 | 270 | 28% |
| 2014 | 299 | 27% |
| 2013 | 442 | 19% |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 7 | 2% |
| 2009 | 9 | 1% |
| 2008 | 9 | 1% |
| 2007 | 4 | 1% |
| 2006 | 9 | 1% |
| 2005 | 13 | 1% |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% |
| 2003 | 17 | 2% |
| 2002 | 41 | 4% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% |
| 1996 | 4 | 4% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
| 1994 | 2 | 2% |
| 1993 | 3 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2013 Nissan Altima
514 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
506 complaintsSuspension
289 complaintsOther or unknown
241 complaintsElectrical system
159 complaintsEngine
158 complaintsBody and structure
134 complaintsSteering
94 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
63 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
60 complaintsBrakes
58 complaintsFuel system
49 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 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