2018 Nissan Altima Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 6%of 226 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 46,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2018 Nissan Altima, 6% of the 226 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,000 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.
“My headlights are awful I can't see at night because the lights project on the ground and I have to have the lights on bright just to see there should be a recall on this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11289123, filed 2019-12, 48,000 miles“Low beam headlights are not effective in seeing at night. Known issues in Nissan Altima models where headlight assembly reflective parts becomes foggy and distorted/melts due build up of heat from halogen light bulbs located in the assembly. Creates dangerous road conditions not only for the driver but for others as well. Nissan continues to ignore the ongoing issues and has yet to issue an alternative to correct the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11407825, filed 2021-04, 44,000 miles“The vehicle is frequently not recognizing that the brake is depressed. The brakes work fine but with the car not recognizing the brake is depressed, it will not start (as it is a push button start and the brake needs to be depressed for the car to start). Also because of it not recognizing that the brake is depressed, it occasionally will not shift out of park. Additionally because the vehicle does not recognize that the brake is depressed, the brake lights do not work which is a huge safety issue as other vehicles do not know that the car is braking. …”
NHTSA complaint #11299156, filed 2020-01, 34,455 miles“The headlights on my 2018 Altima SL are INCREDIBLY dim. I have tried two different LED manufacturer's bulbs with the same result. It is beyond dangerous to drive my car at night. Sadly, my floodlights are FAR brighter than my low beams. There are countless complaints for this issue over the past few years. It sounds like their solution was less than desirable for most customers. This should be an actual recall to ensure that the Hundreds of thousands (probably more) of the 2013- 2018 Altimas on the road are safe for the drivers as well as the cars around them. …”
NHTSA complaint #11685139, filed 2025-09“Brake light switch went out 3 months after getting car. Car would not start then after it started it would not go in gear nor would the brake lights turn on dealership repaired it. The Brake light switch went out again one year later while driving causing my brake lights not to turn on resulting in me getting rear ended after. After I replaced the switch for the second time. It lasted maybe a year and a half or so and went out again leaving me stranded having to get a tow truck to bring car home and had to replace it a third time. …”
NHTSA complaint #11512915, filed 2023-03Related 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…
- 10222726Sep 23, 2022Expiration Notification - Halogen Headlamp Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Dealer Announcement ***** On March 25, 2022 Nissan launched a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain…
- 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…
- 10218756May 19, 2022VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2013-2018 ALTIMA SEDAN; FRONT COMBINATION LAMPS (HEADLAMPS) INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary service campaign on certain specific model…
- 10218752May 19, 2022VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2013-2018 ALTIMA SEDAN; FRONT COMBINATION LAMPS (HEADLAMPS) INSPECTION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please…
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 2018 Nissan Altima
60 complaintsBrakes
49 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsAir bags
36 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsForward collision avoidance
15 complaintsEngine
14 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
12 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsElectronic stability control
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsSuspension
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Nissan Altima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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