Complaint 2099378

Complaint Summary

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Owner Narrative

(NOT RELATED TO CURRENTLY OPEN HOOD LATCH RECALL) I’m the current owner of a 2013–2018 Nissan Altima, a model range known for a headlight delamination defect. This issue causes the reflective coating inside the headlamp to degrade, severely reducing light output. It’s a major safety risk for drivers, other motorists, and pedestrians—especially at night. A class action lawsuit acknowledged this and led to a limited repair program. However, I—like many others—only discovered the issue after that window had closed. As a second owner, I reached out to Nissan requesting a “goodwill repair,” which they define as a discretionary repair for issues outside normal coverage. Nissan declined. I was told by Erica on the executive team that goodwill repairs are more likely if there’s a history of maintenance at a Nissan dealership. In other words, if the previous owner spent money at a dealership, Nissan would be more willing to repair a known factory defect. This policy is unfair. Routine maintenance should have no bearing on a company’s responsibility to fix a well-documented safety defect. That logic leaves many current owners—who had no control over previous maintenance decisions—without support. Over 1.5 million affected Altimas are still on U.S. roads, many now in the hands of second or third owners. These drivers may be unaware of the issue or unable to afford repairs for something that should never have occurred in the first place. I’m asking Nissan to re-open the repair program or evaluate on a case-by case basis, considering fairness and safety. This could be offered to anyone who purchased the car after the repair window. Until then, I—and many others—are left to drive with dangerously dim headlights, putting ourselves, our passengers, and the general public at unnecessary risk. This is about more than customer service. It’s about corporate responsibility and public safety.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.