2014 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Exterior lighting is the leading concern among 1,113 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 51 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 58 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchMay 28, 2020
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Campaign 20V315000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationDec 19, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.
If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 16V911000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Campaign 16V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJan 22, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
These vehicles were previously included in recalls 14V-565 and 15V-116, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk. To correct this issue, Nissan will re-notify all affected owners and dealers will replace the hood latch with a new one, free of charge. The recall began on February 17, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 14V-565 and 15V-116.
Campaign 16V029000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalOct 20, 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 15V681000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasolineAug 4, 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank.
If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 15V486000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchFeb 27, 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, the latch assembly will be replaced. This repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 14V-565.
Campaign 15V116000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareMar 25, 2014
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 14V138000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
299 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Dec 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PRODUCE ADEQUATE LIGHTING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *DT*JB MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED *JB
Exterior lighting, Dec 26, 2018
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING MORE DIM OVER TIME. LIGHTS ARE DIM ALL THE TIME, NOT RELATED TO IDLE OR OTHER FUNCTIONS. MILEAGE IS 72. 000 MILES. NIGHT DRIVING IS HAZARDOUS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LIGHTING ONLY A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR, NOT ILLUMINATING TRAFFIC SIGNS, DIFFICULTY WHEN MAKING TURNS AT A CORNER OR DRIVEWAY. I HAVE TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT, THE HIGH BEAMS WORK FINE BUT ARE A HAZARD FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOW A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
Exterior lighting, Dec 17, 2018
NIGHT TIME DRIVING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, LOW BEAMS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. IT'S LIKE DRIVING WITH PARKING LIGHTS ON, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!
Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2018
DISCOVERED THE INADEQUATELY POOR LOW-BEAM ILLUMINATION LEVEL IN 2017 WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS-SIDE HEADLAMP. NOTICED THE BEAM DID NOT LIGHT UP ON MY SHIRT WHEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE LAMP DID. NOT GREATLY, BUT THERE WAS A BEAM ON MY SHIRT. REPLACED THE LOW-BEAM LAMP AGAIN AND DID BOTH SIDES AND THE PROBLEM WITH POOR ILLUMINATION CONTINUED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. AT THIS POINT MY 2014 MODEL WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD STARTED USING MY HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT AND LIVED WITH IT. THEN DISCOVERED MY CAR WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE AND DECIDED TO SUBMIT THIS NHTSA COMPLAINT.
Exterior lighting, Dec 14, 2018
DIM FRONT LIGHT
Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2018
THE LIGHTING ON MY CAR IS EXTREMELY DIM. I USUALLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON JUST TO SEE THE ROAD. WE TRIED CHANGING THE BULBS AND IT DID NOT HELP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE AT NIGHT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT SEE. IT HAPPENS ON EVERY ROAD EVERY DAY.
Power train, Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2018
AT 53,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION.TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.AT ABOUT 130,000 MILES I NOTICE THAT WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON LOW BEAM YOU COULD BARELY SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT TIME.SO I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THI VEHICLE WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS ON NISSAN ALTIMAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2013 -2015 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.YOU DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING ON LOW BEAM.YOU HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAM ON DARK ROADS.THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.I HAVE HAD THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN MY LOCAL AREA NEW PORT RICHEY PUT IN THE EXACT BULBS CAR CAME WITH FROM FACTORY SAME ISSUE POOR LIGHTING ON LOW BEAM.I THEN HAD NISSAN DEALERSHIP PUT IN BULBS THAT I PURCHASED ON LINE THESE BULBS PUT OUT 8000 LUMENS AND THESE BULBS ARE LED BULBS.THE FACTORY NISSAN BULBS PUT OUT 1200 LUMENS AND ARE HALOGEN BULBS.BOTH SETS OF BULBS I GOT SAME RESULT INSUFFIECIENT LIGHTING ON LOW BEAM.THE NISSAN TECHNICIAN TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT A COST OF $700.00.I FEEL THESE HEADLIGHT LENS WERE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITHOUT QUESTION THEREFORE I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.I HAVE RECEIPTS FROM DEALERSHIP FOR WORK PERFORMED.I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AUTOLINE DEPT, AND FILED A COMPAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS.THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND GOD FORBID SOMEONE WILL LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2018
HEADLIGHTS GRADUALLY WENT DIM OVER TIME TO POINT OF BEING UNUSABLE. NEED TO USE HIGH BEAMS. REPLACING BULBS DOES NOT HELP. SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT GET HIT WITH HIGH BEAMS.
Exterior lighting, Dec 8, 2018
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM AND DO NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. REPLACING THE BULBS MADE NO DIFFERENCE. HIGH BEAMS ARE OK.
Exterior lighting, Dec 1, 2018
HEADLIGHT BULBS WORK BUT BOTH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE IN NOT LIGHTING UP THE ROAD. I HAVE READ THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE BACKING IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES FAILING DUE TO HEAT FROM THE BULBS AND NOT PRODUCING PROPER LIGHTING.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Nov 24, 2018
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM.BULB REPLACEMENT DOES NOT HELP.
Exterior lighting, Nov 24, 2018
CAN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING. HEADLIGHTS AWFUL. $700 PER SIDE TO REPLACE. DEALERSHIP SAYS BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS AND SAW A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT STARTED ONLINE.
Exterior lighting, Nov 20, 2018
THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DIM HEADLIGHTS OF THIS 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA; IT SEEMS TO GET WORST AS THE CAR AGES TO THE POINT OF I CAN NO LONGER SEE AT NIGHT. OTHER DRIVERS STOP ME TO ASK IF I HAVE ON MY HEADLIGHTS. AS A RESULT, I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, WHICH COULD BE UNSAFE AND IMPACT ONCOMING DRIVER'S VISION.
Exterior lighting, Nov 19, 2018
COMPLAINT INVOLVING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS VERY DANGEROUS.
Exterior lighting, Nov 17, 2018
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME HAVE BECOME DIMMER AND DIMMER. WE REPLACED THE BULBS THINKING THEY WERE BURNED OUT. IT DID NOT HELP. AT NIGHT I HAVE TO RIDE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE 1 FOOT IN FRONT OF MY CAR ON LOW BEAMS. IT'S LIKE DRIVING WITH THEM OFF. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JULY 12, 2017. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Nov 14, 2018
IN MY 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA THE LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED SO BAD YOU CAN BARELY SEE 2 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU AT NIGHT. IT MAKES IT VERY HAZARDOUS IN NIGHT AND RAINY CONDITIONS
Exterior lighting, Nov 8, 2018
LOW BEAM LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. HAD BULBS CHANGED AND IT IS NO BETTER AT ALL. WHEN YOU TURN ON LOW BEAM YOU CANNOT SEE 1 FT IN FRONT OF YOU AND HAVE TO BASICALLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TILL THE ONCOMING CAR HAS PASSED. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS !!
Exterior lighting, Nov 7, 2018
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, CANNOT SEE TOO FAR AHEAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT
Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2018
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN STEADILY DETERIORATING TO THE POINT THEY HAVE BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. THE INITIAL THOUGHT THAT THE BULBS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT; HOWEVER, THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE NOT YELLOWED OR FOGGED OVER, AND THE HEADLIGHT BULBS ARE BRAND NEW HIGH-QUALITY HEADLIGHT LAMPS. THERE IS NO OTHER KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HIGH BEAM WORK WITHOUT ISSUE AND IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT TO WHERE THE HIGH-BEAMS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPLEMENT NIGHTTIME LIGHTING IN AREAS WHERE LIOW BEAMS SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTING IS AT THE POINT TO WHERE IT IS BECOMING A HAZARD TO ME AS THE DRIVER; BUT ALSO, IS BECOMING A HAZARD TO ONCOMING DRIVERS, AS THE USE OF HIGH-BEAM LIGHTING IS BEING USED MORE FREQUENTLY. THE BRIGHNESS OF THE LOW BEAM LIGHT DOES NOT CHANGE IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, STANDING, OR IN MOTION, AND THE DIM LIGHTING IS MOST HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING AROUND CORNERS OR ON DARK ROADS WITHOUT STREET LIGHTING. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY NISSAN OR A MECHANIC BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND ESTIMATES TO INSPECT THE LIGHTING ISSUE BEGINS AT $80. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT ISSUE, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK OR INFORMATION THE NHTSA MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ON THIS AND RELATED ISSUES.
Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2018
THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME VERY DIM OVER TIME. BOTH LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT IT IS LIKE DRIVING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS! I OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON SO I CAN SEE AT NIGHT! HAVING HIGH BEAMS ON IS A DANGER FOR OTHER DRIVERS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO MAKE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF NISSAN'S NEGLIGENCE!
Exterior lighting, Oct 13, 2018
THE LOW BEAM ON MY NISSAN IS LOWER THAN NORMAL AND IS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY DRIVE WITH THE LIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM.
Exterior lighting, Oct 11, 2018
HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM ARE SO DIM THAT NIGHT DRIVING IS UNSAFE. I HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAMS WHICH COULD BLIND AN ONCOMING DRIVER. NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND THAT I COULD REPLACE THE LENS WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
Exterior lighting, Oct 9, 2018
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. NEED TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO PROPERLY SEE THE ROAD. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK FOR MYSELF, FAMILY AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I'VE READ ONLINE THAT IT IS NOT A BULB REPLACEMENT ISSUE - BUT A LIGHT PROJECTOR ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHTS. A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RECALLING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS.
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE LIGHTS FAILED TO PRODUCE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (AUTO LENDERS, 6201 BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TWP, NJ 08234, 888-305-5968) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A MINOR ADJUSTMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Exterior lighting, Oct 1, 2018
HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM CAUSING A DRIVING AND SAFETY HAZARD. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND WITHIN THE LAST YEAR THIS ISSUE HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE 3 KIDS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND AT THIS POINT I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY.