Headlight complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2021 | 6 | 5% | — |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% | 6,000 miles |
| 2019 | 28 | 13% | 46,000 miles |
| 2018 | 15 | 8% | 66,000 miles |
| 2017 | 15 | 6% | 98,000 miles |
| 2016 | 8 | 3% | 112,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% | 45,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% | 44,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% | 51,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | 72,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% | 54,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% | 14,000 miles |
| 2002 | 6 | 2% | 9,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% | 80,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 5% | 79,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% | 116,000 miles |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% | — |
| 1996 | 7 | 5% | 30,000 miles |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
When the sun is out and there is no clouds obscuring the sunlight my vehicle has night time lights running, dimming the interior of my car making it difficult to see the speed and other dashboard requirements while perfectly bright and sunny outside and 0800AM as well as 1500PM. This has been going on for two months and I took it in to two dealerships. One told me check your manual and the other went further and told me "by Nissan standards it is functioning normally." This doesn't make sense to me as the sun is out, it isn't dark or dim and yet when on automatic lighting my Night lights, not my normal running lights,,are on and causing me unable to see what's on my dash. Also whe. …
Only happens when driving at night. When driving and keeping your foot on the gas pedal the lights go dim and when you remove your foot of the gas pedal the lights go back to bright. Also the engine is making a rattling noise. Was seen a couple times at the dealership for the lights but was told nothing wrong with it. Its not normal for lights to do that whole driving on the road. Especially for a brand new car that has only gotten 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the word "Malfunction" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake light switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.
Extremely poor lighting condition. It only illuminates approximately 10 feet ahead. Would have to manually use high beams to make night time driving even possible. Extremely poor design and not even sure how it passed safety tests and ratings. I have been warning Nissan since I purchased the car. Now I have learned that the 2021 is improved because of this major defect. This will definitely cause an accident.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while the granddaughter was driving approximately at 30 MPH, she was stopped by the police due to the taillights not functioning. The contact took the vehicle to a local auto parts store and had a fuse replaced. When she reached her destination and turned off the vehicle, the instrument panel warning lights and headlights activated; additionally, the battery was drained. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness had a "thermal breakdown" and confirmed that several wires were burnt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting) after experiencing the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact was driving under 10 MPH when she depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop. The parking brake was activated however, the vehicle rear-ended the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. A police report was filed. The vehicle was still being diagnosed by the Insurance company and had not been repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer had not been notified. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lightning) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, causing her vehicle to be side-swiped on the front and rear driver's side by another vehicle. Additionally, the driver's and passenger's front tires had to be replaced every month due to damage from the front end of the vehicle. No injury was sustained and no medical attention was received. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the suspension, lower control arm, tie rod, tie rod ends, wheel bearing, gas strut, and CV shaft needed to be replaced; however, the mechanic only replaced the suspension. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
The contact owned a 2018 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the exterior brake lights were inoperable which caused another vehicle to rear-end her vehicle. The contact's vehicle then crashed into another vehicle in front of hers. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact suffered a concussion and later received medical treatment at the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lightning). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Related recalls (4)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Sentra vehicles, equipped with LED headlights. The right-hand headlight aim may be misaligned. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-hand headlight, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R20B4.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800867-7769.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these vehicles were missing tamperproof caps that prevent horizontal headlamp adjustment.
Remedy: Dealers will install a tamperproof cap over the horizontal adjustment screw for both headlamps. Owner notification began January 14, 2002.
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
These vehicles do not meet the illumination requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with two new light bulbs for the stop/tail lamps which are brighter than the original bulbs. A label with the new bulb number will also be provided for insertion into the owner's manual.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Sentra years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2019 (28), 2017 (15), 2018 (15), 2016 (8) and 1996 (7) model years. Headlight complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2019.
Is there a recall for Nissan Sentra headlight problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 22V-244 (headlights, Apr 13, 2022); 21V-135 (switch, Mar 3, 2021); 01V-376 (headlights, Dec 12, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Sentra headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 50% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (9 mentions), followed by the tail lights (6).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.