Nissan Altima Headlights Defect Class Action

Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit alleged the Nissan Altima headlights were defective in that they could become delaminated, resulting in dimmer light coming from the low beams.

The Class includes residents of the United States or its territories, including Puerto Rico, who purchased or leased a 2013-2018 Nissan Altima manufactured with halogen headlights.

All model-year 2013 through 2018 Nissan Altima vehicles were manufactured with halogen headlamps and are included in the Class, except the following, which were manufactured with Xenon or LED headlamps and are therefore not covered under the settlement:

• Model year 2013-2018, 3.5L SL trim
• Model year 2017, 3.5L SR trim
• Model year 2016-2017, 2.5L SR trim, with LED Appearance package
• Model year 2016-2018, 2.5L SR trim, with Tech package
• Model year 2017, 2.5L SR trim, Midnight Edition

The settlement does not cover lightbulbs, only headlamp assemblies.

The Court preliminarily approved this settlement July 26, 2021.

Class Members are entitled to several benefits under the terms of the settlement agreement:

• Warranty extension: Nissan has agreed to extend the terms of the Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty for the headlamp assemblies in all Class Vehicles by 36 months, subject to the terms and conditions of the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty applicable to the Class Vehicle.
• Reimbursement for replacement of headlamps: Nissan will reimburse Class Members for parts and labor paid for by the Class Member for qualifying repairs involving the replacement of headlamp assemblies if the work is performed up to Oct. 25, 2021, regardless of whether it was done within the extended warranty. If the replacement was performed by an authorized dealer, the full amount the Class Member paid will be reimbursed. If the replacement was performed by a non-Nissan automotive repair facility, the automaker will reimburse actual costs for parts and labor paid up to $1,200 per replacement pair. If the Class Member paid for parts but not labor, Nissan will reimburse the actual costs for parts and shipping.
• Reimbursement within extended warranty and prior to effective date: Class Members within their extended warranty period and do not want to wait until the settlement’s effective date to acquire replacement headlamps may pay out of pocket for replacement headlamps from an authorized Nissan dealer and submit a claim for reimbursement.
• One-time replacement for vehicles already outside the extended warranty: If the Class Member’s 72-month extended warranty period has expired and they are experiencing headlamp dimming due to delamination, Nissan will provide a one-time free replacement of the headlamp assemblies. A valid “Out-of-Warranty Claim Form” must be filed within 65 days of the settlement effective date, and the replacement must be completed by an authorized Nissan dealer within six months after that 65-day deadline.

The settlement administrator will mail a notice of the effective date and Out-of-Warranty Claim Forms to Class Members who can be identified through public records as having extended warranties that will be expired as of the Effective Date.

The deadline to opt out of or object to the settlement is Nov. 22, 2021.

The deadline for in-warranty repairs — within six years if it’s a new purchase or lease — begins on the settlement’s effective date, expected to be Jan. 20, 2022, or later.

The deadline to claim a one-time out-of-warranty replacement will be announced when the settlement becomes effective.

The deadline to file a reimbursement claim is April 25, 2022.