Some Altima drivers learn they don’t qualify for free headlight fix

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CHARLOTTE — Many Nissan Altima drivers are still waiting for their headlights to get fixed after a class action lawsuit was settled over an issue with brightness.

“I noticed it was kind of hard to see,” driver Noel Triplett said. “I thought, ‘Well, it must be my age.’”

He realized that it wasn’t his poor vision. It was the Altima’s dim headlights.

“I would use the high beams and it helped a lot,” he said.

A driver filed a class action lawsuit against Nissan over the headlights. Nissan settled the case but didn’t admit any wrongdoing.

The company agreed to fix certain Altimas for free.

Drivers of 2013-2018 Altimas must go to a dealer who will test their halogen headlights to see if they are delaminated, which happens in the reflective layers in the light.

The responsibility to replace the headlamps falls on the customer if the headlamps are not delaminated and are dim for another reason, such as scratched or yellowed-outer lenses, Nissan said.

The dealership said Triplett’s headlights didn’t show enough delamination.

“I assumed they were honest people, so I didn’t argue when they said that the lights passed the test, that I couldn’t get a replacement,” he said.

Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke continues to hear from drivers who said they’re still waiting for the repair.

Stoogenke checked back with Nissan and the company acknowledged things are taking longer than expected because “disruptions with global parts supplies have caused unavoidable delays.”

What you need to know:

  • This settlement involves 2013-2018 Nissan Altimas.
  • Contact the dealer.
  • The dealer will test your headlights.
  • If the headlights fail, the dealer will fix them for free when it has the parts.
  • If you already got them fixed on your own and paid out of pocket, it is too late to get reimbursed.
  • For more information: www.altimaheadlightsettlement.com or 855-786-0996.

Nissan changed the design of its lights in 2018, so if you have a newer Altima, you should be OK.

VIDEO: ‘They need to fix their issue’: Some car owners still waiting for free repair

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