Problems · by component

2002 Nissan Maxima exterior lighting problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Maxima cite exterior lighting, 11% of all 220 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
25
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Driving vehicle on road and the accelerator pedal no longer working vehicle. coasted to the side. Car had to be towed. Vehicle cranking without problem but will not accelerate pedal goes to floor. At consideration of purchase of vehicle, car fax and all details about vehicle were viewed for possible purchase. Items on recall are now a concern as a safety issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2025Exterior lighting, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11646469
“MY NEW CAR WAS PERFORMING AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AND MAINTENANCE WAS BEING COMPLETED ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. MY VEHICLE STARTED TO CUT OFF DURING OPERATION IN 2004/5. IT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE DRIVEWAY, EXPRESSWAYS, ETC. IT DIDN'T MATTER. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT MY HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO BLOW A BULB EVERY 2,0000-3,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED IT. THIS OCCURRED IN 2005. MID- JULY TO LATE NOVEMBER 2006 MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL IN COLD/WARM WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. MY CAR STARTED TO CONSUME OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE IN APRIL 2007. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD IT HAD INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERNAL COMPONENTS. I WAS QUOTED $4,000-$4,200 FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN MY REPAIR WORK AND OIL CHANGES AT NISSAN DEALERS AND NOW WHEN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS GONE I AM TOLD I NEED TO BUY AN ENGINE. THIS IS UNFAIR AND COSTLY. I CANNOT USE THE CAR FOR WORK COMMUTES OR TO GET TO SCHOOL. NISSAN HAS BEEN TOLD MANY TIMES ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT FAILURE AND THE MECHANICS BASICALLY ONLY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lightingODI 10210130
“I'M THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED WITH THE DESIGN AND QUALITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WITHIN 6 MONTHS I'VE NOW SPENT $600 ($300 EACH INCLUDING LABOR) TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY AUTO ALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE A $6 BULB. THERE IS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW AND SHOWS LACK OF QUALITY PRODUCED BY NISSAN. APPARENTLY NISSAN IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ONCE THE PAPERWORK IS SIGNED AND THE DEAL IS DONE ON THE SALE OF THEIR AUTOS. I PLAN TO RETURN TO TOYOTA FOR MY NEXT AUTO PURCHASE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2005Exterior lightingODI 10120116
“THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PARTS ON THIS ALTIMA ARE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT THE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. BUT THE ACTUAL DEFECT CAUSED BY THE LIGHTS BEING TOO HOT AND THEN MELTING THE PLASTIC WAS NOT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION UNTIL EXPENSES HAD BEEN INCURRED ON REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES. WHENTHE LEFT SIDE WAS PROPERLY DIAGNOSED FINALLY, THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER DENIED REPLACEMENT AND REFUSED TO ATTEMPT ANY SOLUTION. DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE LIGHTS AND THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY PART, I HAD TO WAIT TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE. THE PARTS COMPONENTS FOLKS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. MORE IMPORTANTLY NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SEVERAL MECHANICS INCLUDING ONE SERVICE PERSON AT THE NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL ALTIMAS WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2004Exterior lighting, EquipmentODI 10104393
“MOISTURE DEVELOPED IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION AT ANYTIME. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE MOISTURE.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2004Exterior lightingODI 10079645
“ON MARCH 21, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY NISSAN MAXIMA WERE STOLEN FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED FEW MONTHS AGO. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PAY A $500 DEDUCTIBLE EVERY TIME THE HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE STOLEN. I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE ALL THE TIME. IF I KNEW THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SUCH A TARGET FOR THIEVES, I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE MAXIMA.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2004Exterior lightingODI 10063969

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2002 Maxima problem areas