Buy Nissan Altima Tail Light Assembly

Quick look

The Nissan Altima's tail light-also called the rear combination lamp or tail lamp-keeps you seen and safe. It holds running-light filaments, brake LEDs, turn-signal bulbs, side markers, and the backup light in one red-and-clear shell.

How it works

The tail light sits at each back corner of the car. It glows dim red with the headlights on, then flashes brighter red when you brake. Inside are separate circuits for running, stop, turn, and reverse. The 2013-2018 Altima uses a dual-filament 7443 bulb (or an LED board on higher trims). The owner's manual shows two 10-mm nuts behind the trunk liner that release the whole housing. [Owner's manual PDF]

LED chips reach full brightness about 0.25 seconds faster than an old-style bulb, giving drivers behind you up to 30 feet of extra stopping room at highway speed. [NHTSA study] (NHTSA)

Fit years

• Altima L31 (2002-2006)
• Altima L32 (2007-2012)
• Altima L33 (2013-2018)
• Altima L34 (2019-present)

Each generation has its own housing shape, but bulb numbers stay similar (3157 or 7443 for stop/tail, W16W/T15 for reverse). [Fuse-box.info]

Bulbs & tech

• Incandescent-cheap, lasts ~1 year, slow light-up.
• Halogen-slightly brighter but still hot.
• LED retrofit-uses up to 90 % less power and lasts 25 x longer. [DOE lighting guide]
• OEM LED boards-factory-sealed on 2019+ SR/Platinum trims.
• A quality 7443 LED puts out intense red light and usually needs no resistor because the Altima's BCM monitors current, not resistance. [Philips spec sheet]

Common problems

• Condensation-loose vent seals let moist air in; water beads inside lens. [Altima forum thread]
• Cracked lens from parking bumps.
• Brake lights stay on-mis-adjusted stop-lamp switch (2019-2022 NTB22-020). [Nissan bulletin]
• Blown fuse 51 or 52-kills one side only. [Fuse diagram]
• Recall 19V316000-2019 Altima brake-lamp switch weld defect. [CarComplaints recall]

Warning signs

• One side dark when headlights on
• Rapid-flash turn signal (bulb burned out)
• "BRAKE" dash lamp stays lit after release
• Rear camera image dim (backup bulb out)

Safety & law

U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 sets brightness, color, and placement rules. [FMVSS 108 text]
Driving with a dead tail lamp can earn a violation under NY VTL 375 (1-b). [NY DMV code]
NHTSA research shows enhanced rear lighting cuts rear-end crashes. [Task 2012 report]

DIY replacement

1. Open trunk and peel back carpet.
2. Remove the two 10-mm nuts.
3. Wiggle lamp straight back-no prying sideways.
4. Twist socket counter-clockwise; swap bulb.
5. Test before reinstalling the nuts.
   A short video walkthrough helps visual learners. [Repair video]

Torque the retaining nuts to 36 in-lb-snug, not gorilla-tight. [Owner's manual]

Maintenance tips

• Wash lenses with car-soap, not glass cleaner, to avoid haze. [Car and Driver guide]
• Smear a dab of dielectric grease on bulb bases to block corrosion.
• Fix condensation by removing bulb caps, warming the housing with a hair dryer, then resealing the vent with fresh butyl. [Family Handyman polishing article]
• Check fuse box twice a year; spares clip to the lid for emergencies. [Fuse-box.info]

Upgrades & mods

• Swap to LED boards for quicker light-up and stylish look; some kits keep the factory parking-light dimmer for OEM appearance. [ResearchGate LED reaction-time study]
• Add a high-mount flasher module that pulses three times when you brake-legal in most U.S. states and proven to shave 0.3 s off following driver response. [NHTSA brake-light metrics] (NHTSA)
• Tint film darker than 50 % can fail inspection, so stick with light smoke.

Recycling

Old lenses are PMMA or polycarbonate. Many local e-waste centers now accept automotive lamps because the plastic can be ground and reused. [Recycling article]
LED boards contain aluminum and trace copper that can be harvested.

Related parts

• Rear bumper reflector-does not light up but must stay red.
• Trunk-lid center lamp (Altima coupe).
• Stop-lamp switch on brake pedal; bad switch can keep lamps on and drain the battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What bulb number fits a 2017 Altima tail light?
A: The stop/tail and turn share a 7443 dual-filament bulb. The reverse light uses a T15 W16W. [Owner's manual]

Q: Why does my new LED blink fast?
A: The body control module thinks the lower current equals a burned-out bulb. Add a CAN-bus-ready LED or a small load resistor to normalize current. [DOE lighting guide]

Q: Water keeps pooling inside-safe to drive?
A: It will still shine, but moisture shortens bulb life and can dull the reflector. Dry it and reseal the vent as soon as you can. [Altima forum]

Q: My brake lights stay on even with the key out. What now?
A: Check the stop-lamp switch alignment. Nissan bulletin NTB22-020 explains the adjustment. [Service bulletin]

Q: Do I need two tail lights working to pass inspection?
A: Yes-FMVSS 108 and most state codes require both to function. A single failure can mean a fix-it ticket. [FMVSS 108]

Q: Are smoked covers legal?
A: They are legal only if the lamp still meets brightness rules. Heavy tints can violate section 375 of the NY Vehicle & Traffic Law. [NY DMV code]

Q: Will LED bulbs save energy on my gas car?
A: They draw less than 3 W versus 25 W for twin incandescents. The fuel savings are tiny but alternator load does drop. [DOE lighting guide]