Buy Nissan Sentra Tail Light Assembly

Here's a complete, plain-language guide to the Nissan Sentra tail light-also called the tail lamp, rear lamp or rear combination lamp-covering what it does, what fits, how to fix it, and how to stay legal and safe.

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Overview

The tail light assembly lives at the back corners of every Sentra sedan. It houses the running light, stop (brake) light, rear turn signal, reverse light and built-in red reflector. Newer B18-generation cars (2020-present) use factory LEDs, while earlier B15-B17 versions (2000-2019) rely on replaceable halogen bulbs such as 7443 dual-filament for tail/stop and 921 for reverse. The assembly is wired through the rear combination-lamp harness described in Nissan's factory service manual.

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Fit & Compatibility

• B15 (2000-2006): single outer lamp per side; shared 7443 stop/turn bulb.
• B16 (2007-2012): outer lamp plus small inner lamp on the trunk lid; most bulbs still 7443/921. (CarCareKiosk)
• B17 (2013-2019): sleeker housing; retains halogen bulbs except on SR Turbo where part of the lamp is LED. Recall PM971 affects the stop-lamp switch, not the lamp itself.
• B18 (2020-present): factory LED lamps on SR, conventional bulbs on S/SV; aftermarket "sequential" LED kits are plug-and-play but must still meet DOT rules.

Always match the build year before ordering; mounting tabs and inner-lens shape changed with each generation. Nissan lists the exact bulb sizes in every owner's manual-for example, see page 8-29 of the 2021 manual.

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Functions

1. Tail/running light - glows any time the headlights or parking lights are on.
2. Brake (stop) light - brightens when the brake pedal is pressed.
3. Rear turn signal - flashes amber or red, sharing the same socket on many years.
4. Reverse light - clear lens, activates in "R."
5. Side marker & reflector - stays lit for side visibility and reflects even when the bulb is out.

The lamp's photometric output and color must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108.

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Common Issues

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Troubleshooting

1. Check bulb first. 80 % of dark tail lamps are just a bad filament.
2. Verify fuse. Tail lamp fuse sits in the interior box, position 6 (B15) or under-dash J/B position 26 (B17).
3. Test switch. If all rear lamps stay dark, unplug the stop-lamp switch at the pedal and probe for 12 V.
4. Inspect wiring. Service-manual diagrams show grounds B13 & B19; corrosion here causes most flickers.

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Installation Guide

Open the trunk, remove the carpet push-pins, and back out the two 10 mm nuts. Pull the tail lamp straight rearward; tabs release with a pop. Swap the bulb or entire housing, seat the locator pins, tighten to hand-snug (about 5 N·m), and reinstall the trim. Follow this step-by-step video if you prefer visuals.

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Maintenance Tips

• Keep lenses clear; cloudy plastic cuts light by up to 60 %.
• Replace bulbs in pairs so brightness matches.
• Dab dielectric grease on every new bulb for long life.
• Aftermarket LED bulbs run cooler and last longer but choose CAN-bus-safe types to avoid hyper-flash.

For more DIY help, the breaks the job into two-minute clips.

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Safety & Legal

DOT says brake lights must be steady, not pulsed, unless factory-installed. Tinted lenses must still show red light at 1,000 ft at night. Check local codes before installing smoked covers.

If your Sentra is in the 2016-2019 build range, confirm the stop-lamp-switch recall at Nissan's official site. (official recall lookup).

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Bulb & LED Options

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Always disconnect the battery if you're splicing an add-on LED harness. See Nissan's wiring repair guide for proper solder and shrink-tube technique.

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Upgrades

• Full LED assemblies for 2020-25 Sentra plug into factory harnesses and add welcome-animation and sequential turn signals.
• Smart bulbs with built-in resistors cure hyper-flash without extra load resistors.
• Smoke or clear lenses change style but must keep DOT marking SAE AST on the lens.

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Q: How long should a Sentra tail-light bulb last?
A: A halogen 7443 lasts about 5 years or 40,000 flashes under normal driving.

Q: Do I need to replace the whole assembly if the lens cracks?
A: Yes. Moisture ruins the reflector and wiring, and repairs won't pass inspection.

Q: Can I fit LED bulbs in my 2012 Sentra?
A: Yes-choose CAN-bus-safe 7443 LEDs and confirm polarity before locking the socket.

Q: Is the 2016-19 brake-light recall free?
A: Nissan replaces the switch free of charge at any dealership.

Q: Where is the tail-light fuse?
A: It's fuse 26 in the interior box on B17 cars; fuse 6 on earlier B15 models.

Q: Why does my LED bulb "hyper-flash"?
A: LEDs draw less power; the flasher thinks the bulb is out. Use a bulb with a built-in resistor or an LED-rated flasher.

Q: What torque for the tail-lamp nuts?
A: Hand-tight only-about 5 N·m (44 in-lb) as noted in the service manual.

Q: Are sequential aftermarket tail lights legal?
A: Yes if they meet FMVSS 108 brightness and color, and the sequence completes in under 0.95 s.

Q: Will replacing my tail lamp reset any warning lights?
A: No. Tail-light circuits do not set fault codes on the Sentra.

Q: Do I have to disconnect the battery?
A: It's recommended to avoid shorts when changing bulbs or the whole lamp.

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Helpful Resources:

• Official stop-lamp recall lookup
• FMVSS 108 summary on rear lighting
• DIY replacement video
• Nissan owner's manual PDF
• Fuse-box diagram with locations

These links open in a new tab so you can keep this guide handy.