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Nissan Altima Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear turn signal or side marker light bulb in a 2019 to 2024 Nissan Altima.

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By
Paul B. Michaels
Author & Photographer
Auto Mechanic Since 1989

 
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2020 Altima Tail Lights
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Open Trunk Lid
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Pry Off Plastic Trim Cover
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the sixth generation 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and the revised or "face lifted" 2023 and 2024 Nissan Altima sedan in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal or rear side marker bulb in the tail light housings.

Owners of other Nissan, Infiniti or related Renault vehicles such as the Rogue, X-Trail, Note, Versa, Rogue Sport / Qashqai, Maxima, Sentra, Juke, Kicks, Murano, Pathfinder, Armada, Frontier, Titan, Quest, NV200, Q50, Q60, QX50, QX60 and QX80 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are Brake 7443 (or W21/5W), Rear Turn Signal # 7440 (or W21W) and Rear Side Marker # W5W (or 2825).

If you'd like to have brighter tail lights that will last much longer than the traditional incandescent light bulbs, install some "error free" 7443 LED, 7440 LED or W5W LED bulbs.

The first two steps are to open the trunk lid and then move to the side of the vehicle with the burnt out tail light bulb.

Note - If you need to change the reverse or parking lights, check out my 2019-2024 Nissan Altima Reverse & Parking Light Bulbs Replacement Guide.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a plastic pry bar tool and a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet.



 

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Release Clips
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Trim Cover Removed
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Fabric Trunk Liner
Locate the black plastic trim cover on the inner edge of the tail light housing.

Use a plastic pry bar tool to gently pry off the black plastic trim cover.

Set the trim cover aside in a safe place.

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Pull Back Trunk Liner
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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Loosen Second Nut
Pull back the carpeted trunk liner to reveal the two threaded bar ends and 10mm nuts that secure the tail light housing in place.

Loosen the two nuts by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a 10mm wrench or a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet.

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Spin Off Nuts
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Two 10mm Nuts
Spin off the two nuts and set them aside in a safe place.
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Locate Power Plug
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Disconnect Power Plug
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Gently Loosen Fasteners
Push in the release tab on the white plastic electrical connector and disconnect the power plug.

The tail light housing is still held in place by a few friction fasteners on the outer edge.

Use a plastic pry bar tool to very gently and very carefully loosen the outer edge of the tail light housing away from the metal body panel.

Do NOT use excessive force to avoid cracking the lens of the tail light housing.

If you live in a cold climate, bring the car into a warm garage and use a space heater to warm up the area before attempting this procedure. Cold plastic can be very brittle and easy to break.

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Gently Tap Back Side
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Slide Off Tail Light Housing
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Housing Removed
You can also use a hammer to gently tap on the back side of the friction fastener to loosen it.

Slide the tail light housing off the rear corner of the vehicle.

Place a towel on the rear bumper cover to protect the paint and the tail light housing from being scratched.

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Metal Pegs On Housing
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Slot On Housing
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Button Head Mount
Turn over the housing to access the bulb sockets.

You'll see the metal pegs and slot on the tail light housing that act as friction fasteners with the grommets and pop rivet button head on the vehicle.

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Three Bulb Sockets
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Brake Light Bulb Socket
The brake light bulb is located at the top of the housing.

The rear turn signal is at the bottom and the side marker is situated at the outer edge.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it out of the housing.

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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Push In New Light Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise
Pull the old brake light bulb straight out of the socket.

Push in a new bulb, wipe it clean and reinsert the socket into the housing.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction.

The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are Brake 7443 (or W21/5W), Rear Turn Signal # 7440 (or W21W) and Rear Side Marker # W5W (or 2825).

If you'd like to have brighter tail lights that will last much longer than the traditional incandescent light bulbs, install some "error free" 7443 LED, 7440 LED or W5W LED bulbs.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Rear Turn Signal Bulb
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
Repeat the process for the rear turn signal light bulb.
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Push In New Light Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Repeat the process for the small side marker bulb socket on the outer edge.
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Side Marker Bulb Socket
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Push In New Light Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise
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Line Up Housing
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Pegs & Grommets
Once you are done replacing the bulbs, line up the light housing with the rear corner of the vehicle.
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Line Up Pop Rivet & Slot
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Slide On Light Housing
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Spin On Two Nuts
Line up the friction fasteners on the back side of the housing with the grommets and slot on the vehicle.

Slide the housing back into place.

Spin on the two 10mm nuts.

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Connect Power Plug
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Tighten Clockwise
Push the electrical connector back into its socket.

Tighten the two 10mm nuts in the clockwise direction until they are snug.

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Replace Carpet Liner
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Liner Secured
Try to avoid over tightening the 10mm nuts to prevent from damaging the plastic tail light housing.

Push the carpeted trunk liner back into place.

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Housing Secured
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Test New Light Bulbs
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Close Trunk Lid
To test the new tail light bulbs, have an assistant step on the brake pedal, activate the parking lights or headlights and turn on the hazard signals.

Tip - If you installed LED bulbs and they don't work, try removing them from the socket, rotate them 180 degrees and push them back into the socket. Some LED bulbs are "polarized" and will only work when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation.

Note - If you need to change the reverse or parking lights, check out my 2019-2024 Nissan Altima Reverse & Parking Light Bulbs Replacement Guide.

Please take a look at all of my 2019-2024 Nissan Altima DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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