Classification:

Reference:

EL03-030n

Date:

NTB03-074n

July 7, 2020

HEADLAMP, FOG LAMP, OR REAR COMBINATION LAMP
FOGGING
This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page.
Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

APPLIED VEHICLES: 2011-2020 Nissan – All models

SERVICE INFORMATION
Occasionally, customers may notice water vapor or fog in the headlamps, fog lamps, or
rear combination lamps.
The following information, illustrations, and flow chart are provided to help you determine if
water/condensation in a lamp is normal or not.
Nissan’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover physically damaged (cracked
or broken) headlamps, fog lamps, or rear combination lamps.

All current headlamp, fog lamp, and rear combination lamp assemblies are vented to the
atmosphere (not sealed).


This is necessary to allow for expansion and contraction of air from temperature
"variations" (warmer or colder) without damage to the lamp.



Moisture in the air sometimes "travels" into and out of the lamp assembly through
these vents.



Certain environmental conditions may cause moisture to condense.



The fogging/cloudiness should disappear over time when the lamp is in a dry
environment.

Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are
properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job
properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply to a particular vehicle, DO
NOT assume that it does. See your Nissan dealer to determine if this applies to your vehicle.

1/5

Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of the headlamp, fog lamp, or rear combination
lamp assemblies based on environmental conditions or sudden temperature changes (such
as in a car wash, or parked on a cold, sunny day). This is normal. See Figure 1.

Head lamp
Grille

"Cloudy"
condensation (fog)
Lens area

TP030533

Figure 1: Example of normal condensation, ok

NOTE: This condensation can appear anywhere on the outer lens, typically at its
coldest location.

Head lamp
Grille

Water droplets
or pools

Lens area

TP030534

Figure 2: Condition may not be normal (example)

If the moisture trickles, drips, or pools, it may not be considered normal and the lamp
assembly may have a water leak path. See Figure 2 for an example.
If large drops of water collect inside the lens, refer to the flow chart on page 3 to find the
next step.

2/5

NTB03-074n

SERVICE PROCEDURE
Should a customer note water in a headlamp, fog lamp, or rear combination lamp
assembly, please use the following flow chart to determine if the condition is normal or
requires lamp replacement.
Visual inspection: Does the
lamp show any puddles, runs
on lens, or large (larger than 3
mm diameter) droplets of
water?

Is there an accumulation
of water puddled in the
bottom of the lamp, which
is 10 mm or more in
depth?

YES

NOTE: If there is any physical
damage (cracked or broken),
replace the assembly.
Physical damage is not
covered by warranty.

YES

Replace
the lamp
assembly.

NO

Replace only the lamp housing.
Reuse any bulbs, sockets,
harness, ballasts, etc.

NO

Within the lamp assembly that has
condensation, is the light source
or “bulb” a Xenon or Halogen type
(non-LED)? See page 4 for bulb
type descriptions.

NO

LED-only lamp assemblies,
when turned ON, will not
generate enough heat to
dissipate normal
condensation.

YES

Pull the vehicle into the service
bay. Turn on the lamps.
Monitor the condensation
in the lamps for 30 minutes.

Is condensation area
on lens clearing?

 Refer to the Electronic Service
Manual for lamp housing
replacement.

NO

 Refer to the Warranty FRT
Manual for claims coding
when applicable.

YES

NOTE: Not all lamp assembly
replacements are covered
under warranty.

DO NOT replace the lamp assembly.
Inform the customer the following:

 Warranty part return of the
assembly will be requested.

 All headlamps, fog lamps, and rear
combination lamps allow some moisture
(water vapor) inside through vents which
prevent physical damage due to pressure
buildup when lamps are turned on.

 Any parts found physically
damaged (cracked or
broken) will be charged
back to the dealer.

 Certain weather conditions will cause
water vapor to become visible on the
lens.

 Any parts determined as
“no defect found” may be
charged back to the dealer.

 Condensation will clear on its own as
the environmental conditions change.

3/5

NTB03-074n

Headlamp, Fog Lamp, and Rear Combination Lamp Assembly Bulb Types and
Identification
NOTE: Headlamp assemblies can be a combination of the bulbs described below.

Halogen bulb
Halogen bulbs use a conventional filiment that produces light when electricity is passed
through it.
This type of bulb can be identified as follows:


Has an internal filiment inside the bulb.



When turned OFF, the filiment may briefly glow as it cools off.



No external Control Module or HID Control Unit is needed to operate them.

Xenon bulb
Xenon bulbs do not use a filament. Instead, they produce light when a high voltage current
is passed between two tungsten electrodes through a mixture of Xenon (an inert gas) and
certain other metal halides.
This type of bulb can be identified as follows:


Has no filiment, but instead has two opposed electrodes that are housed in a
capsule the size of a pea, and then is enclosed inside a secondary glass bulb.



When turned ON, will illuminate immediately and then over the period of several
seconds continue to brighten until it has reached its maximum rated output.



When turned OFF, no afterglow will be present.



Has an HID Control Unit; usually attached to the headlamp assembly.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb
LED bulbs are semiconductor devices, which illuminate when forward bias electric voltage
is applied.
This type of bulb can be identified as follows:


Has no filiment or electrodes as described for Halogen or Xenon bulbs.



When turned ON, the bulb reaches maximum rated output immediately.



When turned OFF, the light output immediately stops; no afterglow present.



Has a Control Module; usually attached to the headlamp assembly.

4/5

NTB03-074n

AMENDMENT HISTORY
PUBLISHED DATE

REFERENCE

DESCRIPTION

July 29, 2003

NTB03-074

Original bulletin published

April 18, 2007

NTB03-074a

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models, and SERVICE PROCEDURE
added

February 26, 2008

NTB03-074b

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models

July 21, 2008

NTB03-074c

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models

August 8, 2008

NTB03-074d

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models

January 4, 2010

NTB03-074e

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models, and SERVICE PROCEDURE
revised

February 21, 2012

NTB03-074f

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models, and SERVICE INFORMATION
revised

November 27, 2013

NTB03-074g

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models

January 20, 2015

NTB03-074h

Changes made throughout

June 15, 2015

NTB03-074i

Changes made throughout

February 26, 2016

NTB03-074j

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models

March 27, 2017

NTB03-074k

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models, and a description of headlamp
assembly bulb types has been added.

March 19, 2018

NTB03-074L

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models

April 20, 2018

NTB03-074m

Fog lamps added, and flow chart modified

July 7, 2020

NTB03-074n

APPLIED VEHICLES updated to include current
production models, and rear combination lamps
added

5/5

NTB03-074n