The Nissan Altima brake component utilizes 7443, 3157, 2458, and 1157 bulb sizes depending on the specific version. Available information covers a time range from 1993 through 2023.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Nissan Altima brake bulb specifications cover model years 1993 through 2023, with three distinct bulb types used across that span: the 7443, 3157, and 1157.
The 7443 is a dual-filament T20 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and 5W low filament. It is the brake bulb specified for the Nissan Altima across the 2014-2023 model years, with the exception of 2021.
The 3157 is a dual-filament T25 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 27W high filament and 7W low filament. It is specified for model years 1998-2009, again with a gap in 2007 and 2008 not reflected in the data.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base, rated at 12V, 21W/5W. It shares the same wattage rating as the 7443 but uses a bayonet mount rather than a wedge base, making the two physically non-interchangeable despite identical power ratings. It is specified for the 1993-1997 Altima.
Although the 7443 and 1157 share the same 21W/5W power rating, their base types differ fundamentally. The 7443 uses a wedge base while the 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, so one cannot serve as a direct physical substitute for the other.
The 3157 carries a higher high-beam filament wattage of 27W compared to the 21W of both the 7443 and 1157, meaning the three brake bulb types are not interchangeable even where socket compatibility might otherwise exist.
For the Center High Mount Stop Light, the Altima uses either the 921 or the 912, both of which are T15 wedge bulbs rated at 12V. The 912 is a variant of the 921 but draws 12W compared to the 921's 16W, and the two are not equivalent in output despite sharing the same base type.
The 921 is specified for the Center High Mount Stop Light on the 1998-2009 Altima, while the 912 is specified for the 1993-1997 Altima. Substituting a 912 in a socket designed for a 921 would result in reduced light output.
All bulb types listed across both the brake light and Center High Mount Stop Light positions conform to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada.
The brake bulb position and the Center High Mount Stop Light position on the Altima use entirely separate bulb types across all listed model years, with no overlap in specified part numbers between the two positions.