Nissan Altima Headlight Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The 9005 bulb is among the most frequently specified high beam types across the Nissan Altima's history, appearing for the 2002-2006 and 2022 model years. It is an ANSI-standard single-filament halogen bulb rated at 12V and 65W, fitted with a P20d base.
• The H9 bulb serves as the high beam bulb for the 2009 and 2014-2018 Altima. Though governed by ECE standards and originally associated with European markets, it carries US approval as well. It shares the same 12V, 65W rating as the 9005 but uses a PGJ19-5 base, making the two types physically incompatible despite identical wattage.
• The H11 is the most consistently specified low beam bulb across the Altima lineup, covering halogen-equipped variants from 2009 through 2022. It is a single-filament ECE-standard bulb rated at 12V and 55W, with a PGJ19-2 base. Although it shares the ECE standard with the H9, the two use different bases and are not interchangeable.
• For the 1993-1997 Altima, both the high beam and low beam functions are handled by the 9003 bulb. The 9003 is a dual-filament ANSI-standard halogen bulb with a P43t base, rated at 12V with 60W on the high beam filament and 55W on the low beam filament. A single bulb therefore serves both lighting functions in those model years.
• The 1998-2001 Altima similarly uses a dual-filament arrangement, with the 9007 bulb covering both high and low beam positions. The 9007 is an ANSI-standard halogen bulb with a PX29t base, rated at 12V, 65W for high beam and 55W for low beam. Despite sharing a dual-filament design with the 9003, the two types use different bases and are not interchangeable.
• HID low beam options appear on certain Altima configurations from 2002 through 2015. The D2R bulb is specified for reflector-type housings in the 2002-2006 and 2009 model years, while the D2S is specified for projector-type housings in the 2014 and 2015 model years. Both are ECE-standard xenon discharge bulbs rated at 85V and 35W, but they use different bases (P32d-3 for D2R, P32d-2 for D2S) and are housing-specific, meaning one cannot substitute for the other.
• HID bulbs such as the D2R and D2S require an external ignitor to initiate the high-voltage arc that produces light. This is a fundamental operational difference from halogen bulbs, which operate directly from the vehicle's 12V circuit without additional ignition components.
• The 2019 and 2020 Altima high beam specifications carry a "With Halogen Capsule Headlamps" qualifier for the 9005 bulb, indicating that the specification applies only to halogen-equipped variants of those model years rather than to all configurations.
• The 2016 Altima low beam position carries two separate specifications: H9 for units produced from October 2015 onward, and H11 for halogen capsule headlamp configurations. These represent distinct fitments within the same model year, and the H9 and H11 use different bases, making them incompatible with each other's housings.
• The H1 bulb is specified as the low beam halogen option for the 2002-2006 Altima. It is a single-filament ECE-standard bulb with a P14.5s base, rated at 12V and 55W. In those model years, the low beam H1 and the high beam 9005 are separate, dedicated single-filament bulbs rather than a shared dual-filament unit.