I am looking at buying new tail lights to make my 96 Maxima sexy *** look better from behind, but I have been running across tail light that are labeled 95-96 and 97-99... Did they change up the tail light assembly so you can't interchange 96 with 97??? Thanks guys for all you help on the matter, I'm a noob when it comes to cars, have been a sport bike guy for a long time...

 

The outer tail lights are the same shaped but flipped ('95-'96 has signal up top and brake on bottom, '97-'99 has brake up top and signal on bottom) and the inners are shaped differently (you'll need a '97-'99 trunk) and they're flipped as well ('95-'96 has reverse up top and brake on bottom, '97-'99 has brake up top and reverse on bottom). They also use different bulb connectors.

 

95-96 have the reverse light and turn signals light on the upper half of the light, and break light on the lower half.
97-99 has them reversed

EDIT: Got beat to it

 

Okay to use the 97-99 Tail Lights I will need to replace the trunk hood... Well that sucks, I like the 97-99 Tail lights better oh well, Thanks for the info guys.

 

and you might as well get the 97-99 rear bumper while youre at it. (95-96 is about an inch shorter and not as good looking imo)