Nissan VIN decoder
Enter a Nissan VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Nissan VINs
Japanese-built Nissan cars start with JN1 and SUVs with JN8. Many US Nissans come from Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi: cars start with 1N4, trucks such as the Titan and Frontier with 1N6, and SUVs with 5N1. Sentras and Versas from Mexico start with 3N1.
Nissan is part of Nissan Motor Co..
Good to know
- The 4th character on many Nissans is the engine code, unlike most brands that use the 8th.
- Infiniti, Nissan's premium brand, uses codes such as JN1 and 5N3.
- Nissan's recall lookup with the full VIN shows completed recall work.
Nissan manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 13 codes for Nissan. The first character shows the region where the vehicle was built (1, 4, 5 USA; 2 Canada; 3 Mexico; J Japan; K Korea; W Germany; Z Italy).
| Code | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type | Also used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1N4 | Nissan North America, Inc. | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | Infiniti |
| 1N6 | Nissan North America, Inc. | United States (USA) | Truck | Infiniti |
| 3N1 | Nissan Mexicana, S.A. De C.V. | Mexico | Passenger Car | Infiniti |
| 3N6 | Nissan Mexicana, S.A. De C.V. | Mexico | Truck | Chevrolet, Infiniti |
| 3N8 | Nissan Mexicana, S.A. De C.V. | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 3PC | Nissan North America, Inc. | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Infiniti |
| 5BZ | Nissan North America, Inc. | United States (USA) | Bus | – |
| 5N1 | Nissan North America, Inc. | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Infiniti |
| JN1 | Nissan Motor Company, Ltd | Japan | Passenger Car | Infiniti, Datsun |
| JN3 | Nissan Motor Company, Ltd | Japan | Incomplete Vehicle | Infiniti |
| JN6 | Nissan Motor Company, Ltd | Japan | Truck | Chevrolet |
| JN8 | Nissan Motor Company, Ltd | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Infiniti |
| SJK | Nissan Motor Manufacturing (Uk) Ltd | United Kingdom (Uk) | Passenger Car | Infiniti |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Nissan VIN
| Position | Meaning | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer code (WMI) | Maker, brand and country, as in the table above. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle descriptor | Model, body, engine and safety equipment. Each maker sets its own layout here. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typing errors and fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the year (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory code, set by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial number | The production number of that vehicle. |
Model year codes
The 10th character of a Nissan VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Nissan models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 44 model names under Nissan. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
- 200SX
- 240SX
- 300ZX
- 350Z
- 370Z
- Altima
- Altra
- Altra-EV
- Ariya Hatchback
- Ariya MPV
- Armada
- Axxess
- Cube
- Frontier
- GT-R
- Juke
- Kicks
- Kicks MPV
- Kicks Play
- Leaf
- Maxima
- Micra
- Murano
- Nissan Z
- NV
- NV200
- NX
- Pathfinder
- Pickup
- PULSAR
- Quest
- Rogue
- Rogue Select
- Rogue Sport
- Sentra
- Sentra Classic
- Stanza
- Stanza Wagon
- Titan
- Van
- Versa
- Versa Note
- X-Trail
- Xterra
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Nissan
Bus, Incomplete Vehicle, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Passenger Car, Truck
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan
Windshield
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside.
Driver door frame
On the label on the door pillar, with tire pressures and weights.
Papers
On the title, registration and insurance card.
Nissan recalls by VIN
Every decoded Nissan VIN on VinGear shows the safety recalls NHTSA lists for that model and year. To know whether the repair was already done on your vehicle, ask a Nissan dealer or use Nissan's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Nissan VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Nissan VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN in the box at the top of this page and press Decode VIN. You get the model, year, engine, factory and safety recalls from NHTSA, free.
Is this Nissan VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding and recall checks are free with no sign-up. The data comes from NHTSA, the US vehicle safety agency.
What do the first three characters of a Nissan VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 13 codes for Nissan; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Nissan VIN show options or the owner?
No. The VIN codes the model, body, engine and factory, not options or colour. It never shows the owner, and VinGear does not look up owners.