VIN Report USA

Nissan VIN Lookup

Every Nissan sold in the United States carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Enter it in the free decoder for an instant breakdown: model year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain, body style, and assembly plant — plus any open safety recalls reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). *(Free decoder widget placed here — same as homepage.)*

Select a Nissan model

AltimaRogueSentraFrontierPathfinderMuranoArmadaLeaf

WMI codes

1N4 (USA — SmyrnaTennessee: AltimaMaxima)5N1 (USA — SmyrnaTennessee: RoguePathfinderMurano (MPV code))1N6 (USA — CantonMississippi: FrontierTitan (truck code))3N1 (Mexico — Aguascalientes/CIVAC: SentraVersa (passenger car code))3N8 (Mexico: Kicks-class MPVs)JN1 / JN8 (Japan: GT-R370Z/400Z-class cars and Japan-built MPVs)KNM (South Korea (Renault Samsung): Rogue Select-era models built under contract)5BZ (USA: appears in some Nissan WMI lists as a truck/van code)

World Manufacturer Identifier prefixes that appear at the start of the VIN.

Where to find the VIN on a Nissan

  • Dashboard, driver's side, printed on a plate visible through the windshield from outside the vehicle. This is the easiest location on nearly every Nissan, from the Altima to the Rogue.
  • Driver's door jamb, on the certification label, alongside the tire-pressure information and the build month/year.
  • Engine bay, stamped into the firewall or strut tower area; useful when cross-checking that VIN plates match.
  • Frame rail (Frontier, Titan-era trucks), stamped on the frame; on pickups, compare it against the dashboard plate before buying.

Locations vary slightly by model and year. If the dashboard plate is missing, damaged, or looks tampered with, have the vehicle inspected before you buy.

What each part of a Nissan VIN means

Positions Name What it tells you
1–3 WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) Who built it and in which country
4–8 VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section) Model line, body style, engine, restraint system
9 Check digit Mathematically validates the VIN per 49 CFR 565
10 Model year e.g. L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026 (repeats on a 30-year cycle)
11 Assembly plant Which factory built it
12–17 Serial number Unique to the individual vehicle

Common Nissan WMI prefixes

WMI Built in Typical vehicles
1N4 USA, Smyrna, Tennessee Altima, Maxima
5N1 USA, Smyrna, Tennessee Rogue, Pathfinder, Murano (MPV code)
1N6 USA, Canton, Mississippi Frontier, Titan (truck code)
3N1 Mexico, Aguascalientes/CIVAC Sentra, Versa (passenger car code)
3N8 Mexico Kicks-class MPVs
JN1 / JN8 Japan GT-R, 370Z/400Z-class cars and Japan-built MPVs
KNM South Korea (Renault Samsung) Rogue Select-era models built under contract
5BZ USA VERIFY-BEFORE-PUBLISH, appears in some Nissan WMI lists as a truck/van code

The first character tells you the country (1 = USA, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = Korea). The second and third characters identify Nissan and the vehicle type or division. Because Nissan builds high-volume models in both Tennessee and Mexico, two identical-looking Altimas can carry different WMIs — decoding the WMI is the fastest way to confirm where a car was actually assembled.

Open recalls on Nissans

Our free decoder includes open NHTSA recalls for the VIN you enter. Recalls are repaired free of charge by dealers, so an open recall is a maintenance item to schedule — not necessarily a reason to walk away. Always check the recall status on the exact VIN, not just the model, because recalls are issued for specific build ranges.

Buying a used Nissan? Read the history first

Nissan's best sellers, the Altima, Sentra, and Rogue, are among the highest-volume used cars in America. High volume means high resale, and high resale attracts title washing and flood-damage resale. After major Gulf Coast and Texas flooding events, damaged vehicles can be re-registered in other states with the brand "washed" from the paper title. A full vehicle history report covers title brands, accident records, odometer readings, and salvage history — the records that catch what a clean-looking car can hide.

State-specific resources you can use today:

  • Texas: The TxDMV's "Title Check, Look Before You Buy" points buyers to approved NMVTIS providers for low-cost title reports. Texas law requires "Flood Damage" on the title of a flood-totaled vehicle, and the Texas Attorney General estimates 500,000–1,000,000 vehicles were submerged during Hurricane Harvey — a standing reason to check every Texas-titled Nissan.
  • Florida: FLHSMV's "Motor Vehicle Check" (MVCheckWeb) accepts a VIN or title number and shows Florida title information — useful when a used Nissan was previously registered in a hurricane-prone state.
  • California: If a Nissan was totaled and later rebuilt, the California DMV issues a branded title and registration for the revived salvage vehicle, and requires inspections before it returns to the road.

Full history reports are launching soon, the free decoder above already gives you factory specs and open recalls today. (Honest framing: do not imply the paid report exists yet.) Either way, pair any VIN check with an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Free Nissan VIN decoder, specs and open recalls in seconds.

Nissan VIN FAQ

How many characters is a Nissan VIN?

17 characters, like every passenger vehicle built for the US market since 1981. The letters I, O, and Q are never used, so don't mistake a 1 for an I or a 0 for an O.

Can I get a free Nissan vehicle history report?

Our free decoder gives you factory specs and open NHTSA recalls at no cost and with no signup. Full history reports (title brands, accidents, odometer) are launching soon.

What does the 10th character of the VIN mean?

The model year. On recent Nissans, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026. The codes repeat every 30 years, so our decoder resolves the year using the full VIN.

Where is my Nissan built?

Check the WMI: 1N4/1N6/5N1 vehicles are US-built (Smyrna, Tennessee or Canton, Mississippi), 3N1/3N8 are Mexico-built, and JN-prefix VINs are Japan-built.

Conclusion

Every Nissan has a story written into its 17-character VIN, and a history written into its title records. Start with our free decoder for instant specs and open recalls, then run a full history check and get an independent inspection before you buy.

References

Specifications and recalls come from the public NHTSA vPIC database. This page is an independent reference and is not affiliated with the manufacturer.