Nissan VIN Decoder: 6 Common WMI Codes
Decode any Nissan VIN free: the first three characters (1N4, 1N6, 5N1, JN1, JN8, 3N1) identify the assigned manufacturer and vehicle type, position 10 encodes the model year and position 11 commonly identifies the assembly plant. Then check that vehicle's recalls and history separately.
Run the exact 17-character VIN, compare the physical vehicle, and keep each history category separate.
A Nissan VIN check can establish the identity of a Nissan car, crossover, SUV, pickup, van, sports car, or EV when the relevant manufacturer data is returned. It can help separate body, engine, fuel, drive, and restraint configurations, but it cannot assess transmission condition, EV battery health, or a vehicle’s complete past.
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Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
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See what the paid report includes →Nissan WMI codes (VIN positions 1–3)
The first three VIN characters identify the assigned manufacturer and vehicle type. These common World Manufacturer Identifier patterns were checked against NHTSA vPIC data, but a prefix alone does not prove final assembly country; confirm the complete VIN’s returned plant fields and vehicle-specific records.
| WMI | What it identifies |
|---|---|
| 1N4 | Nissan passenger cars built by Nissan North America in the USA |
| 1N6 | Nissan pickups and trucks built in the USA |
| 5N1 | Nissan SUVs and crossovers built in the USA |
| JN1 | Nissan passenger cars built in Japan |
| JN8 | Nissan SUVs and multipurpose vehicles built in Japan |
| 3N1 | Nissan passenger cars built by Nissan Mexicana in Mexico |
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan
The VIN plate on a Nissan is at the driver's-side base of the windshield, visible from outside the car. The same number appears on the certification label on the driver's door jamb and on the title, registration, and insurance card. On Nissan trucks it is typically stamped on the frame as well.
Check Nissan warranty coverage by VIN
Use the MyNISSAN owner portal on nissanusa.com with the VIN to review coverage, or provide the VIN to any Nissan dealer or Nissan customer service. Nissan's warranty page (nissanusa.com/owners/ownership/warranty.html) lists a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty on new vehicles.
The Altima's secondary hood latch was recalled three separate times — NHTSA campaigns 15V-116 (2015), 16V-029 (2016), and 20V-315 (2020) — because a binding latch could let the hood open while driving, so running a used Altima's VIN through a recall check is especially worthwhile.
What to verify on a Nissan
- Confirm body and drivetrain fields where a model line spans front-, rear-, or all-wheel-drive configurations.
- For EVs, use the VIN for identity and recalls, then obtain separate battery-condition evidence.
- For pickups and body-on-frame SUVs, verify towing or off-road equipment physically and through original documentation.
- Check Nissan and NHTSA recall resources with the exact VIN.
Among the five Nissan models with at least three model years of NHTSA complaint data (2015–2022), the Rogue drew the most owner complaints per model year — a median of 435.5 across its eight model years with enough complaints to compare — a figure that tracks sales volume as much as reliability. The Versa drew the fewest, a median of 64 per model year. The 370Z, Frontier and Maxima have fewer than three model years with enough complaints on record and are not ranked. On recall campaigns the Rogue leads, with 26 across the period. Medians per model year keep a model with more years on record from outranking one with fewer, but complaint counts still rise with sales volume and time on the road, so this orders models within one make rather than measuring build quality.
Which Nissan model year to avoid
Every Nissan model with several years on record, ranked year against year on NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns. The comparison is within one model only — a year is called out when it stands clear of that model’s other years.
Nissan recalls and reported problems by model year
Each page below reports the NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints on record for one Nissan model year. Model-year data narrows where to look; only a VIN lookup tells you whether a specific vehicle still has open recall work.
Nissan VIN and buyer checklist
- Match all VIN locations and ownership documents.
- Verify propulsion, drive type, body, and installed equipment.
- Request service, battery, towing, or off-road-use evidence as applicable.
- Research title, mileage, collision, theft, and recalls separately.
What a Nissan VIN check cannot prove
- A VIN alone does not prove accident, title-brand, theft, lien, ownership, service, or complete mileage history.
- Decoded equipment can be incomplete or broad; confirm trim, options, and installed hardware on the vehicle and its documents.
- A “no open recalls” result is time-specific and is not a mechanical inspection or a promise that every past recall was completed correctly.
Sources reviewed
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- NHTSA VIN DecoderU.S. government VIN identity and manufacturer-submitted vehicle data.
- NHTSA vPICNHTSA vehicle-product information and decoding resources.
- NHTSA RecallsVIN-specific open safety recall lookup and recall campaign details.
- Nissan official websiteNissan manufacturer resource
- 49 CFR Part 565 - Vehicle Identification Number requirementseCFR, U.S. Government Publishing Office
Nissan VIN check questions
What can a Nissan VIN tell me?
A valid 17-character Nissan VIN can identify the vehicle and may return manufacturer-submitted attributes such as model year, model, body class, engine, drive type, or restraint details. Returned fields vary, so compare them with the vehicle and title instead of treating every blank as a defect.
Can a VIN check confirm the exact Nissan trim and options?
Not always. NHTSA decoding can return useful factory identity data, but exact packages, optional equipment, and later modifications may require the original window sticker, build record, dealer documentation, or a physical inspection.
Does a Nissan VIN check include recall information?
VIN identity and recall status are separate checks. Use NHTSA’s recall lookup and Nissan’s official owner or recall resources, because recall status can change and some newly announced campaigns may not appear immediately.
What should I verify for this Nissan?
Match all VIN locations and ownership documents. Verify propulsion, drive type, body, and installed equipment. Request service, battery, towing, or off-road-use evidence as applicable. Research title, mileage, collision, theft, and recalls separately.
Can I check Nissan warranty coverage by VIN?
Yes. Sign in to the MyNISSAN owner portal on nissanusa.com and add the VIN, or give it to any Nissan dealer. New Nissans carry a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.
What does a Nissan VIN starting with 1N4 mean?
NHTSA assigns 1N4 to Nissan North America passenger cars; US-built examples use it. Nissan trucks have used 1N6, SUVs 5N1, Mexico-built cars 3N1 and Japan-built examples JN prefixes. Confirm the plant of a particular Nissan from the complete VIN. This is a common registered or decoded pattern, not standalone proof of final assembly; confirm the specific vehicle’s complete NHTSA plant fields and manufacturer records.