Decode a Nissan VIN
How to read a Nissan VIN (position by position)
Every Nissan built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 17 WMIs used on Nissan vehicles, such as 1N4, 1N6 and 3N1.
| Position | Part | On a Nissan VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 3, 4, 5, J, S (the United States, Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1N4, 1N6, 3N1, 3N6, 3N8, 3PC and 11 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Nissan's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current Nissan models |
| 11 | Plant | Nissan plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Nissan's production sequence |
Nissan WMI codes
Nissan WMIs point to 4 countries of manufacture: the United States (1N4, 1N6, 4N2, 4N3…), Mexico (3N1, 3N6, 3N8, 3PC), Japan (JA4, JN1, JN3, JN6…) and the United Kingdom (SJK). 12 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Nissan WMIs for passenger car, truck, suv / mpv, incomplete vehicle and bus vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1N4 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. (also Infiniti) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 1N6 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. (also Infiniti) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 3N1 | NISSAN MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V. (also Infiniti) | MEXICO | Passenger Car |
| 3N6 | NISSAN MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V. (also Chevrolet, Infiniti) | MEXICO | Truck |
| 3N8 | NISSAN MEXICANA, S.A. DE C.V. | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 3PC | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. (also Infiniti) | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4N2 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4N3 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 4N4 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 5BZ | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | UNITED STATES (USA) | Bus |
| 5N1 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. (also Infiniti) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JA4 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) (also Mitsubishi) | JAPAN | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JN1 | NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD (also Infiniti, Datsun) | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| JN3 | NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD (also Infiniti) | JAPAN | Incomplete Vehicle |
| JN6 | NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD (also Chevrolet) | JAPAN | Truck |
| JN8 | NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD (also Infiniti) | JAPAN | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| SJK | NISSAN MOTOR MANUFACTURING (UK) LTD (also Infiniti) | UNITED KINGDOM (UK) | Passenger Car |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Nissan itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Nissan VIN.
Nissan model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2024 Nissan Titan carries R, a 2025 Nissan Versa carries S and a 2020 Nissan Versa Note carries L. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
Nissan recalls
NHTSA lists 432 Nissan vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2014 model year has the most, with 42; 2020–2024 models account for 113.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2008 | 25 |
Nissan models in vPIC
vPIC lists 25 Nissan models for the 2016–2025 model years. Linked models have year-by-year pages with EPA mpg, owner complaints and recalls.
- 370Z 2016–2022
- Altima 2016–2025
- Ariya Hatchback 2023–2024
- Ariya MPV 2025
- Armada 2017–2025
- Frontier 2016–2025
- GT-R 2016–2024
- Juke 2016–2018
- Kicks 2018–2024
- Kicks MPV 2025
- Kicks Play 2025
- Leaf 2016–2025
- Maxima 2016–2023
- Murano 2016–2025
- Nissan Z 2023–2025
- NV 2016–2021
- NV200 2016–2024
- Pathfinder 2016–2025
- Quest 2016–2017
- Rogue 2016–2025
- Rogue Sport 2017–2022
- Sentra 2016–2025
- Titan 2016–2024
- Versa 2016–2025
- Versa Note 2016–2020
Nissan models compared by year →
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Nissan by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Nissan models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a Nissan VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a Nissan paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a Nissan dealer can look it up from the VIN.