VIN Decoder
Nissan VIN Decoder
Nissan builds for the US market in Tennessee, Mississippi, Mexico and Japan, and the VIN prefix tells you which. Infiniti carries its own codes and decodes as a separate make.
Decode a Nissan VIN
Free, no signup. Returns specifications, recall campaigns and a Deal Score.
Nissan WMI prefixes
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. For Nissan they identify both the manufacturer and, usually, the country and plant of assembly.
| WMI | What it identifies |
|---|---|
| 1N4 | Nissan, USA — passenger cars such as Altima and Sentra |
| 1N6 | Nissan, USA — trucks including Frontier and Titan |
| 5N1 | Nissan, USA — SUVs including Rogue and Pathfinder |
| 3N1 | Nissan, Mexico — Sentra and Versa |
| JN1 | Nissan, Japan — passenger cars |
| JN8 | Nissan, Japan — SUVs |
These are Nissan’s common assignments, not a complete register. Manufacturers hold many WMI codes and are allocated more over time. The decode itself comes from NHTSA, not from this table.
What to know about Nissan VINs
CVT history is the thing to ask about
Continuously variable transmissions are fitted across much of the Nissan range and their service history matters. The VIN tells you the transmission type fitted at build; it cannot tell you whether the fluid was ever changed. Ask for records.
Leaf battery capacity is not in the VIN
The Leaf was sold with several battery capacities and, like any electric car, degrades with age. The VIN identifies the model and year but not the current state of health. Check the capacity bars on the dashboard display.
Infiniti decodes as its own make
An Infiniti VIN returns Make 'Infiniti'. The underlying platform may be shared with a Nissan model, but the decode will name the badge on the car.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Nissan VIN starting with 1N4 mean?
1 is the United States and N4 is Nissan's assignment for passenger cars built there, principally at Smyrna, Tennessee. A 3N1 prefix is the same manufacturer building in Mexico, which is normal for Sentra and Versa.
Can I check the CVT transmission from the VIN?
The decode reports the transmission type the vehicle was built with. It cannot report condition or service history, and on a CVT-equipped Nissan that history is the thing that determines whether the transmission is a liability. Ask the seller for fluid change records.
Does a VIN check show Nissan recalls?
VINLytix shows NHTSA-published safety recall campaigns for that year, make and model. A Nissan dealer can confirm free of charge whether the work was completed on a specific VIN.