At a glance
- Position 4
- Engine type
- Position 6
- Model change number (generation)
- Rogue plants
- W Kyushu, Japan (JN8) or C Smyrna, Tennessee (5N1)
- 2027 model year
- V
On this page
What the Nissan VIN decoder shows, and what to double-check
Run a Nissan VIN and the decoder returns NHTSA's vPIC record for it: model year, model, grade (trim), body style, drive, engine, transmission, GVWR class, doors, the plant, and the air bag locations Nissan reported. Recall campaigns for that model and year come from NHTSA; to see whether one is still open on this car, check the VIN at NHTSA's recall search.
vPIC is the government's record, not a perfect one. Now and then a field is wrong for a VIN, and the 2021 Murano below is a real case: its engine size comes back as 5.6 liters. When a value looks off, compare it with EPA's fuel economy data for that year and model, or with the window sticker.
How to read a Nissan VIN
Nissan's model year 2027 coding system, filed with NHTSA, defines each position. The last column is the 2021 Murano from the example.
| Position | Nissan's definition | MY27 examples | 5N1AZ2AS2MC102857 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of the WMI | 1 and 5 United States, 3 Mexico, J Japan, S United Kingdom | 5 |
| 2 | Manufacturer | N = Nissan | N |
| 3 | Completes the WMI | 1N4 car and 1N6 truck (Canton), 3N1 car and 3N8 MPV (Mexico), 5N1 MPV (Smyrna), JN1 car and JN8 MPV (Japan) | 1 |
| 4 | Engine type, set line by line | Murano A 2.0L, Armada A 3.5L, Rogue B 1.5L, Altima B 2.5L, Pathfinder D 3.5L, Frontier E 3.8L | A |
| 5 | Line | Z Murano and Nissan Z, T Rogue, L Altima, B Sentra, D Frontier, R Pathfinder, Y Armada, P Kicks | Z |
| 6 | Model change number | Goes up when a line is redesigned: Murano and Rogue 3, Rogue Hybrid 4, Altima 4, Sentra 9 | 2 |
| 7 | Body type and grade | Murano B SV, C SL, D Platinum; Rogue A S, B SV, D Platinum | A |
| 8 | Restraint system, which also carries the drive on many lines | Pathfinder 1 to 4 for 2WD, 5 to 8 for 4WD; Rogue A 2WD, B or D 4WD | S |
| 9 | Check digit | Per 49 CFR 565 | 2 |
| 10 | Model year | M 2021, V 2027 | M |
| 11 | Manufacturing plant | C Smyrna, N Canton, W Kyushu, M Tochigi, 9 Nissan Shatai Kyushu, L Aguascalientes, Y Aguascalientes 2 | C |
| 12 | Serial, 000001 to 999999 | First digit | 1 |
| 13 | Serial | 0 | |
| 14 | Serial | 2 | |
| 15 | Serial | 8 | |
| 16 | Serial | 5 | |
| 17 | Serial | Last digit | 7 |
A letter in position 4 only means something for its line and model change. A is the 2.0L in the 2027 Murano and the 3.5L in the 2027 Armada, and the 2021 Murano with an A had a 3.5L V6, so the decoder reads every VIN against its own model and year.
Example: a 2021 Nissan Murano VIN decoded
5N1AZ2AS2MC102857 was listed on GSA Auctions as a 2021 Nissan Murano. vPIC returns:
- Model year and model: 2021 Nissan Murano, grade S, sport utility
- Plant: Smyrna, Tennessee (C)
- Transmission: continuously variable (CVT)
- GVWR: Class 1D, 5,001 to 6,000 lb
- Air bags: front, knee and side air bags in the first row, plus curtains
- Drive and engine: 4WD and 5.6 liters
That last line is the catch. EPA's 2021 listings show every Murano, front- or all-wheel drive, with a 3.5L V6 and a CVT. The 5.6 is a data error in vPIC for this VIN, not a different engine. The model, year, grade and plant are right, and position 6 reads 2 where the 2027 Murano reads 3, so this one comes from an earlier model change.
Nissan Rogue VIN decoder: Kyushu or Smyrna?
The Rogue is built in two places, and the VIN tells you which. In Nissan's 2027 coding, a Rogue that starts JN8 comes from the Kyushu Plant in Japan (W in position 11), and one that starts 5N1 comes from Smyrna, Tennessee (C). Positions 4 to 6 read B T 3: the 1.5L engine, the Rogue line, third model change.
The 2027 Rogue Hybrid is a separate chart: JN8, A for its 1.5L engine with front and rear motors (151 kW and 100 kW), T for Rogue and 4 for the model change, built at Kyushu. Position 7 gives the grade (A SV, B Platinum, C SR).
Nissan plant codes in vPIC
| Code | Plant | Location |
|---|---|---|
| C | Smyrna Plant | Smyrna, Tennessee |
| N | Canton Plant | Canton, Mississippi |
| D | Avon Lake (truck WMIs) | Avon Lake, Ohio |
| L | Aguascalientes Plant | Aguascalientes, Mexico |
| Y | Aguascalientes 2 Plant | Aguascalientes, Mexico |
| K | Civac Plant | Cuernavaca, Mexico |
| M | Tochigi Plant | Tochigi, Japan |
| W | Kyushu Plant | Fukuoka, Japan |
| 9 | Nissan Shatai Kyushu Plant (JN8) | Fukuoka, Japan |
| T, U, X, 4, 5 | Oppama, Zama, Hiratsuka, Nagoya, Murayama | Japan |
On the passenger car WMIs (1N4, 3N1, JN1), vPIC uses 9 for the Gunma plant; on JN8 it means Nissan Shatai Kyushu. Read the code together with the first three characters.
Nissan models in vPIC
For 2026 vPIC lists the Altima, Ariya, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Murano, Nissan Z, Pathfinder, Rogue and Sentra, plus the Kicks Play and Versa through 2025. Its all-years list of 44 goes back to the 200SX, 240SX, 300ZX, Stanza, Pulsar and Pickup, with the 350Z, 370Z, GT-R, Maxima, Quest, Titan, Xterra, Juke, Cube and NV vans in between.
Where is the VIN on a Nissan?
Three places: the dash at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, where it's readable from outside (49 CFR 565.13); the certification label in the driver's door opening (49 CFR 567.4); and your title and registration.
Nissan doesn't post window stickers online; the Nissan window sticker page explains how to get the original. Getting the car ready to list? CarShots puts your phone photos on a clean backdrop in about 20 seconds each.