Since 1914, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd has been manufacturing automobiles under the name Datsun. Founded in 1930, the Nissan brand has grown to become a household name. Under the names Datsun, Nissan, and Infiniti, the company offers budget, mid-class, and luxury vehicles.
Over 5.6 million Nissan vehicles were sold worldwide in 2018; Nissan is the world’s largest maker of electric vehicles (EVs). Additionally, it was the largest car manufacturer in North America in 2014. Nissan is also known for its high level of safety, reliability, and value, as are other Japanese car manufacturers.
Nissan VIN – what is it?
There are 17 characters in the Nissan VIN, and each one is unique. Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are similar to personal identification numbers (or social security numbers). A primitive VIN number was first used by car manufacturers in the 1950s, but the current standard was not adopted until the 1980s.
Nissan VINs provide a lot of information, so doing a VIN lookup when buying a used car, ordering spare Nissan parts, or registering for maintenance is highly recommended. In particular, Nissan buyers are frequently victims of scams, mileage rollbacks, and other problems.
How do Nissan VINs work?
In addition to vehicle specifications, Nissan VIN numbers contain manufacturing details. The code is only generated randomly in a small portion to prevent Nissan vehicles with identical VINs from being sold.
There are three main groups of Nissan vehicle identification numbers:
A WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) is a three-character number that indicates which manufacturer built the car. Nissan VIN numbers, for example, can begin with either JN1 (for the European market, produced in Japan) or 5N1 (for the American market, produced in the United States).
Five characters describe the equipment and specifications of a vehicle in the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). Types of engines, body types, transmissions, colors, and more are included here. There are specific characters associated with each option and trim. Nissan VIN decoder can reveal what kinds of Nissan vehicles are hidden behind the numbers.
In addition, there is a Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) which includes the model year, a serial number, and a check digit.
Nissan VIN: where can I find it?
The VIN number is placed in multiple locations on cars by manufacturers. Mismatched parts and various scams can be avoided by using this idea. Every brand chooses its favorite area to stamp VIN numbers, even though there are a few common areas. Nissan cars have the following VIN numbers:
- From the outside of the car, look behind the windshield on the dashboard.
- The pillar of the driver’s door
- Engine bay firewall
- Registration documents
When you buy a used Nissan car, make sure to check all these spots and the VIN. The presence of a mismatched VIN or a missing VIN plate is definitely a red flag. It is possible that the car has been in a major accident, that it has been stolen, and that the documents are fake. This Nissan vehicle should be reported to the police to avoid issues.
Enter the VIN into our Nissan VIN decoder to learn more about the car.
Why should you check the Nissan VIN history?
A full vehicle history report can provide a lot of valuable information. In addition to police databases, insurance companies, and auction sites, there are a number of other sources of essential data. You can find out the following information about your Nissan by simply entering its VIN number:
- The car may be unsafe to drive if it has been involved in major accidents in the past.
- Check out historical photos of the car.
- The most common used car scam is fake mileage – odometer tampering is illegal in most countries.
- Check when the last maintenance was performed by checking the maintenance history.
- It checks theft records from dozens of countries.
- It is much cheaper if the previous title was ex-police, taxi, or rental car.
- Find out what options were included by the manufacturer and what options were retrofitted later.
It’s difficult to mess up a car purchase, since it’s usually one of the most expensive purchases people make. Before buying a used Nissan car, always have it inspected, or at least have a car guy with you when you check it out. A vehicle history check can reveal many potential problems, despite obvious mechanical problems.