How to decode a 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences that identify the manufacturer of a vehicle. For the 2016 Nissan Maxima, the WMI is “1N4,” indicating it was produced by Nissan North America, Inc. These first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) reveal the vehicle’s manufacturer and its country and region of production. This specific code points to a passenger car manufactured in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The WMI is a crucial component of the VIN, serving as a global standard for classifying and tracking vehicles.

List of WMI Codes for a 2016 Nissan Maxima

WMI: 1N4

Model Years Covered: 2004-2014, 2016-2023
Example VIN: 1N4AA6AP1GL421370
Manufacturer Name: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Franklin
State or Province: Tennessee
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2016 Nissan Maxima:

Known VDS for a 2016 Nissan Maxima
AA6AP

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
G	2016

11th Character in the 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2016 Nissan Maxima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
C	Smyrna	Tennessee	United States	Nissan North America Inc.	1N4AA6AP0GC375191
L	Aguascalientes	Aguascalientes	Mexico	Nissan Mexicana, S.A. De C.V.	1N4AA6AP1GL421370

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2016 Nissan Maxima

The final 6 characters in a 2016 Nissan Maxima’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Nissan Maxima’s VIN below:

How to find a 2016 Nissan Maxima’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2016 Nissan Maxima is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Nissan Maxima. The VIN should be visible through the windshield on a small metal plate.
Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side door of your 2016 Nissan Maxima. The VIN might be on a sticker where the door latches when it is closed.
Inspect the engine block of your Nissan Maxima, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Review the vehicle registration documents, insurance cards, or the title for your Nissan Maxima, as these documents will have the VIN listed.
Examine the trunk area of your 2016 Maxima. The VIN might also be on a label located in the spare tire well or in the trunk under the carpet near the spare tire.

What info can a 2016 Nissan Maxima VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as 2016, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, in this instance, indicating a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Engine Specifications: Information about the engine, such as its displacement, is encoded within the VIN, showing a 3.5 L (3500.0 CC or 213.58310433156 CI) engine size, providing a glimpse into the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
Safety Features: The VIN details safety features, showing the presence of front air bags in the 1st row for the driver and passenger, side air bags in the 1st row, and curtain air bags in both the 1st and 2nd rows, potentially enhancing the vehicle’s safety credentials.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle is identified as Gasoline, offering valuable information for potential owners regarding fueling options and costs.
Drive Type: The drive type (4x2) can also be identified from the VIN, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
Manufacturing Information: The location of the manufacturing plant, including the city (Aguascalientes), country (Mexico), and the name of the plant company (Nissan Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.), can be gleaned from the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s origin and production details.

Don’t have your 2016 Nissan Maxima’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2016 Nissan Maxima

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	3500.0
Displacement (CI)	213.58310433156
Displacement (L)	3.5
Doors	4
Drive Type	4x2
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Maxima
Model Year	2016
Other Restraint System Info	2nd row outboard and center 3-point manual belts
Plant City	Smyrna
Plant Company Name	Nissan North America Inc.
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Tennessee
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Vehicle Descriptor	1N4AA6AP*GC
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1N4AA6AP0GC375191