- What you'll get from Nissan 350Z VIN check?
- Nissan 350Z Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Nissan 350Z VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Nissan 350Z
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Nissan 350Z VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Nissan 350Z VIN.
- 10th Character in the Nissan 350Z VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Nissan 350Z VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Nissan 350Z Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan 350Z
- How to find a Nissan 350Z's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan 350Z
What you’ll get from Nissan 350Z VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2009, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturer Name: It may be indicated by the VIN that the manufacturer of the Nissan 350Z is Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
- Plant Location: The VIN specifies that the Nissan 350Z was manufactured in the Tochigi plant in Kaminokawa, Japan, which might offer information about where the vehicle was produced.
- Vehicle Type: The VIN identifies the Nissan 350Z as a passenger car, offering insights into the primary use of the vehicle.
- Body Class: The VIN can reveal the body class of the Nissan 350Z, such as a convertible/cabriolet, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Nissan 350Z Vehicle History Risk Factors
Nissan’s reliability record is mixed — the Frontier and older Maxima have strong reputations, while the CVT-heavy lineup of the 2010s has generated one of the highest rates of powertrain complaints in the segment. A Bumper VIN check on a used Nissan should focus on the following:
CVT transmission failures across multiple models (2012–2018 Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Versa). Nissan’s Jatco CVT transmissions in this generation have among the highest owner-reported failure rates of any modern powertrain component. Failures typically manifest as shuddering, overheating, and sudden loss of drive between 60,000 and 120,000 miles. Nissan extended the warranty on these transmissions multiple times due to failure rates. A service record showing CVT replacement or fluid service is important context — but a replacement doesn’t guarantee the replacement unit will outlast the original.
Timing chain stretch on 2.5L QR25DE engine (2002–2012 Altima, Sentra, Rogue). Nissan’s QR25DE engine had documented timing chain and tensioner stretch issues that could cause engine damage if the chain jumped. Look for service records referencing timing chain noise or replacement.
Rust on Frontier and older Xterra. Nissan issued a frame rust recall for Frontiers from 2005–2016 in certain states after discovering frames that could rust completely through. Verify recall compliance on any Frontier from this era — this is a structural safety issue, not cosmetic rust.
Flood damage on Rogues and Altimas. Nissan’s compact SUVs and sedans appear frequently in flood damage reports from hurricane-affected regions. Electrical system issues from water intrusion are particularly problematic on the CVT-heavy Nissan lineup.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Nissan 350Z VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Nissan 350Z VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle and provides information about where the vehicle was built. Each car manufacturer is allotted a distinct WMI which is integrated into the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of every vehicle they produce, ensuring that each VIN is globally unique. For the Nissan 350Z, a sporty and revered model produced from 2003 to 2009, the WMI is JN1, which indicates that the vehicle was manufactured by Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. This WMI also confirms that the car was assembled in Japan, a country known for its precision and quality in car manufacturing. Understanding the WMI is the first step in decoding a VIN, which can provide insight into the vehicle’s specific attributes, such as the model, engine type, and production year.
List of WMI Codes for a Nissan 350Z
WMI: JN1
- Model Years Covered: 2003-2009
- Example VIN: JN1AZ34E03T000894
- Manufacturer Name: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Chuo-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Nissan 350Z VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Nissan’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes body style, restraint system type, engine variant, and series level across its Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Frontier, and Titan lineups. On the Rogue and Altima — Nissan’s two highest-volume models — the VDS distinguishes between CVT-equipped and traditional automatic variants, and between the 2.0L and 2.5L four-cylinder engines offered in different trim levels and model years. This is particularly relevant for used buyers because Nissan’s CVT transmission has a well-documented reliability gap compared to traditional automatics, and confirming which transmission a specific VIN has can significantly affect the risk profile of a used purchase.
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 Nissan 350Z 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 Nissan 350Z VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| 9 | 2009 Nissan 350Z |
| 8 | 2008 Nissan 350Z |
| 7 | 2007 Nissan 350Z |
| 6 | 2006 Nissan 350Z |
| 5 | 2005 Nissan 350Z |
| 4 | 2004 Nissan 350Z |
| 3 | 2003 Nissan 350Z |
11th Character in the Nissan 350Z VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Nissan 350Z Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | Tochigi | Kaminokawa | Japan | Tochigi Plant | JN1AZ36D04M200108 |
| T | Yokosuka | Kanagawa | Japan | Oppama Plant | JN1AZ34E03T000894 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan 350Z
The final 6 characters in a Nissan 350Z’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Nissan 350Z’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Nissan 350Z is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of the Nissan 350Z, visible through the windshield on a metal or plastic plate.
- Look inside the door jamb on the driver’s side door frame of the Nissan 350Z for a sticker or label containing the VIN.
- Review the Nissan 350Z’s service and maintenance records where the VIN is often recorded.
- Check under the hood of your Nissan 350Z for a VIN plate located on the engine block, firewall, or other components.
- Inspect the trunk area, which might include the VIN on the floor or under the trunk lid in the Nissan 350Z.
- Review insurance and registration documents related to your Nissan 350Z, as they always contain the VIN.
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Don’t have your Nissan 350Z’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan 350Z
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Displacement (CC) | 3500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 213.58310433156 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.5 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Nissan |
| Engine Model | VQ35DE |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| 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 | 350Z |
| Model Year | 2005 |
| Other Restraint System Info | 3-point manual belts |
| Plant City | Tochigi |
| Plant Company Name | Tochigi plant |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Kaminokawa |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JN1AZ34E*5M |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | JN1AZ34E05M650435 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Nissan 350Z for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Nissan 350Z?
On most Nissan vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Nissan 350Z's history for free?
Enter the Nissan 350Z’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Nissan 350Z VIN numbers start with?
Nissan 350Z VIN's start with JN1 for vehicles manufactured by Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. in Japan. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Nissan 350Z.
Decode a Nissan VIN
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