- What you'll get from Nissan Altima VIN check?
- Nissan Altima Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Nissan Altima VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Nissan Altima
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Nissan Altima VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Nissan Altima VIN.
- 10th Character in the Nissan Altima VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Nissan Altima VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Nissan Altima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan Altima
- How to find a Nissan Altima's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan Altima
What you’ll get from Nissan Altima VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year the Nissan Altima was manufactured, providing insights into the age and historical value of the vehicle.
- Plant City: The VIN indicates the city where the Nissan Altima was assembled, possibly giving insight into its production location.
- Trim Level: The VIN can provide details about the specific trim level or package of the Nissan Altima, helping to identify the available features and options.
- Body Class: The VIN contains information about the body style of the Nissan Altima, possibly indicating whether it is a sedan or a coupe.
- Transmission Style: The VIN can indicate the type of transmission in the Nissan Altima, possibly revealing whether it is a manual or an automatic.
- Fuel Type: The VIN may reveal the primary fuel type used by the Nissan Altima, such as gasoline or hybrid.
- Safety Features: Standard safety features, such as airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), and electronic stability control (ESC), can potentially be inferred from the VIN, providing an idea of the vehicle’s safety capabilities.
Nissan Altima 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 Altima VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Nissan Altima VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is an integral part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. It constitutes the first three characters of the VIN and reveals the vehicle maker and the country where it was manufactured. For the Nissan Altima, the WMI is 1N4, where the 1 signifies that the car was produced in North America, N stands for Nissan, and 4 indicates that it’s a passenger car. This code helps to easily identify the vehicle’s make and model before delving into more specific details, such as the features, specifications, and manufacturing location encoded in the subsequent characters of the VIN. Understanding the WMI is the first step in decoding the entire VIN, providing an insightful glimpse into a vehicle’s origins.
List of WMI Codes for a Nissan Altima
WMI: 1N4
- Model Years Covered: 1993-2024
- Example VIN: 1N4BU31F1PC233174
- 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 Nissan Altima 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 Altima 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 Altima VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 Nissan Altima |
| P | 2023 Nissan Altima |
| N | 2022 Nissan Altima |
| M | 2021 Nissan Altima |
| L | 2020 Nissan Altima |
| K | 2019 Nissan Altima |
| J | 2018 Nissan Altima |
| H | 2017 Nissan Altima |
| G | 2016 Nissan Altima |
| F | 2015 Nissan Altima |
| E | 2014 Nissan Altima |
| D | 2013 Nissan Altima |
| C | 2012 Nissan Altima |
| B | 2011 Nissan Altima |
| A | 2010 Nissan Altima |
| 9 | 2009 Nissan Altima |
| 8 | 2008 Nissan Altima |
| 7 | 2007 Nissan Altima |
| 6 | 2006 Nissan Altima |
| 5 | 2005 Nissan Altima |
| 4 | 2004 Nissan Altima |
| 3 | 2003 Nissan Altima |
| 2 | 2002 Nissan Altima |
| 1 | 2001 Nissan Altima |
| Y | 2000 Nissan Altima |
| X | 1999 Nissan Altima |
| W | 1998 Nissan Altima |
| V | 1997 Nissan Altima |
| T | 1996 Nissan Altima |
| S | 1995 Nissan Altima |
| R | 1994 Nissan Altima |
| P | 1993 Nissan Altima |
11th Character in the Nissan Altima VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Nissan Altima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Smyrna | Tennessee | United States | Smyrna Plant | 1N4BU31F1PC233174 |
| L | Aguascalientes City | Aguascalientes | Mexico | Aguascalientes Assembly | 1N4DL01D1WL140257 |
| N | Canton | Mississippi | United States | Canton Plant | 1N4AL11D05N405729 |
| T | Yokosuka | Kanagawa | Japan | Oppama Plant | 1N4AL3AP1ET106770 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan Altima
The final 6 characters in a Nissan Altima’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 Altima’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Nissan Altima is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- The driver’s side dashboard is a common location where you can find the VIN on your Nissan Altima, usually visible through the windshield.
- On the Nissan Altima, the driver’s side door jamb frequently contains a label or sticker that will display the VIN where the door latches shut.
- Examine the vehicle’s insurance or registration documents, which should list the VIN for your Nissan Altima.
- Look under the hood for a second label, specifically near the front of the engine block, where the VIN may be etched or affixed for the Nissan Altima.
- For some Nissan Altima vehicles, the VIN might be located in the rear wheel well directly above the tire.
- If your Nissan Altima has a spare tire, sometimes the VIN can be found in the compartment where the spare tire is stored.
Don’t have your Nissan Altima’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan Altima
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Standard |
| Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) | Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) | Not Available |
| Automatic Pedestrian Alerting Sound (for Hybrid and EV only) | Not Available |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 32180.00 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Standard |
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Standard |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 2000 |
| Displacement (CI) | 122.0474881894 |
| Displacement (L) | 2 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Event Data Recorder (EDR) | Not Available |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| 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) |
| Headlamp Light Source | LED |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Standard |
| Model | Altima |
| Model Year | 2020 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Restraint System Info | 3-Point Manual Belts, 2nd row outboard 3-Point Manual Belts, 2nd row center 3-Point Manual Belts |
| Parking Assist | Not Available |
| Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) | Standard |
| Plant City | Smyrna |
| Plant Company Name | Nissan North America Inc. |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Tennessee |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Standard |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Style | Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) |
| Trim | Grade Platinum |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1N4AL4FV*LC |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 111.20 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 19 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 19 |
| Sample VIN | 1N4AL4FV0LC100274 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Nissan Altima 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 Altima?
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 Altima's history for free?
Enter the Nissan Altima’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 Altima VIN numbers start with?
Nissan Altima VIN's start with 1N4 for vehicles manufactured by Nissan North America, Inc. in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Nissan Altima.
Decode a Nissan VIN
Look up a Nissan Altima by license plate:
Compare this vehicle to another
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today