How to decode a 1998 Nissan Altima VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Nissan Altima VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code composed of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designating the vehicle’s manufacturer, make, and country of origin. For the 1998 Nissan Altima, the WMI “1N4” signifies a passenger car manufactured by Nissan North America, Inc. This identification places the manufacturing of such models in Franklin, Tennessee, United States, covering model years from 1993 to 2024. The precise interpretation of the WMI not only confirms the vehicle’s authenticity but also provides vital information about its manufacturing background, underscoring the global nature of automotive production and identification standards.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Nissan Altima

WMI: 1N4

Model Years Covered: 1993-2024
Example VIN: 1N4DL01D0WC108139
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 1998 Nissan Altima 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 1998 Nissan Altima:

Known VDS for a 1998 Nissan Altima
DL01D

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 1998 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 1998 Nissan Altima VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Nissan Altima VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 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	1N4DL01D0WC108139
L	Aguascalientes City	Aguascalientes	Mexico	Aguascalientes Assembly	1N4DL01D1WL140257

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Nissan Altima

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Nissan Altima’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Nissan Altima’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Nissan Altima’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Nissan Altima is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Nissan Altima, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN is commonly visible from outside the vehicle.
Look at the driver-side door jamb when you open the door of your Nissan Altima. There should be a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches.
Check the front part of the engine block, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine in vehicles like the 1998 Nissan Altima.
Inspect the rear wheel well, especially above the tire on the driver’s side, to see if the VIN is located there in your Nissan Altima.
Review the front frame, particularly around the area where the hood of the Nissan Altima latches, as the VIN may be stamped onto the frame.
Examine your Nissan Altima’s vehicle title, registration, or insurance documents, where the VIN will always be specified.

What info can a 1998 Nissan Altima VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating it could be from the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Vehicle Make and Model: The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can disclose essential details such as the make possibly being Nissan and the model potentially being an Altima, aiding in quickly identifying the type of vehicle.
Engine Details: From the VIN, one might decode specifics about the engine, such as it possibly being a 2.4 Litre, In-Line, 4-cylinder engine with a model KA24. This information could be crucial for parts compatibility and performance expectations.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN may disclose the vehicle’s body class as a Sedan/Saloon with possibly 4 doors, which is fundamental for understanding the vehicle’s design and functionality.
Fuel Type: It might specify the primary fuel type as Gasoline, which could be essential for understanding fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety Features: The VIN might give insights into the vehicle’s safety equipment, possibly mentioning the availability of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row and the use of 3-Point Manual Belts, potentially highlighting safety measures.
Manufacturing Details: The decoding of the VIN could possibly pinpoint manufacturing specifics such as the plant city possibly being Aguascalientes City, the country as Mexico, and the plant company name potentially being Aguascalientes Assembly, offering insight into the origin of the vehicle.

Don’t have your 1998 Nissan Altima’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Nissan Altima

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2400.0
Displacement (CI)	146.45698582735
Displacement (L)	2.4
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Model	KA24
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
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	Altima
Model Year	1998
Other Restraint System Info	3-Point Manual Belts
Plant City	Smyrna
Plant Company Name	Smyrna plant
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Tennessee
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Vehicle Descriptor	1N4DL01D*WC
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1N4DL01D0WC108139