How to decode a 2008 Nissan Altima VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2008 Nissan Altima VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are a key component of a vehicle’s unique 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which distinctly identifies the make, model, and manufacturing details of vehicles globally. The WMI for Nissan North America, Inc., specifically for vehicles such as the 2008 Nissan Altima, is “1N4.” This set of characters demonstrates that the vehicle was manufactured by Nissan in the United States, with a specific focus on passenger cars. The WMI is essential for tracking, registration, and recall purposes, offering a standardized method to recognize the vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type. For the 2008 Nissan Altima, this information confirms its production under Nissan North America in Tennessee, reflecting its assembly in the expansive automotive industry of the United States.

List of WMI Codes for a 2008 Nissan Altima

WMI: 1N4

Model Years Covered: 1993-2024
Example VIN: 1N4BL21E08C125117
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 2008 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 2008 Nissan Altima:

Known VDS for a 2008 Nissan Altima
BL21E	AL24E	AL21E	CL21E	BL24E

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 2008 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 2008 Nissan Altima VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
8	2008

11th Character in the 2008 Nissan Altima VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2008 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	1N4BL21E08C125117
L	Aguascalientes City	Aguascalientes	Mexico	Aguascalientes Plant	1N4AL21E78L232807
N	Canton	Mississippi	United States	Canton Plant	1N4BL21E08N402658

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2008 Nissan Altima

The final 6 characters in a 2008 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 2008 Nissan Altima’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2008 Nissan Altima is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the driver’s side dashboard of your 2008 Nissan Altima, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN can usually be seen from outside the vehicle.
Check the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Nissan Altima. There is often a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches when it is closed.
Look under the hood of your Nissan Altima. The VIN might be found on the engine block or on a metal plate attached to the chassis.
Examine the trunk area of your 2008 Nissan Altima; sometimes the VIN is affixed to the body of the car where the spare tire is stored.
If you have paperwork for your vehicle, such as the title, registration, or insurance documents, the VIN should be printed there, representing your 2008 Nissan Altima.

What info can a 2008 Nissan Altima VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: Detailed information like the engine model, displacement, and horsepower range is encoded, offering insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Fuel Type: It typically shows the primary fuel type the vehicle is designed to use, allowing users to understand operational costs and environmental impact.
Safety Features: Locations of safety equipment like curtain, front, and side airbags can be decoded, indicating the vehicle’s safety provisioning and compliance.
Drive Type and Body Class: The VIN reveals the drive type and the body class, aiding in understanding the vehicle’s design and intended use.
Manufacturing Details: Insights into the manufacturing location, including the city, state, and country, as well as the plant’s name, offer background on production origin.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): The type of TPMS is included, which is vital for maintenance and safety considerations.

Don’t have your 2008 Nissan Altima’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2008 Nissan Altima

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Coupe
Cooling Type	Water
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Displacement (CC)	2500.0
Displacement (CI)	152.55936023683
Displacement (L)	2.5
Doors	2
Drive Type	4x2
Engine Brake (hp) From	170
Engine Brake (hp) To	175
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	Nissan
Engine Model	QR25DE
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	2008
Plant City	Smyrna
Plant Company Name	Smyrna plant
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
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1N4AL24E*8C
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1N4AL24E08C101472