- What you'll get from Nissan NX/Sentra VIN check?
- Nissan NX/Sentra Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Nissan NX/Sentra VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Nissan NX/Sentra
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Nissan NX/Sentra VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Nissan NX/Sentra VIN.
- 10th Character in the Nissan NX/Sentra VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Nissan NX/Sentra VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Nissan NX/Sentra Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan NX/Sentra
- How to find a Nissan NX/Sentra's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan NX/Sentra
What you’ll get from Nissan NX/Sentra VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as the year 1989, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the Nissan NX/Sentra.
- Manufacturer Name: The VIN identifies the manufacturer of the Nissan NX/Sentra as Nissan North America, Inc, suggesting a certain level of quality and reliability associated with this brand.
- Vehicle Type: The VIN indicates that the Nissan NX/Sentra is classified as a passenger car, implying it is designed for personal transportation.
- Plant City and State: The VIN specifies the plant city, such as Smyrna, and the plant state, such as Tennessee, where the Nissan NX/Sentra was manufactured, offering insights into its production location.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN specifies the body class of the Nissan NX/Sentra, which in this case is a sedan/saloon with 4 doors, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Nissan NX/Sentra 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 NX/Sentra VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Nissan NX/Sentra VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial segment of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), typically comprised of the first three characters. This unique code identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, brand, and country of origin. For the Nissan NX/Sentra, the WMI can provide insight into the vehicle’s backstory. For instance, a Nissan NX/Sentra might have a WMI of 1N4 for models manufactured by Nissan North America in the United States or JN1 for those produced by Nissan Motor Company in Japan. These codes not only reveal the production location but also connect the car to the specific manufacturer, showcasing the global footprint of the Nissan brand.
List of WMI Codes for a Nissan NX/Sentra
WMI: JN1
- Model Years Covered: 1982, 1987
- Example VIN: JN1HB15S7CU021425
- Manufacturer Name: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Chuo-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
WMI: 1N4
- Model Years Covered: 1989
- Example VIN: 1N4GB21S1KC707149
- 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 NX/Sentra 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 NX/Sentra 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 NX/Sentra VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| K | 1989 Nissan NX/Sentra |
| H | 1987 Nissan NX/Sentra |
| C | 1982 Nissan NX/Sentra |
11th Character in the Nissan NX/Sentra VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Nissan NX/Sentra 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 | 1N4GB21S1KC707149 |
| U | Zama | Kanagawa | Japan | Zama Plant | JN1HB15S7CU021425 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan NX/Sentra
The final 6 characters in a Nissan NX/Sentra’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 NX/Sentra’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Nissan NX/Sentra is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Nissan NX/Sentra, where the VIN is commonly displayed through the windshield on a small metal or plastic identification plate.
- Inspect the driver’s side door jamb on your Nissan NX/Sentra. The VIN can typically be found on a sticker or a plate where the door latches when closed.
- Open the hood of your Nissan NX/Sentra and check the front of the engine block for the VIN, which might be stamped directly onto the metal of the engine.
- Examine the rear wheel well. Sometimes the VIN is placed above the tire on your Nissan NX/Sentra. Be sure to look closely as it may be challenging to spot.
- Take a look at the paperwork associated with your Nissan NX/Sentra, such as the title, registration, or insurance documents, where the VIN will undoubtedly be listed.
Don’t have your Nissan NX/Sentra’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan NX/Sentra
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 1597 |
| Displacement (CI) | 97.454919319 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.6 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Model | GA16i |
| 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 | Sentra |
| Model Year | 1989 |
| Other Engine Info | OHC SPFI |
| Other Restraint System Info | Standard |
| Plant City | Smyrna |
| Plant Company Name | Smyrna plant |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Tennessee |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1N4GB21S*KC |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | 1N4GB21S1KC707149 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Nissan NX/Sentra 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 NX/Sentra?
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 NX/Sentra's history for free?
Enter the Nissan NX/Sentra’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 NX/Sentra VIN numbers start with?
Nissan NX/Sentra VIN's start with JN1 for vehicles manufactured by Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. in Japan, 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 NX/Sentra.
Decode a Nissan VIN
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