- What you'll get from Nissan PULSAR VIN check?
- Nissan PULSAR Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Nissan PULSAR VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Nissan PULSAR
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Nissan PULSAR VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Nissan PULSAR VIN.
- 10th Character in the Nissan PULSAR VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Nissan PULSAR VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Nissan PULSAR Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan PULSAR
- How to find a Nissan PULSAR's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan PULSAR
What you’ll get from Nissan PULSAR VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Plant City: The VIN provides information about the plant city where the vehicle was manufactured, offering insights into its production origins and potential regional variations.
- Vehicle Type: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is a passenger car, helping to categorize it within the broader automotive market.
- Body Class: The VIN can reveal the body class of the vehicle, such as coupe or sedan, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Fuel Type: The VIN may indicate the primary fuel type used by the vehicle, providing information about its fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Nissan PULSAR 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 PULSAR VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Nissan PULSAR VIN
A WMI, or World Manufacturer Identifier, is the initial trio of characters found in every vehicle identification number (VIN) that denotes the manufacturer of the vehicle. For the Nissan PULSAR, the WMI is typically JN1, which is the code assigned to Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. This identifier is not only a mark of the carmaker but also provides information about the region where the vehicle was assembled. For instance, the J in the PULSAR’s WMI signifies that it was manufactured in Japan, one of the countries under the jurisdiction of the code beginning with J. Recognizing the WMI is the first step in deciphering the unique DNA of your Nissan PULSAR and unlocking a wealth of information about your vehicle.
List of WMI Codes for a Nissan PULSAR
WMI: JN1
- Model Years Covered: 1987-1989
- Example VIN: JN1EN34S1HM008961
- 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 PULSAR 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 PULSAR 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 PULSAR VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| K | 1989 Nissan PULSAR |
| J | 1988 Nissan PULSAR |
| H | 1987 Nissan PULSAR |
11th Character in the Nissan PULSAR VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Nissan PULSAR Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | Tochigi | Kaminokawa | Japan | Tochigi Plant | JN1EN34S1HM008961 |
| W | Miyawaka | Fukuoka | Japan | Kyushu Plant | JN1GN34S5KW420479 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Nissan PULSAR
The final 6 characters in a Nissan PULSAR’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 PULSAR’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Nissan PULSAR is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Locate the VIN on the Nissan PULSAR by checking the dashboard on the driver’s side, visible through the windshield.
- Open the driver-side door and inspect the door jamb or edge for a sticker or plate that would display the VIN on your Nissan PULSAR.
- Look at your Nissan PULSAR’s registration documents or insurance card, which typically include the VIN.
- Inspect the engine block, as the VIN might be stamped onto the engine itself in your Nissan PULSAR.
- If available, refer to the Vehicle Service or Maintenance Manual provided with your Nissan PULSAR, where the VIN might be recorded.
Don’t have your Nissan PULSAR’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Nissan PULSAR
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 1597 |
| Displacement (CI) | 97.454919319 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.6 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Model | CA16DE |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | PULSAR |
| Model Year | 1987 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI |
| Other Restraint System Info | Standard |
| Plant City | Tochigi |
| Plant Company Name | Tochigi plant |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Kaminokawa |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JN1EN34S*HM |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | JN1EN34S1HM008961 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Nissan PULSAR 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 PULSAR?
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 PULSAR's history for free?
Enter the Nissan PULSAR’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 PULSAR VIN numbers start with?
Nissan PULSAR 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 PULSAR.
Decode a Nissan VIN
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