Most Nissan Leaf VINs open with 1N4 (the United States, 2013–2025) or JN1 (Japan, 2011–2013). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often C (85%); a 2026 Leaf carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 20 recall campaigns and 928 owner complaints from NHTSA.
Got a VIN from another make? The free VIN decoder reads any 17-character VIN, whatever built it.
How to read a Nissan Leaf VIN
Here is a real 2026 Nissan Leaf VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JN1AZ2EB7TM300392 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Nissan Leaf VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Nissan Leaf VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is 1N4 (the United States, 2013–2025), then JN1 (Japan, 2011–2013):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JN1 | 2011–2013 | Japan | Passenger Car | |
| 1N4 | 2013–2025 | United States | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Nissan Leaf it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2013–2025 | 788 | |
| T | 2011–2013 | 136 |
Counted from 926 dated Nissan Leaf VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Nissan Leaf
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Nissan Leaf has not yet outlived: its 16 years still map one-to-one. All 16 model years of the Nissan Leaf, 2011 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Nissan Leaf VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 113 VINs the Nissan Leaf uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | A (73%) · B (19%) · C (8%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | Z (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | P (64%) · V (28%) · A (5%) · B (2%) · T (1%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Nissan Leaf VIN gets you
Behind a Nissan Leaf VIN: 928 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 20 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 928 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 111 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 12 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 16 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan Leaf
A Nissan Leaf VIN normally opens with 1N4; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Nissan Leaf VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 20 recall campaigns and 928 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Nissan Leaf.
Why does my Leaf VIN start differently from another Leaf?
Because the Nissan Leaf was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Nissan Leaf VINs on record we see 2 of them: JN1 (2011–2013), 1N4 (2013–2025). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Leaf by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Leaf carries T, a 2025 Leaf carries S, a 2024 Leaf carries R.
Where was my Leaf built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 928 dated Nissan Leaf VINs it reads C 85%, T 15%.
What does position 4 mean on a Nissan Leaf VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 113 Nissan Leaf VINs here, A is the most common character in position 4, on 73% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Nissan Leaf check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 1N4 or JN1. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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