Most Nissan Murano VINs open with JN8 (Japan, 2003–2016) or 5N1 (the United States, 2005–2026). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often W (88%); a 2026 Murano carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 26 recall campaigns and 4,875 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Nissan Murano VIN
Here is a real 2026 Nissan Murano VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5N1AZ3BS2TC123307 — 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 Murano VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Nissan Murano VINs on record carry 3 different prefixes. The main one is JN8 (Japan, 2003–2016), then 5N1 (the United States, 2005–2026):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JN8 | 2003–2016 | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| JN1 | 2004–2006 | Japan | Passenger Car | |
| 5N1 | 2005–2026 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Nissan Murano it is not one number either — assembly moved between 8 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | 2003–2016 | 4,272 | |
| N | 2005–2020 | 491 | |
| C | 2003–2026 | 65 | |
| 1 | 2003–2016 | 10 | |
| 0 | 2004–2014 | 7 | |
| 7 | 2003–2007 | 4 | |
| 4 | 2004–2006 | 4 | |
| T | 2004–2006 | 3 |
Counted from 4,834 dated Nissan Murano VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Nissan Murano
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Nissan Murano has not yet outlived: its 24 years still map one-to-one. All 24 model years of the Nissan Murano, 2002 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 | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Nissan Murano VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 130 VINs the Nissan Murano uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | A (99%) · C (1%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | Z (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | S (35%) · H (15%) · W (14%) · J (13%) · G (11%) · U (8%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Nissan Murano VIN gets you
Behind a Nissan Murano VIN: 4,875 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 26 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 4,875 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 15 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 24 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan Murano
A Nissan Murano VIN normally opens with 5N1; 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 Murano VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 26 recall campaigns and 4,875 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Nissan Murano.
Why does my Murano VIN start differently from another Murano?
Because the Nissan Murano was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Nissan Murano VINs on record we see 3 of them: JN8 (2003–2016), JN1 (2004–2006), 5N1 (2005–2026). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Murano by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Murano carries T, a 2025 Murano carries S, a 2024 Murano carries R.
Where was my Murano built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 4,856 dated Nissan Murano VINs it reads W 88%, N 10%, C 1%, 1 0% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Nissan Murano VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 130 Nissan Murano VINs here, A is the most common character in position 4, on 99% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Nissan Murano check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with JN8 or 5N1. 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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