Most Nissan Stanza VINs open with JN1 (Japan, 1983–1992). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often T (59%); a 1992 Stanza carries N in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 4 recall campaigns and 118 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 Stanza VIN
Here is a real 1985 Nissan Stanza VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JN1HT13S7FT307995 — 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 Stanza VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Nissan Stanza VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is JN1 (Japan, 1983–1992), then JN8 (Japan, 1986–1988):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JN1 | 1983–1992 | Japan | Passenger Car | |
| JN8 | 1986–1988 | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Nissan Stanza it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| T | 1983–1992 | 70 | |
| X | 1986–1992 | 41 |
Counted from 113 dated Nissan Stanza VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Nissan Stanza
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Nissan Stanza has not yet outlived: its 12 years still map one-to-one. All 12 model years of the Nissan Stanza, 1981 to 1992, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
| 1982 | C | — |
| 1981 | B | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Nissan Stanza VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 2 VINs the Nissan Stanza uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | H (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | T (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | S (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded Nissan Stanza VIN gets you
Behind a Nissan Stanza VIN: 118 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 4 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 118 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 24 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 12 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan Stanza
A Nissan Stanza VIN normally opens with JN1; 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 |
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is this Nissan Stanza VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 4 recall campaigns and 118 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Nissan Stanza.
Why does my Stanza VIN start differently from another Stanza?
Because the Nissan Stanza was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Nissan Stanza VINs on record we see 2 of them: JN1 (1983–1992), JN8 (1986–1988). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Stanza by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1992 Stanza carries N, a 1991 Stanza carries M, a 1990 Stanza carries L.
Where was my Stanza built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 118 dated Nissan Stanza VINs it reads T 59%, X 35%.
What does position 4 mean on a Nissan Stanza VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 2 Nissan Stanza VINs here, H is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Nissan Stanza check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 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.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.