Most Nissan Xterra VINs open with 5N1 (the United States, 2000–2015). Position 11, the plant, shows 5 codes, most often C (98%); a 2015 Xterra carries F in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 28 recall campaigns and 2,544 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Nissan Xterra VIN
Here is a real 2014 Nissan Xterra VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5N1AN0N63EN807797 — 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 Xterra VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Nissan Xterra we have on record, from 2000 to 2015, opens with the same three characters, 5N1:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5N1 | 2000–2015 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Nissan Xterra it is not one number either — assembly moved between 5 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2000–2015 | 2,499 | |
| N | 2006–2015 | 21 | |
| L | 2001–2008 | 6 | |
| 5 | 2000–2007 | 5 | |
| 0 | 2002–2006 | 4 |
Counted from 2,522 dated Nissan Xterra VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Nissan Xterra
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Nissan Xterra has not yet outlived: its 16 years still map one-to-one. All 16 model years of the Nissan Xterra, 2000 to 2015, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Nissan Xterra VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 53 VINs the Nissan Xterra uses 10 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | A (81%) · E (15%) · M (4%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | N (81%) · D (19%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | W (68%) · T (11%) · U (11%) · Y (8%) · 6 (2%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Nissan Xterra VIN gets you
Behind a Nissan Xterra VIN: 2,544 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 28 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 2,544 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 18 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 16 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Nissan Xterra
A Nissan Xterra 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 Xterra VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 28 recall campaigns and 2,544 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Nissan Xterra.
What year is my Xterra by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2015 Xterra carries F, a 2014 Xterra carries E, a 2013 Xterra carries D.
Where was my Xterra built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 2,538 dated Nissan Xterra VINs it reads C 98%, N 1%, L 0%, 5 0% and 1 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Nissan Xterra VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 53 Nissan Xterra VINs here, A is the most common character in position 4, on 81% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Nissan Xterra check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 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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