Free 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provide specific information about where it was produced. In the case of the 1997 Nissan Maxima, the WMI “JN1” signifies that the vehicle was manufactured by Nissan Motor Company, Ltd., a distinguished automotive manufacturer based in Tokyo, Japan. This code is the initial segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is utilized worldwide to encode essential information about a vehicle, such as its make, model, and year of manufacture. For the 1997 Nissan Maxima, the WMI indicates that the car falls under the category of a passenger vehicle produced in Japan. This system of identification ensures that each vehicle can be uniquely identified and traced back to its manufacturer, providing vital information for registration, service, and recall purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Nissan Maxima

WMI: JN1

• Model Years Covered: 1981, 1985-2003
• Example VIN: JN1CA21D0VM533153
• 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 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1997 Nissan Maxima:

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 1997 Nissan Maxima 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 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Nissan Maxima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Nissan Maxima

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Nissan Maxima’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Nissan Maxima’s VIN below:

What info can a 1997 Nissan Maxima VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: The VIN indicates that it is a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering clues about the vehicle’s size and potential use case.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN details the engine displacement as 3000 CC (3.0 L), indicating the engine’s power capacity and potential performance.
• Fuel Type: The fuel type for the vehicle is specified as Gasoline, which is essential for understanding the vehicle’s environmental impact and potential fuel efficiency.
• Safety Features: The presence of 1st-row front airbags for both the driver and passenger highlights the vehicle’s safety measures.
• Manufacturing Information: It reveals that the vehicle was manufactured in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa, Japan, by the Oppama Plant, shedding light on the origin and potential quality control standards of the vehicle.
• Additional Safety and Specifications: Information such as the vehicle having manual seat belts and the gross vehicle weight rating provides insights into safety features and categorizes the vehicle’s weight class for regulatory and usage purposes.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Nissan Maxima