Jeep VIN decoder
Jeep VIN decoder
Jeep is part of Stellantis. The Wrangler and Gladiator are built in Toledo, Ohio and the Grand Cherokee in Detroit. Older Jeeps use WMIs starting 1J; newer ones share the 1C4 prefix with other Stellantis SUVs.
Jeep WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C4 | FCA US LLC | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| 1J4 | FCA US LLC | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| 1J8 | FCA US LLC | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| 3C4 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | SUVs, vans & crossovers | Mexico |
What to know about Jeep VINs
- 1C4 is shared by Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge SUVs and vans, so always confirm the make after decoding.
- Off-road use means Wranglers and Gladiators can hide frame or underbody damage. Check structural damage records and inspect the frame.
- Lifted or modified Jeeps may have been rebuilt after flood or accident damage; check for salvage and rebuilt title brands.
Jeep models you can decode
- Wrangler
- Gladiator
- Grand Cherokee
- Grand Wagoneer
- Cherokee
- Compass
- Renegade
Any 17-character Jeep VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a Jeep VIN is built
All 17-character VINs for vehicles sold in the US follow the same structure.
Example: 5NPD74LF5LH611542
| Position | What it means | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country / region | Where the manufacturer is registered: 1, 4, 5 and 7 = United States, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = South Korea, W = Germany. |
| 2–3 | Manufacturer | Positions 1–3 together form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned to one maker and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Manufacturer-coded details such as model line, body style, restraint system, engine and gross weight rating. |
| 9 | Check digit | A 0–9 or X calculated from the other 16 characters. It catches typos and many fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year. The codes repeat every 30 years (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory that built the vehicle. Plant codes are defined by each manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique. |
VIN model year chart (10th character)
Codes repeat every 30 years. On cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later year.
A
1980 · 2010
B
1981 · 2011
C
1982 · 2012
D
1983 · 2013
E
1984 · 2014
F
1985 · 2015
G
1986 · 2016
H
1987 · 2017
J
1988 · 2018
K
1989 · 2019
L
1990 · 2020
M
1991 · 2021
N
1992 · 2022
P
1993 · 2023
R
1994 · 2024
S
1995 · 2025
T
1996 · 2026
V
1997 · 2027
W
1998 · 2028
X
1999 · 2029
Y
2000 · 2030
1
2001 · 2031
2
2002 · 2032
3
2003 · 2033
4
2004 · 2034
5
2005 · 2035
6
2006 · 2036
7
2007 · 2037
8
2008 · 2038
9
2009 · 2039
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 are never used as year codes.
Where to find the VIN on a Jeep
- Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, readable from outside the car
- Sticker or plate on the driver’s door jamb (open the door)
- Title, registration card and insurance card
- Engine bay, often on the firewall or the front of the frame on trucks
- Seller’s listing or the dealer’s window sticker
The VIN on the car, the title and the listing must all match. If they do not, do not buy.
VinCode report · $5.99
Before you buy a used Jeep, check its history
Title brands, accidents, total-loss events, odometer readings, owners and service records for the VIN, scored with the VinCode Score.
- Title brand check
- Accidents & damage
- Odometer chart
- Owners & usage
- Service records
- VinCode Score
Why does my Jeep VIN start with 1C4?
1C4 is a Stellantis WMI used for multipurpose vehicles built in the US, including many Jeeps. Older models used 1J4 or 1J8.
Where is the VIN on a Jeep Wrangler?
On the driver’s side of the dashboard, visible through the windshield, on the driver’s door jamb and on the frame.
Is the Jeep VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a Jeep VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a Jeep VIN show accident history?
No. The VIN only encodes how the vehicle was built. Accident, damage and title history come from records reported for the VIN, which is what the VinCode report shows.