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XT Staff
/ Jun 12 2019
All vehicles on the road today have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). In 1981 the United States standardized the format to be the 17-character VIN you see today.
Shopping for a new Jeep? Looking to make sure the guy telling you his JK is actually Rubicon and not just a Sport with Rubicon decals? Once you've confirmed your Wrangler of choice, it's time to personalize it. From armor, to proper decals, to angry eye headlights, the possibilities are endless.
Vehicle identification numbers can provide a large amount of information about your Jeep and are like a social security number for your vehicle. Using the charts below, you can take your Jeep's VIN number, or the Jeep you're planning on buying, and dissect what each digit means.
The check digit is position nine of the VIN. This number is the result of a lengthy math problem using the VIN's other numbers. If you're looking to make sure the VIN you have or are looking at is legitimate, the check digit will tell you.
Each position of the value has a numerical weight. "But there are letters in my VIN!", you say. As there should be. Since we're talking Wranglers, odds are you have a J in position two. J's value is 1, and the weight is seven. You would find the value and weight for the rest of the positions, plug them into the VIN calculation, and you should get your check digit as a result.
YJ Wranglers the VIN can be found on the drivers side dash, drivers side door jam, under the radiator, and on the firewall near the ECU.
| Position | Interpretation | Code/Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of Origin | 1 = United States |
| 2 | Make | J = Jeep |
| C = Chrysler | ||
| 3 | Vehicle Type | C = MPV |
| D = Incomplete Vehicle | ||
| 4 | Engine Type | C = 4.2L 6-cyl |
| H = 2.5L 4-cyl Throttle Body Injection | ||
| U = 2.5L 4-cyl Carburetor | ||
| 5 | Trans/Transfer Case | L = 5-spd Manual Floor Shifter (Part Time 4WD) |
| X = 4-spd Manual Floor Shifter (Part Time 4WD) | ||
| B = Auto w/ Floor Shifter (Part Time 4WD) | ||
| E = Auto Column Shifter (Part Time 4WD) | ||
| J = Auto Column Shifter (Full Time 4WD) | ||
| A = Auto Column Shifter (2WD) | ||
| 6-7 | Body Style | 81 = Wrangler |
| 8 | Weight Rating | J or M = 3001-4000lbs |
| 1 or 2 = 4001-5000lbs | ||
| 9 | Check Digit | Manufacturer Assigned |
| 10 | Model Year | H = 1987 |
| J = 1988 | ||
| 11 | Assembly Plant | J = Brampton, Ontario, Canada |
| L = Toledo, Ohio Plant #1 | ||
| P = Toledo, Ohio Plant #2 | ||
| T = Toledo, Ohio | ||
| 12-17 | Sequential Serial Number | Six Digit Number |
| Position | Interpretation | Code/Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of Origin | 1 = United States |
| 2 | Make | J = Jeep |
| C = Chrysler | ||
| 3 | Vehicle Type | 3 = MPV |
| 6 = Incomplete Vehicle | ||
| 7 = Truck | ||
| 4 | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | E = 3001-4000lbs |
| F = 4001-5000lbs | ||
| G = 5001-6000lbs | ||
| H = 6001-7000lbs | ||
| 5 | Model | Y = Wrangler |
| 6 | Trim Level | 1 = S |
| 2 = Base | ||
| 4 = Sahara | ||
| 5 = Laredo | ||
| 6 = Renegade | ||
| 7 | Body Style | 9 = 2 Door Open Body |
| 8 | Engine | E = 2.5L |
| L = 4.0L | ||
| (1989) M = 4.2L | ||
| (1991-1995) S = 4.0L | ||
| (1990) T = 4.2L | ||
| 9 | Check Digit | Manufactuer Assigned |
| 10 | Model Year | K = 1989 |
| L = 1990 | ||
| M = 1991 | ||
| N = 1992 | ||
| P = 1993 | ||
| R = 1994 | ||
| 11 | Assembly Plant | J = Brampton, Ontario |
| L = Toledo, Ohio Plant #1 | ||
| P = Toledo, Ohio Plant #2 | ||
| T = Toledo, Ohio | ||
| 12-17 | Sequential Serial Number | Six Digit Number |
TJs have the VIN on a plate on the drivers side dash, sticker on drivers side door frame near hinges, stamped into the frame, plate on floor between drivers side seat and door.
| Position | Interpretation | Code/Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of Origin | 1 = United States |
| 2 | Make | J = Jeep |
| C = Chrysler | ||
| 3 | Vehicle Type | 4 = MPV |
| 4 | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | E = 3001-4000lbs |
| F = 4001-5000lbs | ||
| 5 | Vehicle Line | Y = Wrangler 4x4 |
| A = Wrangler 4x4 (Left Hand Drive) | ||
| 4 = Wrangler 4x4 (Right Hand Drive) | ||
| 6 | Series | (1997-200) 1 = Sport |
| (1997-2003) 2 = SE | ||
| (1997-2000) 4 = Sahara | ||
| (2001-2003) 4 = Sport | ||
| (2001-2003) 5 = Sahara | ||
| (2002-2003) 3 = X | ||
| (2003) 6 = Rubicon | ||
| 7 | Body Style | 9 = Open Body |
| 8 | Engine | H = 2.5L Leaded Gas |
| P = 2.5L Unleaded | ||
| S = 4.0L Unleaded | ||
| V = 4.0L Leaded | ||
| 9 | Check Digit | 0 through 9 or X |
| 10 | Model Year | V = 1997 |
| W = 1998 | ||
| X = 1999 | ||
| Y = 2000 | ||
| 1 = 2001 | ||
| 2 = 2002 | ||
| 3 = 2003 | ||
| 11 | Assembly Plant | P = Toledo #2 |
| 12-17 | Vehicle Build Sequence | Six Digit Number |
JK owners the VIN can be easily found on the drivers side dash and door jam.
| Position | Interpretation | Code/Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of Origin | 1 = United States |
| 2 | Make | J = Jeep |
| C = Chrysler | ||
| 3 | Vehicle Type | 4 = MPV w/o side air bags |
| 8 = MPV w/ side air bags | ||
| 4 | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | 1 = 8001 - 9000 lbs |
| A, G, N, V = 4001 - 5000 lbs | ||
| B, H, P, X = 5001 - 6000 lbs | ||
| C, J, R, Y = 6001 - 7000 lbs | ||
| D, K, S, Z = 7001 - 8000 lbs | ||
| E, L, T = 8001 - 9000 lbs | ||
| 5 | Vehicle Line | A = Wrangler Left Hand Drive (4x4) |
| B = Wrangler Left Hand Drive (4x2) | ||
| E = Wrangler Right Drive (4x4) Export | ||
| Z = Wrangler Right Hand Drive (4x4) US mail & Canada | ||
| J = Unlimited | ||
| 6 | Series & Trans | 2 = Sport or base model |
| 3 = Unlimited or Sport Unlimited | ||
| 5 = Sahara or Sahara Unlimited | ||
| 6 = Rubicon or Rubicon Extended | ||
| B = 4-spd automatic VLP - Sales Code (DGV) | ||
| C = 6-spd Manual - Sales Code (DEH) | ||
| E = 5-spd automatic - Sales Code (DGQ) | ||
| W = 5-spd Auto (Rubicon) | ||
| 7 | Body Style | 4, D = Open Body (JK 72) |
| 9, H = Extended Open Body (JK 74) | ||
| 8 | Engine | 1 = 3.8L V6 |
| 5 = 2.8L 4-cyl Diesel | ||
| 9 = 2.8L 4-cyl Turbo Diesel | ||
| G = 3.6L | ||
| 9 | Check Digit | 0 through 9, or X |
| 10 | Model Year | 7 = 2007 |
| 8 = 2008 | ||
| 9 = 2009 | ||
| A = 2010 | ||
| B = 2011 | ||
| C = 2012 | ||
| D = 2013 | ||
| E = 2014 | ||
| F = 2015 | ||
| G = 2016 | ||
| H = 2017 | ||
| J = 2018 | ||
| 11 | Assembly Plant | L = Toledo, Ohio South Assembly |
| W = Toledo, Ohio North Assembly | ||
| 12-17 | Sequential Serial Number | Six Digit Number |
| 4WD | Body Type | Position | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| JXA | 2 Door Open Body | Left Hand Drive | Sport |
| JXB | Sahara | ||
| JXC | Rubicon | ||
| JXD | 4 Door Open Body | Unlimited Sport | |
| JXE | Unlimited Sahara | ||
| JXF | Unlimited Rubicon | ||
| JXG | 2 Door Open Body | Right Hand Drive | Sport |
| JXH | Sahara | ||
| JXJ | Rubicon | ||
| JXK | 4 Door Open Body | Unlimited Sport | |
| JXL | Unlimited Sahara | ||
| JXM | Unlimited Rubicon |
