Acura VIN decoder
Enter a Acura VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Acura VINs
Acura is Honda's premium brand. Ohio-built Acura cars such as the TLX start with 19U and SUVs such as the MDX and RDX with 5J8. Japanese-built models start with JH4, and older MDX models built in Canada with 2HN.
Acura is part of Honda Motor Co..
Good to know
- The VIN layout follows Honda's: model in positions 4-5, body and transmission after it.
- The decode shows whether a model has SH-AWD or front-wheel drive.
- Honda and Acura share a recall lookup by VIN.
Acura manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 11 codes for Acura. The first character shows the region where the vehicle was built (1, 4, 5 USA; 2 Canada; 3 Mexico; J Japan; K Korea; W Germany; Z Italy).
| Code | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type | Also used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19U | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| 19V | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| 2HH | Honda Of Canada Mfg., A Division Of Honda Canada Inc. | Canada | Passenger Car | – |
| 2HN | Honda Of Canada Mfg., A Division Of Honda Canada Inc. | Canada | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 2HU | Honda Of Canada Mfg., A Division Of Honda Canada Inc. | Canada | Truck | – |
| 3HD | Honda De Mexico, S.A. De C.V. | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Honda |
| 5FR | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 5FS | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 5J8 | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 5KC | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| JH4 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | – | Passenger Car | – |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Acura VIN
| Position | Meaning | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer code (WMI) | Maker, brand and country, as in the table above. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle descriptor | Model, body, engine and safety equipment. Each maker sets its own layout here. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typing errors and fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the year (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory code, set by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial number | The production number of that vehicle. |
Model year codes
The 10th character of a Acura VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Acura models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 17 model names under Acura. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
Acura models with years and recalls
- Acura ADX 2025–2027
All Acura model names
- ADX
- CL
- ILX
- Integra
- Legend
- MDX
- NSX
- RDX
- RL
- RLX
- RSX
- SLX
- TL
- TLX
- TSX
- Vigor
- ZDX
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Acura
Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Passenger Car, Truck
Where to find the VIN on a Acura
Windshield
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside.
Driver door frame
On the label on the door pillar, with tire pressures and weights.
Papers
On the title, registration and insurance card.
Acura recalls by VIN
Every decoded Acura VIN on VinGear shows the safety recalls NHTSA lists for that model and year. To know whether the repair was already done on your vehicle, ask a Acura dealer or use Acura's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Acura VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Acura VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN in the box at the top of this page and press Decode VIN. You get the model, year, engine, factory and safety recalls from NHTSA, free.
Is this Acura VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding and recall checks are free with no sign-up. The data comes from NHTSA, the US vehicle safety agency.
What do the first three characters of a Acura VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 11 codes for Acura; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Acura VIN show options or the owner?
No. The VIN codes the model, body, engine and factory, not options or colour. It never shows the owner, and VinGear does not look up owners.