Jeep VIN decoder
Enter a Jeep VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Jeep VINs
Jeep VINs changed with the company's owners. Most Jeeps from the 1990s and 2000s start with 1J4 or 1J8; models from about 2011 on start with 1C4. The Renegade, built in Italy, starts with ZAC, and Mexican-built Compass models start with 3C4.
Jeep is part of Stellantis.
Good to know
- The 8th character is the engine code: it tells a 3.6 Pentastar from a 2.0 turbo or a V8.
- Wrangler and Gladiator VINs show the body (2-door, 4-door, pickup) in the vehicle descriptor section.
- Factory options are not in the VIN. Stellantis keeps the build sheet and window sticker per VIN.
Jeep manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 27 codes for Jeep. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1C4 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 1C6 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 1C7 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 1J2 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1J3 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 1J4 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 1J5 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Bus | – |
| 1J6 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1J7 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 1J8 | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 1JC | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 1JD | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1JT | FCA US LLC | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 2C4 | FCA Canada Inc. | Canada | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 2C6 | FCA Canada Inc. | Canada | Truck | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 2C7 | FCA Canada Inc. | Canada | Incomplete Vehicle | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia, Pontiac |
| 2J4 | FCA Canada Inc. | Canada | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 2J5 | FCA Canada Inc. | Canada | Bus | – |
| 2J6 | FCA Canada Inc. | Canada | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 3C4 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 3C6 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Mexico | Truck | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 3C7 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Mexico | Incomplete Vehicle | Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, RAM, Lancia |
| 3J4 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 3J5 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Mexico | Bus | – |
| 3J6 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Mexico | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| ZAC | Stellantis Europe SPA | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Dodge, Fiat, RAM |
| ZFB | Stellantis Europe SPA | Italy | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Fiat, RAM |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Jeep 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 Jeep VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Jeep models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 24 model names under Jeep. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
Jeep models with years and recalls
- Jeep Recon 2026–2027
All Jeep model names
- Cherokee
- CJ-5
- CJ-6
- CJ-7
- CJ-8 Scrambler
- Comanche
- Commander
- Compass
- Gladiator
- Grand Cherokee
- Grand Cherokee L
- Grand Wagoneer
- Grand Wagoneer L
- J-10
- J-20
- Liberty
- Patriot
- Recon
- Renegade
- Wagoneer
- Wagoneer L
- Wagoneer S
- Wrangler
- Wrangler JK
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Jeep
Bus, Incomplete Vehicle, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Truck
Where to find the VIN on a Jeep
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.
Jeep recalls by VIN
Every decoded Jeep 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 Jeep dealer or use Jeep's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Jeep VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Jeep 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 Jeep 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 Jeep VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 27 codes for Jeep; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Jeep 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.