Kenworth VIN decoder
Enter a Kenworth VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Kenworth VINs
Kenworth is part of PACCAR, together with Peterbilt. US-built Kenworth trucks such as the T680 and W900 usually start with 1XK or 1NK. Heavy-truck VINs pack the model, cab, axle setup and engine into positions 4 to 8.
Kenworth is part of PACCAR.
Good to know
- The VIN is on the driver door or door frame label and stamped on the frame rail.
- PACCAR dealers can print the full build specification for a VIN.
- The engine (PACCAR MX, Cummins) has its own serial number on the engine block.
Kenworth manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 12 codes for Kenworth. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1NK | Kenworth Truck Company | United States (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1XK | Kenworth Truck Company | United States (USA) | Truck | – |
| 2NK | Kenworth Truck Company | Canada | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 2XK | Kenworth Truck Company | Canada | Truck | – |
| 3BK | Kenworth Truck Company | Mexico | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 3NK | Kenworth Mexicana Sa De Cv | Mexico | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 3NM | Kenworth Mexicana Sa De Cv | – | Truck | – |
| 3WK | Kenworth Truck Company | Mexico | Truck | – |
| 3WM | Kenworth Mexicana Sa De Cv | Mexico | Truck | – |
| 3XK | Kenworth Mexicana Sa De Cv | Mexico | Truck | – |
| SBV | Paccar Inc. | United Kingdom (Uk) | Incomplete Vehicle | Peterbilt |
| SFN | Kenworth Truck Company | United Kingdom (Uk) | Truck | – |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Kenworth 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 Kenworth VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Kenworth models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 44 model names under Kenworth. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
- 540
- 542
- 548CH
- C5 Series
- C500
- C540
- C550
- K3 Series
- K100
- K 100E
- K260/K360
- K270/K370
- K300
- KS
- KT
- KW45/KW55
- L7 Series
- L700
- L770
- Other Off-Highway
- S10/A3
- S106R4
- T2 Series
- T3 Series
- T4 Series
- T6 Series
- T7 Series
- T8 Series
- T180
- T280
- T300
- T380
- T400
- T450
- T480
- T600
- T680
- T800
- T880
- T2000
- W9 Series
- W300
- W900
- W990
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Kenworth
Incomplete Vehicle, Truck
Where to find the VIN on a Kenworth
Door frame label
On the driver door or door pillar label.
Frame rail
Stamped on the frame, often on the right side near the front.
Papers
On the title, registration and build sheet.
Kenworth recalls by VIN
Every decoded Kenworth 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 Kenworth dealer or use Kenworth's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Kenworth VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Kenworth 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 Kenworth 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 Kenworth VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 12 codes for Kenworth; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Kenworth 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.