Pages of Interest to 4x4ers
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3.4 Jeep Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Information (1990 thru Present)
A car's vehicle identification number (VIN) is the automotive equivalent of human "DNA".
How do I find the identification numbers on my Jeep?
Click here to decode your VIN without using all the tables below (the quick and easy way!)
Here's what the various positions within the VIN indicate:
NOTE: The letters I, O, and Q will never appear in a VIN. If they are present, it's really an I, a T, or a zero and there's either something on the plate or it has been damaged.
Country (1st position):
Manufacturer (2nd position):
Type (3rd position):
GVWR (4th position):
Line (5th position):
Series/Transmission (6th position):
Body (7th position):
Engine Type (8th position):
Model Year (10th Position):
Assembly Plant (11th position):
VIN Check Digit Verification:
How do I find the identification numbers on my Jeep?
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is printed on the certification label that is located on
the driver's side doorjamb. There is also a VIN plate located on the lower dashboard (closest to
the windshield on the driver's side).
You may also notice VIN stickers on major body parts of your vehicle. These are theft prevention labels that were applied to reduce the incidence of vehicle thefts by facilitating the tracing and recovery of parts from stolen vehicles. Further information may be located in your Owner's Manual.
The engine number is stamped on the engine block. Since the engine number location varies by engine, you will need the Owner's Manual to find a picture of the relative location of the engine number on your vehicle.
The VIN sets a vehicle apart from the millions of vehicles out there. It is reflected in 17 characters. It displays a car's uniqueness and heritage and provides a form of factory-to-scrap yard identification. It can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts, and insurance coverage. Each character or digit has a particular purpose.
You may also notice VIN stickers on major body parts of your vehicle. These are theft prevention labels that were applied to reduce the incidence of vehicle thefts by facilitating the tracing and recovery of parts from stolen vehicles. Further information may be located in your Owner's Manual.
The engine number is stamped on the engine block. Since the engine number location varies by engine, you will need the Owner's Manual to find a picture of the relative location of the engine number on your vehicle.
The VIN sets a vehicle apart from the millions of vehicles out there. It is reflected in 17 characters. It displays a car's uniqueness and heritage and provides a form of factory-to-scrap yard identification. It can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts, and insurance coverage. Each character or digit has a particular purpose.
Click here to decode your VIN without using all the tables below (the quick and easy way!)
Here's a typical VIN:
1 J 4 F J 3 5 L X L L 0 0 1 2 3 4
Here's what the various positions within the VIN indicate:
1 J 4 F J 3 5 L X L L 001234
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | +----+-> Sequential production number
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | +------> Assembly Plant (see Assembly Plant below)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | +------> Model year: L = 1990 (see Model Year below
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | +------> Check digit (see Check Digit below)
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | +------> Engine type (see Engine Type below)
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | +------> Body (see Body below)
| | | | | |
| | | | | +------> Series/transmission (see Series/Transmission below)
| | | | |
| | | | +------> Line (see Line below)
| | | |
| | | +------> GVWR (see GVWR below)
| | |
| | +------> Type (see Type below)
| |
| +------> Manufacturer (see Manufacturer below)
|
+------> Country (see Country below)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | +----+-> Sequential production number
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | +------> Assembly Plant (see Assembly Plant below)
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | +------> Model year: L = 1990 (see Model Year below
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | +------> Check digit (see Check Digit below)
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | +------> Engine type (see Engine Type below)
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | +------> Body (see Body below)
| | | | | |
| | | | | +------> Series/transmission (see Series/Transmission below)
| | | | |
| | | | +------> Line (see Line below)
| | | |
| | | +------> GVWR (see GVWR below)
| | |
| | +------> Type (see Type below)
| |
| +------> Manufacturer (see Manufacturer below)
|
+------> Country (see Country below)
NOTE: The letters I, O, and Q will never appear in a VIN. If they are present, it's really an I, a T, or a zero and there's either something on the plate or it has been damaged.
Country (1st position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| US | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Manufactured by Daimler Chrysler Corporation | - | - | - | 1 |
| Canada | 2 | 2 | 2 | - |
Manufacturer (2nd position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Jeep Canada | B | - | B | - |
| Jeep U.S.A. | J | - | J | - |
| Jeep | - | J | - | J |
Type (3rd position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| MPV | 4 | 4 | 4 | - |
| MPV w/o Side Air Bags | - | - | - | 4 |
| Incomplete Vehicle | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Truck | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| MPV with Side Air Bags | - | - | - | 8 |
GVWR (4th position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| 3001 - 4000 GVW | E | E | E | E |
| 4001 - 5000 GVW | F | F | F | F |
| 5001 - 6000 GVW | G | G | G | G |
| 6001 - 7000 GVW | H | H | - | H |
Line (5th position):
| Description (LHD = Left Hand Drive; RHD = Right Hand Drive) |
1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Wrangler - 4WD LHD | - | - | A | A |
| Cherokee 2WD RHD | - | - | B | - |
| Wrangler 4x2 LHD | - | - | - | B |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x4 LHD | - | - | C | - |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x4 LHD Vehicle Line (WH) | - | - | - | C |
| Grand Cherokee - 4WD RHD | - | - | D | - |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x4 RHD Vehicle Line (WH) | - | - | - | D |
| Wrangler - 4x4 RHD | - | - | - | E |
| Cherokee - 4WD LHD | - | - | F | - |
| Compass, Patriot LHD (AWD) | - | - | - | F |
| Commander 4x4 LHD Vehicle Line (XK) | - | - | - | G |
| Commander 4x2 LHD Vehicle Line (XK) | - | - | - | H |
| Cherokee or Comanche - 4WD | J | J | - | - |
| Cherokee - 4WD RHD | - | - | J | J |
| Liberty - 4x2 LHD | - | - | K | K |
| Liberty - 4x4 LHD | - | - | L | - |
| Liberty - 4x4 LHD w/o ABS | - | - | - | L |
| Wagoneer - 4WD | N | - | - | - |
| Cherokee Briarwood | - | N | - | - |
| Cherokee - 4WD RHD | - | - | N | - |
| Description (LHD = Left Hand Drive; RHD = Right Hand Drive) |
1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x4 | - | - | R | - |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x4 Vehicle Line (WK) | - | - | - | R |
| Grand Wagoneer - 4WD | S | - | - | - |
| Grand Wagoneer | - | S | - | - |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x2 | - | - | S | - |
| Grand Cherokee - 4x2 Vehicle Line (WK) | - | - | - | S |
| Cherokee or Comanche - 2WD | T | - | - | - |
| Cherokee - 2WD LHD | - | - | T | - |
| Compass, Patriot LHD (FWD) | - | - | - | T |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD | - | W | - | - |
| Grand Cherokee - 4WD LHD | - | - | W | - |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | - | X | - | - |
| Wrangler - 4WD | Y | Y | - | - |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD | - | Z | - | - |
| Grand Cherokee, Commander 4x4 RHD Vehicle Line (XH) | - | - | - | 1 |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | - | 2 | - | - |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD LHD | - | - | 2 | - |
| Grand Cherokee, Commander 4x4 LHD Vehicle Line (XH) | - | - | - | 3 |
| Wrangler - 4WD RHD | - | - | 4 | - |
| Wrangler 4x4 RHD | - | - | - | 4 |
| Description (LHD = Left Hand Drive; RHD = Right Hand Drive) |
1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD | - | 7 | - | - |
| Grand Cherokee 2WD RHD | - | - | 7 | - |
| Compass, Patriot RHD (AWD) | - | - | - | 7 |
| Grand Cherokee 4WD RHD | - | - | 8 | - |
Series/Transmission (6th position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| 4Spd Auto | - | - | - | B |
| 6Spd Std | - | - | - | C |
| Grand Cherokee 5 Speed Auto | - | - | E | - |
| 5Spd Auto | - | - | - | E |
| Continuously Variable | - | - | - | F |
| Continuously Variable Off Road Crawl | - | - | - | G |
| 5Spd Std | - | - | - | N |
| "S" | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Base | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| Cherokee, Liberty SE | - | - | 2 | - |
| Wrangler SE | - | - | 2 | - |
| Compass, Patriot, Wrangler, L (Low Line) | - | - | - | 2 |
| Pioneer / Islander | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| Cherokee Renegade, Liberty Renegade | - | - | 3 | - |
| Wrangler X | - | - | 3 | - |
| Wrangler, M (Medium) | - | - | - | 3 |
| Liberty / Renegade | - | - | - | 3 |
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Sahara | 4 | 4 | - | - |
| Cherokee Sport, Liberty Sport | - | - | 4 | - |
| Grand Cherokee Laredo | - | - | 4 | - |
| Wrangler Sport | - | - | 4 | - |
| Commander, Liberty Sport, Cherokee Sport | - | - | - | 4 |
| Compass, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler H (High Line) | - | - | - | 4 |
| Laredo / Grand | 5 | - | - | - |
| Renegade / Grand / Laredo | - | 5 | - | - |
| Cherokee Classic, Liberty Classic | - | - | 5 | - |
| Grand Cherokee Limited | - | - | 5 | - |
| Wrangler Sahara | - | - | 5 | - |
| Commander Limited, Cherokee Limited | - | - | - | 5 |
| Premium | - | - | - | 5 |
| Eliminator | 6 | - | - | - |
| Eliminator / Sport | - | 6 | - | - |
| Cherokee Limited, Liberty Limited | - | - | 6 | - |
| Grand Cherokee Overland | - | - | 6 | - |
| Wrangler Rubicon | - | - | 6 | - |
| Sport | - | - | - | 6 |
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Limited | 7 | - | - | - |
| Briarwood / Limited | - | 7 | - | - |
| Cherokee Country, Liberty Country | - | - | 7 | - |
| Special | - | - | - | 7 |
| Compass, Patriot RHD (AWD) | - | - | - | 7 |
| Grand Wagoneer | - | 8 | - | - |
Body (7th position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Extended Open Body | - | - | - | 4 |
| Truck | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| 2 Door Sport Utility | 7 | 7 | 7 | - |
| Hatchback Tall | - | - | - | 7 |
| 4 Door Sport Utility | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Open Body | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Engine Type (8th position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| 2.5 Litre, I-4 | D | - | - | - |
| 2.5 Litre, I-6 | E | - | - | - |
| 4.7 Litre, V-8 | - | - | J | - |
| 3.7 Litre, V-6 | - | - | K | - |
| 3.7L V-6 MPI Gas | - | - | - | K |
| 4.0 Litre, I-6 | L | - | - | - |
| 4.2 Litre, I-6 | M | - | - | - |
| 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel | - | - | - | M |
| 4.7 Litre, V-8 | - | N | N | - |
| 4.7L V-8 MPI Gas | - | - | - | N |
| 2.5 Litre, I-4 | - | P | P | - |
| 4.0 Litre, I-6 | - | S | S | - |
| 4.0L I6 Gas | - | - | - | S |
| 4.2 Litre, I-6 | T | - | - | - |
| 2.4L I4 SFI Gas | - | - | - | W |
| 5.2 Litre, V-8 | - | Y | - | - |
| 2.0L I4 SFI Gas | - | - | - | 0 |
| 2.4 Litre, I-4 | - | - | 1 | - |
| 2.4L I4 MPI Gas | - | - | - | 1 |
| 5.7L V8 Hemi Multiple Displacement Gas | - | - | - | 2 |
| 6.1L V8 SRT Hemi SMPI Gas | - | - | - | 3 |
| 2.8L I4 Diesel | - | - | - | 5 |
| 5.9 Litre, V-8 | 7 | 7 | - | - |
Model Year (10th Position):
| Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | |||
| 1990 | L | 1995 | S | 2000 | Y | 2005 | 5 | |||
| 1991 | M | 1996 | T | 2001 | 1 | 2006 | 6 | |||
| 1992 | N | 1997 | V | 2002 | 2 | 2007 | 7 | |||
| 1993 | P | 1998 | W | 2003 | 3 | 2008 | 8 | |||
| 1994 | R | 1999 | X | 2004 | 4 | 2009 | 9 |
Assembly Plant (11th position):
| Description | 1990 | 1991-1999 | 2000-2005 | 2006-2007 |
| Jefferson | - | C | C | - |
| Jefferson North Assembly | - | - | - | C |
| Belvidere Assembly | - | - | - | D |
| Brampton | J | J | - | - |
| Toledo #1 | L | L | L | - |
| Toledo South Assembly | - | - | - | L |
| Toledo #2 | P | P | - | P |
| Toledo North Assembly Plant | - | - | - | W |
| Steyer Assembly | - | - | Y | - |
| Chrysler Steyer Assembly | - | - | - | Y |
VIN Check Digit Verification:
To determine check digit (9th digit) of your vehicle, take the following steps:
Decode your VIN (the quick and easy way):
- Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value and assign to each letter the
value specified for it as follows:
A = 1 B = 2 C = 3 D = 4 E = 5 F = 6 G = 7 H = 8 J = 1 K = 2 L = 3 M = 4 N = 5 P = 7 R = 9 S = 2 T = 3 U = 4 V = 5 W = 6 X = 7 Y = 8 Z = 9
- Multiply the assigned value for each character in the VIN by the position weight factor as
follows:
1st = 8 2nd = 7 3rd = 6 4th = 5 5th = 4 6th = 3 7th = 2 8th = 10 9th = (check digit) 10th = 9 11th = 8 12th = 7 13th = 6 14th = 5 15th = 4 16th = 3 17th = 2
- Add the resulting products and divide the total by 11.
- The numerical remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is 10, the letter "X"
shall be used to designate the check digit. The correct numeric remainder, zero through nine
(0-9) or the letter "X," shall appear in VIN position nine (9).
- A sample check digit calculation is shown below:
VIN Position ..... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Sample VIN ....... 1 J 4 F J 3 5 L . L L 0 0 1 2 3 4 Assigned Value ... 1 1 4 6 1 3 5 3 . 3 3 0 0 1 2 3 4 Weight Factor .... 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Multiply Assigned value times weight factor 8 7 24 30 4 9 10 10 0 27 24 0 0 5 4 3 2
Add the products:8 + 7 + 24 + 30 + 4 + 9 + 10 + 10 + 0 + 27 + 24 + 0 + 0 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 166
Divide by 11: 166/11 = 37 1/11
The remainder is 1; this is the check digit to be inserted in position nine (9) of the VIN
Frame last updated: January 16, 2009