Skip to content
Smart VIN Check

VIN decoder

Jeep VIN decoder

Enter a Jeep VIN to decode it. Newer Jeeps share their first three characters with other Stellantis brands, so the part that says “Jeep” sits a little further in.

By Tayron Bram

Updated October 2026 · 3 min read

Share
0 of 17

Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It decodes as soon as all 17 are in.

Try it with

On this page
  1. What the decoder shows for a Jeep
  2. Jeep manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. Positions 4 to 8 and 11 on a Jeep
  4. Jeep-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used Jeep

What the decoder shows for a Jeep

Enter the full 17 characters and the decoder reads what FCA US reported to NHTSA’s free vPIC database: model year, model and trim (Wrangler Rubicon, Grand Cherokee Limited and so on), body, engine, drive, GVWR class, plant and restraints. It also lists the recalls NHTSA has for that year and model. A decode won’t reveal flood or salvage history, accidents or rolled-back mileage; a history report covers those. The VIN decoder works for other makes, and pricing lists our reports.

Jeep manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, WMIs registered to FCA US LLC and Chrysler de Mexico Toluca, checked October 25, 2026. Selected codes; the full lists are longer.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
1C4FCA US LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
1C6FCA US LLCTruck
3C4CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCAMultipurpose passenger vehicle
1J4FCA US LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle
1J8FCA US LLCMultipurpose passenger vehicle

Position 1 is the country: 1 for the United States, 3 for Mexico. vPIC decodes 1C4, 1C6 and 3C4 to several makes at once, including Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram, so these three characters alone don’t prove it’s a Jeep. Codes beginning 1J, such as 1J4 and 1J8, decode to Jeep only, but the 2027 guide doesn’t use them. The 2027 guide uses 1C4 for the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer, 1C6 for the Gladiator pickup and 3C4 for the Mexican-built Cherokee and Compass.

Positions 4 to 8 and 11 on a Jeep

In the 2027 code guide FCA US files with NHTSA, position 4 combines restraint devices and GVWR. Positions 5 to 7 are read together for brand, marketing name, drive wheels, brake system, cab or body type, steering side and price series, and every 2027 Jeep code in them starts with J (JX on the Wrangler, JT on the Gladiator, JD on the Compass). Position 8 is the engine; the Wrangler, for example, has separate codes for its 2.0-liter four, 3.6-liter V6 and 6.4-liter V8.

Source: FCA US LLC, 2027 Vehicle Identification Number Code Guide filed with NHTSA.
Position 11Plant2027 Jeep models
WToledo North Assembly, OhioWrangler
LToledo Supplier Park, OhioGladiator
C / 8Jefferson North / Mack Assembly, DetroitGrand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L
SWarren Truck Assembly, MichiganGrand Wagoneer
TToluca Assembly, MexicoCherokee, Compass

Jeep-specific checks

  • Export and right-hand-drive codes. The 2027 Wrangler page lists Sahara and Rubicon codes marked export only, and a right-hand-drive Sport. If the decode of a Wrangler for sale in the US says export or right-hand drive, ask how it came to be here.
  • Mopar’s recall search covers Jeep and the other Stellantis brands by VIN. Mopar puts the VIN on a plate on the driver’s side of the dashboard just below the windshield, and on the driver-side door frame label.
  • The decoder lists recalls for the model; Mopar or NHTSA shows whether this VIN still has one open.
  • Position 10 is the model year (V for 2027). See VIN year codes.
0 of 17

Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It’s on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver’s door frame, and on the title.

Before you buy a used Jeep

  • Match the dash plate, the door-frame label and the title.
  • Check that position 5 is J and the plant fits the model: a 2027 Wrangler has W in position 11.
  • Look for salvage, flood and odometer records in a history report. See salvage title check, flood damage check and odometer rollback check.
  • Search the VIN for open recalls with Mopar before you pay.

A CARFAX report on a used Jeep is $8.99 with us.

Questions

Does a VIN starting with 1C4 mean it’s a Jeep?

Not on its own. vPIC decodes 1C4 to several makes, including Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram. In the 2027 code guide, Jeep codes have J in position 5.

Where was my Wrangler built?

The 2027 guide lists W in position 11, Toledo North Assembly in Ohio. The Gladiator comes from the Toledo Supplier Park, code L.

What does position 4 mean on a Jeep VIN?

In FCA US’s 2027 guide it combines the restraint devices and the GVWR range.

Was this helpful?

About the author

Tayron Bram

Data Validation Officer

Tayron Bram is the Data Validation Officer at Smart VIN Check, with 41 years of experience in used-car sales, auto auctions and vehicle data. Tayron has checked thousands of vehicle history reports and worked with dealers importing cars from the US. At Smart VIN Check, Tayron checks that every fact in our guides matches its source, from state title rules to NMVTIS and NHTSA records, and goes back to those sources when they change. Before a guide is published, Tayron reads it the way a buyer would, looking for anything unclear, out of date or not backed by a source. Tayron also keeps the prices we quote from other sellers current, so the comparisons on our pages stay accurate.

More from Tayron Bram

Related

Sources