Decode a Fiat VIN
How to read a Fiat VIN (position by position)
Every Fiat built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 13 WMIs used on Fiat vehicles, such as 1C3, 1C4 and 1C6.
| Position | Part | On a Fiat VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 3, J, Z (the United States, Mexico, Japan and Italy) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1C3, 1C4, 1C6, 1C7, 3C3, 3C4 and 7 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Fiat's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current Fiat models |
| 11 | Plant | Fiat plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Fiat's production sequence |
Fiat WMI codes
Fiat WMIs point to 4 countries of manufacture: the United States (1C3, 1C4, 1C6, 1C7…), Mexico (3C3, 3C4, 3C6, 3C7), Japan (JC1) and Italy (ZFA, ZFB). 11 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Fiat WMIs for passenger car, suv / mpv, truck and incomplete vehicle vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C3 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 1C4 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Jeep, Ram, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 1C6 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Jeep, Ram, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 1C7 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Jeep, Ram, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 3C3 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Lancia) | MEXICO | Passenger Car |
| 3C4 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Jeep, Ram, Lancia) | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 3C6 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Jeep, Ram, Lancia) | MEXICO | Truck |
| 3C7 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Jeep, Ram, Lancia) | MEXICO | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 3E4 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| JC1 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION (also Mazda) | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| ZAC | STELLANTIS EUROPE SPA (also Dodge, Jeep, Ram) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| ZFA | STELLANTIS EUROPE SPA | ITALY | Passenger Car |
| ZFB | STELLANTIS EUROPE SPA (also Jeep, Ram) | ITALY | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Fiat itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Fiat VIN.
Fiat model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2023 Fiat 500X carries P, a 2023 Fiat Ducato carries P and a 2016 Fiat Freemont carries G. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Fiat
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
Fiat recalls
NHTSA lists 53 Fiat vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2014 model year has the most, with 9; 2020–2024 models account for 8.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2012 | 3 |
Fiat models in vPIC
vPIC lists 7 Fiat models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- 124 Spider 2017–2020
- 500 2016–2019
- 500e 2024–2025
- 500L 2016–2020
- 500X 2016–2023
- Ducato 2019–2023
- Freemont 2016
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Fiat by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Fiat models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a Fiat VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a Fiat paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a Fiat dealer can look it up from the VIN.