Decode a Jeep VIN
How to read a Jeep VIN (position by position)
Every Jeep built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 21 WMIs used on Jeep vehicles, such as 1C4, 1C6 and 1C7.
| Position | Part | On a Jeep VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 3, Z (the United States, Mexico and Italy) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1C4, 1C6, 1C7, 1J2, 1J3, 1J4 and 15 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Jeep'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 Jeep models |
| 11 | Plant | Jeep plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Jeep's production sequence |
Jeep WMI codes
Jeep WMIs point to 3 countries of manufacture: the United States (1C4, 1C6, 1C7, 1J2…), Mexico (3C4, 3C6, 3C7, 3J4…) and Italy (ZFB). 8 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Jeep WMIs for suv / mpv, truck, incomplete vehicle and bus vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C4 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ram, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 1C6 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ram, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 1C7 | FCA US LLC (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ram, Lancia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 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 |
| 3C4 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ram, Lancia) | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 3C6 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ram, Lancia) | MEXICO | Truck |
| 3C7 | CHRYSLER DE MEXICO TOLUCA (also Dodge, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ram, Lancia) | MEXICO | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 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 (also Dodge, Fiat, Ram) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| ZFB | STELLANTIS EUROPE SPA (also Fiat, Ram) | ITALY | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Jeep itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Jeep VIN.
Jeep model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S carries S, a 2025 Jeep Wrangler carries S and a 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK carries J. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Jeep
- 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.
Jeep recalls
NHTSA lists 465 Jeep vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2022 model year has the most, with 55; 2020–2024 models account for 198.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2021 | 39 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2008 | 15 |
Jeep models in vPIC
vPIC lists 14 Jeep models for the 2016–2025 model years. Linked models have year-by-year pages with EPA mpg, owner complaints and recalls.
- Cherokee 2016–2023
- Compass 2016–2025
- Gladiator 2020–2025
- Grand Cherokee 2016–2025
- Grand Cherokee L 2021–2025
- Grand Wagoneer 2022–2025
- Grand Wagoneer L 2024–2025
- Patriot 2016–2018
- Renegade 2016–2023
- Wagoneer 2022–2025
- Wagoneer L 2024–2025
- Wagoneer S 2024–2025
- Wrangler 2016–2025
- Wrangler JK 2018
Jeep models compared by year →
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Jeep by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Jeep 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 Jeep 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 Jeep 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 Jeep dealer can look it up from the VIN.