Decode a Kenworth VIN
How to read a Kenworth VIN (position by position)
Every Kenworth built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 12 WMIs used on Kenworth vehicles, such as 1NK, 1XK and 2NK.
| Position | Part | On a Kenworth VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 2, 3, S (the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1NK, 1XK, 2NK, 2XK, 3BK, 3NK and 6 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Kenworth'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 Kenworth models |
| 11 | Plant | Kenworth plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Kenworth's production sequence |
Kenworth WMI codes
Kenworth WMIs point to 4 countries of manufacture: the United States (1NK, 1XK), Canada (2NK, 2XK), Mexico (3BK, 3NK, 3WK, 3WM…) and the United Kingdom (SBV, SFN). 1 of them is shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Kenworth WMIs for incomplete vehicle and truck vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. (also Peterbilt) | UNITED KINGDOM (UK) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| SFN | KENWORTH TRUCK COMPANY | UNITED KINGDOM (UK) | Truck |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Kenworth itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Kenworth VIN.
Kenworth model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 Kenworth T880 carries S, a 2025 Kenworth W9 Series carries S and a 2025 Kenworth W990 carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Kenworth
- On the VIN plate inside the driver-side door frame or on the door edge.
- Stamped on the frame rail, usually the right-hand rail near the front axle.
- On the title, registration and insurance documents.
- On the Kenworth cab's information label; some models also show it on the dashboard.
Kenworth recalls
NHTSA lists 378 Kenworth vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2008 model year has the most, with 33; 2020–2024 models account for 95.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2011 | 23 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2008 | 33 |
Kenworth models in vPIC
vPIC lists 29 Kenworth models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- C5 Series 2016–2025
- K 100E 2016–2025
- K100 2016–2025
- K260/K360 2016–2025
- K270/K370 2016–2025
- K3 Series 2016–2025
- K300 2016–2025
- KS 2019–2025
- KT 2019–2025
- KW45/KW55 2016–2025
- L7 Series 2016–2025
- L770 2022–2025
- Other Off-Highway 2016–2025
- S10/A3 2016–2025
- T180 2022–2025
- T2 Series 2016–2025
- T280 2022–2025
- T3 Series 2016–2025
- T300 2016–2025
- T380 2022–2025
- T4 Series 2016–2025
- T480 2022–2025
- T6 Series 2016–2025
- T680 2016–2025
- T7 Series 2016–2025
- T8 Series 2016–2025
- T880 2016–2025
- W9 Series 2016–2025
- W990 2016–2025
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Kenworth by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Kenworth 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 Kenworth 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 Kenworth 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 Kenworth dealer can look it up from the VIN.