Decode a Mazda VIN
How to read a Mazda VIN (position by position)
Every Mazda built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 11 WMIs used on Mazda vehicles, such as 3MD, 3MV and 3MZ.
| Position | Part | On a Mazda VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 3, 4, 7, J (Mexico, the United States and Japan) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 3MD, 3MV, 3MZ, 4F2, 4F3, 4F4 and 5 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Mazda'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 Mazda models |
| 11 | Plant | Mazda plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Mazda's production sequence |
Mazda WMI codes
Mazda WMIs point to 3 countries of manufacture: Mexico (3MD, 3MV, 3MZ), the United States (4F2, 4F3, 4F4, 7MM) and Japan (JC1, JM1, JM2, JM3). 2 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Mazda WMIs for passenger car, suv / mpv and truck vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3MD | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | MEXICO | Passenger Car |
| 3MV | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 3MZ | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | MEXICO | Passenger Car |
| 4F2 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4F3 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 4F4 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 7MM | MAZDA TOYOTA MANUFACTURING, USA, INC. (also Toyota) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JC1 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION (also Fiat) | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| JM1 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| JM2 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | JAPAN | Truck |
| JM3 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | JAPAN | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Mazda itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Mazda VIN.
Mazda model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2021 Mazda Mazda6 carries M, a 2023 Mazda MX-30 carries P and a 2025 Mazda MX-5 carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Mazda
- 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.
Mazda recalls
NHTSA lists 197 Mazda vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2009 model year has the most, with 26; 2020–2024 models account for 35.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2008 | 22 |
Mazda models in vPIC
vPIC lists 12 Mazda models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- CX-3 2016–2022
- CX-30 2020–2025
- CX-5 2016–2025
- CX-50 2023–2025
- CX-70 2025
- CX-9 2016–2023
- CX-90 2024–2025
- Mazda2 2016–2021
- Mazda3 2016–2025
- Mazda6 2016–2021
- MX-30 2022–2023
- MX-5 2016–2025
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Mazda by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Mazda 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 Mazda 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 Mazda 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 Mazda dealer can look it up from the VIN.