Decode a Mitsubishi VIN
How to read a Mitsubishi VIN (position by position)
Every Mitsubishi built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 18 WMIs used on Mitsubishi vehicles, such as 1Z2, 1Z3 and 1Z4.
| Position | Part | On a Mitsubishi VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 1, 4, 6, J, K, M (the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea and others) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 1Z2, 1Z3, 1Z4, 1Z6, 1Z7, 1Z8 and 12 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Mitsubishi'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 Mitsubishi models |
| 11 | Plant | Mitsubishi plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Mitsubishi's production sequence |
Mitsubishi WMI codes
Mitsubishi WMIs point to 5 countries of manufacture: the United States (1Z2, 1Z3, 1Z4, 1Z6…), Australia (6MM), Japan (JA3, JA4, JA7, JB4…), South Korea (KPH) and Thailand (ML3). 4 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Mitsubishi WMIs for incomplete vehicle, truck, suv / mpv and passenger car vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Z2 | FCA US LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Incomplete Vehicle |
| 1Z3 | FCA US LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 1Z4 | FCA US LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 1Z6 | FCA US LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 1Z7 | FCA US LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 1Z8 | FCA US LLC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4A3 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 4A4 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 4P3 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA (also Plymouth) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 6MM | MITSUBISHI MOTORS AUSTRALIA LTD. | AUSTRALIA | Passenger Car |
| JA3 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| JA4 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) (also Nissan) | JAPAN | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JA7 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) | JAPAN | Truck |
| JB4 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) (also Dodge) | JAPAN | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| JJ3 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| JP4 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) (also Plymouth) | JAPAN | Passenger Car |
| KPH | HYUNDAI MOTOR CO | SOUTH KOREA | Passenger Car |
| ML3 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) | THAILAND | Passenger Car |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Mitsubishi itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Mitsubishi VIN.
Mitsubishi model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander carries S, a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport carries S and a 2022 Mitsubishi RVR carries N. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Mitsubishi
- 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.
Mitsubishi recalls
NHTSA lists 200 Mitsubishi vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2008 model year has the most, with 22; 2020–2024 models account for 20.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2008 | 22 |
Mitsubishi models in vPIC
vPIC lists 10 Mitsubishi models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- Eclipse Cross 2018–2025
- i-MiEV 2016–2018
- Lancer 2016–2017
- Lancer SportBack 2016–2017
- Low Speed Vehicle 2016–2025
- Mirage 2016–2024
- Mirage G4 2017–2024
- Outlander 2016–2025
- Outlander Sport 2016–2025
- RVR 2016–2022
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Mitsubishi by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Mitsubishi 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 Mitsubishi 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 Mitsubishi 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 Mitsubishi dealer can look it up from the VIN.