How to decode a 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a specific vehicle, providing insights into its origin, vehicle type, and even the manufacturing plant. In the case of the 2001 Cadillac Catera, the WMI “W06” indicates that the vehicle was produced by Adam Opel AG, marking it as a passenger car. This particular model was manufactured in Russelsheim, Germany, highlighting its European craftsmanship. The WMI is an essential part of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), offering a quick way to understand significant details about where and by whom a vehicle was made. Such information is particularly useful for tracking, registration, and recall purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 2001 Cadillac Catera

WMI: W06

Model Years Covered: 1997-2001
Example VIN: W06VR54R01R001357
Manufacturer Name: Adam Opel AG
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Russelsheim
State or Province:
Country: Germany

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2001 Cadillac Catera:

Known VDS for a 2001 Cadillac Catera
VR54R

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
1	2001

11th Character in the 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2001 Cadillac Catera Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
R	Russelsheim	Hesse	Germany	Opel	W06VR54R01R001357

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2001 Cadillac Catera

The final 6 characters in a 2001 Cadillac Catera’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Cadillac Catera’s VIN below:

How to find a 2001 Cadillac Catera’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2001 Cadillac Catera is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2001 Cadillac Catera, where the VIN can typically be seen through the windshield.
Look at the door frame on the driver’s side of your Catera, as there is often a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches when closed.
On your Cadillac Catera, inspect under the hood; the VIN may be stamped onto a plate mounted on the engine block or on the firewall.
Consult the maintenance records or owner’s manual of the 2001 Cadillac Catera, where the VIN is usually recorded for reference.
Inspect the trunk area of your Cadillac Catera—some models have the VIN located in the spare tire well or on the trunk lid.
Check beneath the vehicle, as the VIN might also be found on the chassis or frame, though this location may require some effort to access and clean to be legible.

What info can a 2001 Cadillac Catera VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as 2001, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Size: VIN information can specify the body class and size, revealing that the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering a fundamental understanding of the vehicle’s design and capacity.
Engine Specifications: The VIN encodes engine details such as a V-Shaped engine configuration, a displacement of 3.0 L or 3000 CC, and it being an OPEL L81 model with 6 cylinders, providing a clear picture of the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
Fuel System: The VIN discloses the vehicle’s fuel delivery system as Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), which indicates the method of fuel delivery to the engine, possibly affecting performance and fuel efficiency.
Safety Features: Safety equipment such as the presence of front and side airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger) can be gleaned, demonstrating the vehicle’s commitment to passenger safety.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN reveals detailed manufacturing information, including the plant city of Russelsheim, plant country Germany, and the manufacturer as Opel, providing insights into the quality and heritage of the vehicle.
Other Engine Info: Additional engine information like the engine being a High Output with the name plate: Saturn, and having a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) valve train design is encoded, offering a deeper understanding of the engine’s sophistication and design philosophy.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2001 Cadillac Catera

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3000.0
Displacement (CI)	183.07123228419
Displacement (L)	3.0
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	OPEL
Engine Model	L81
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Model	Catera
Model Year	2001
Other Engine Info	HO, Name Plate: Saturn
Plant City	Russelsheim
Plant Company Name	Opel
Plant Country	Germany
Plant State	Hesse
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	W06VR54R*1R
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	W06VR54R01R001357