How to decode a 2012 Honda CR-V VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Honda CR-V VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes uniquely identify the maker of a vehicle, providing insight into where a car was manufactured, by which company, and the vehicle type. For instance, the WMI for a 2012 Honda CR-V begins with “2HK” for models made by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc., in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, or “JHL” for those produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., in Tokyo, Japan. These codes, part of the larger VIN, denote the vehicles as multipurpose passenger vehicles, reflecting their design and intended use. Whether made in Canada or Japan, the 2012 Honda CR-V’s WMI reveals a part of its global manufacturing process, indicating its origin and the manufacturer’s identity. This layered information, packed into just three characters, is invaluable for understanding the vehicle’s production lineage and specifications.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Honda CR-V

WMI: 5J6

Model Years Covered: 2007-2024
Example VIN: 5J6RM4H56CC014162
Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Torrance
State or Province: California
Country: United States WMI: 2HK
Model Years Covered: 2012-2024
Example VIN: 2HKRM4H30CH106652
Manufacturer Name: Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Alliston
State or Province: Ontario
Country: Canada WMI: JHL
Model Years Covered: 1997-2012, 2019
Example VIN: JHLRM3H70CC000018
Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Tokyo
State or Province: Musashi
Country: Japan WMI: 3CZ
Model Years Covered: 2008-2016
Example VIN: 3CZRM3H50CG700057
Manufacturer Name: Honda de Mexico
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: El Salto
State or Province: Jalisco
Country: Mexico

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Honda CR-V 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 2012 Honda CR-V:

Known VDS for a 2012 Honda CR-V
RM4H5	RM4H3	RM3H3	RM4H7	RM3H7	RM3H5

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 2012 Honda CR-V 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 2012 Honda CR-V VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

11th Character in the 2012 Honda CR-V VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Honda CR-V Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Example VIN
C	Sayama	Saitama	Japan	5J6RM4H56CC014162
G	El Salto	Jalisco	Mexico	3CZRM3H50CG700057
H	Alliston	Ontario	Canada	2HKRM4H30CH106652
L	East Liberty	Ohio	United States	5J6RM4H50CL000211

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Honda CR-V

The final 6 characters in a 2012 Honda CR-V’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Honda CR-V’s VIN below:

How to find a 2012 Honda CR-V’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2012 Honda CR-V is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda CR-V. The VIN is usually visible through the windshield on a small plate.
Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Honda CR-V. The VIN might be on a label or sticker where the door closes.
Look under the hood of your Honda CR-V. The VIN can sometimes be found on the engine block or on the firewall.
Examine the trunk of your Honda CR-V. The VIN might also be located in the trunk area, possibly under the carpet or on the trunk lid itself.
Check your Honda CR-V’s vehicle registration documents, insurance papers, or the vehicle title, where the VIN will be listed.

What info can a 2012 Honda CR-V VIN reveal?

Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2012, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: The VIN can potentially include details about the engine, such as being gasoline-powered with a 2.4-liter In-Line 4-cylinder engine, and a horsepower ranging from 185 to 205, indicating its potential performance capabilities.
Safety Features: Safety features such as front airbags for both the driver and passenger, as well as curtain airbags for the 1st and 2nd rows, may be revealed through the VIN, highlighting the emphasis on occupant safety.
Body Class and Size: The VIN may indicate a body class of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 5 doors, suggesting its family-friendly and versatile use.
Transmission and Drive Type: The VIN can potentially provide information about the transmission and drive type, such as featuring an automatic transmission with 5 speeds and a 4x2 drive type, offering insights into the vehicle’s drivability and handling characteristics.
Fuel Type: Potential fuel type details from the VIN, such as utilizing gasoline as its primary fuel type, are crucial for potential owners to know for fuel economy and environmental considerations.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN might reveal manufacturing details, such as the vehicle being assembled in East Liberty, Ohio, United States, offering traceability and insight into manufacturing standards and potential regional features.

Don’t have your 2012 Honda CR-V’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Honda CR-V

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Cooling Type	Water
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	2354
Displacement (CI)	144
Displacement (L)	2.4
Doors	5
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Engine Brake (hp) From	185
Engine Brake (hp) To	205
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	Honda
Engine Model	K24Z7
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Model	CR-V
Model Year	2012
Other Restraint System Info	seat belts: front, rear, rear center
Plant City	Sayama
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Plant State	Saitama
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	EX-L
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Transmission Speeds	5
Transmission Style	Automatic
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JHLRM4H7*CC
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	JHLRM4H70CC000820