How to decode a 2002 Dodge Ram VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 2002 Dodge Ram VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). For the 2002 Dodge Ram, the WMIs of interest are 1D7 and 1B7, indicating trucks manufactured by FCA US LLC in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States, and 3B7 for those made by Chrysler de Mexico Toluca in Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico. These codes not only pinpoint the manufacturing location but also help in identifying the vehicle type and manufacturing entity. Specifically, both 1D7 and 1B7 WMIs cater to the Dodge Ram trucks for different model years, underscoring the vehicle’s American manufacturing roots, while 3B7 expands this lineage into Mexico. This system plays a critical role in globally tracking, registering, and recalling vehicles.
List of WMI Codes for a 2002 Dodge Ram
WMI: 1D7
- Model Years Covered: 2002-2008, 2010-2011
- Example VIN: 1D7HU18Z02S530661
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 1B7
- Model Years Covered: 1994-2002
- Example VIN: 1B7HU18N02J111030
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 3B7
- Model Years Covered: 1994-2002
- Example VIN: 3B7KF23602M202971
- Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Santa Fe
- State or Province: Mexico City
- Country: Mexico WMI: 1D3
- Model Years Covered: 2002-2009
- Example VIN: 1D3HA18N82J142025
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 3D7
- Model Years Covered: 2002-2011
- Example VIN: 3D7HU18N02G111343
- Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Santa Fe
- State or Province: Mexico City
- Country: Mexico WMI: 3D3
- Model Years Covered: 2002-2009
- Example VIN: 3D3HU18Z12G121867
- Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Santa Fe
- State or Province: Mexico City
- Country: Mexico WMI: 1B3
- Model Years Covered: 2002
- Example VIN: 1B3HU18Z22J101412
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2002 Dodge Ram 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 2002 Dodge Ram:
| Known VDS for a 2002 Dodge Ram | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HU18Z | HU18N | KF236 | HA18N | HA16N | MC36W | HA16Z | HU16N | HA18Z | KC236 |
| MF366 | KC26Z | KC23C | KF23C | HA16K | KF26W | KF23W | KF26Z | MF36C | HU16Z |
| MF336 | MC366 | MC336 | KC266 | MC36C | KC23W | MC33C | MF33W | KF266 | MF33C |
| KC23Z | KF23Z | KF26C | |||||||
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 2002 Dodge Ram 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 2002 Dodge Ram VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2002 |
11th Character in the 2002 Dodge Ram VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 2002 Dodge Ram Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Saltillo | Coahuila | Mexico | Saltillo Assembly | 3D7HU18N02G111343 |
| J | Fenton | Missouri | United States | St. Louis Assembly North | 1B7HU18N02J111030 |
| M | Mexico City | Mexico | Lago Alberto Assembly | 3B7KF23602M202971 | |
| S | Warren | Michigan | United States | Dodge City Assembly | 1D7HU18Z02S530661 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2002 Dodge Ram
The final 6 characters in a 2002 Dodge Ram’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Dodge Ram’s VIN below:
How to find a 2002 Dodge Ram’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 2002 Dodge Ram is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Dodge Ram 2002. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on the corner where the dashboard meets the glass.
- Open the driver’s side door and inspect the area around the doorjamb. The VIN might be located on a sticker or a plate where the door latches when it is closed.
- Check under the hood of your Dodge Ram 2002. You may find the VIN on the engine block, or on a sticker located on the firewall of the vehicle.
- Examine the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Sometimes the VIN is placed above the tire on the frame or on a sticker inside the wheel well.
- Look at the front frame of the Dodge Ram 2002. The VIN might be stamped onto the frame near the windshield washer fluid container or near the fender.
What info can a 2002 Dodge Ram VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, like the year 2002, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Drive Type: It can indicate that the vehicle is a Pickup with a 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 system, showcasing versatility for different terrains.
- Engine Type: The VIN might indicate that the vehicle is equipped with a V-Shaped, 8-cylinder engine, possibly having a displacement of 5.9 liters or 5900 CC, pointing towards a robust performance capability.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency: The VIN may suggest that the primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, possibly with a Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) system for better fuel delivery and efficiency.
- Safety Features: Features like front airbags located at the 1st row for both driver and passenger, along with manual seat belts, might enhance the safety quotient of the vehicle.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The VIN could indicate that the vehicle is classified under Class 2E, possibly suggesting a GVWR from 6,001 to 7,000 lb. This specification could suggest the vehicle’s capability in terms of payload and towing capacity.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN might reveal that the vehicle was assembled in Fenton, Missouri, United States by St. Louis Assembly North, possibly offering insights into the vehicle’s origin and its overall quality and design philosophy.
Don’t have your 2002 Dodge Ram’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2002 Dodge Ram
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Pickup |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Displacement (CC) | 5900.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 360.04009015892 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.9 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) |
| Model | Ram |
| Model Year | 2002 |
| Other Engine Info | Engine Info: Light Duty,Sales Code:EML |
| Plant City | Fenton |
| Plant Company Name | St. Louis assembly North |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Missouri |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series2 | E Series |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Trim | 1500 |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1D3HA18Z*2J |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Sample_VIN | 1D3HA18Z02J140885 |
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