- What you'll get from Chevrolet SS VIN check?
- Chevrolet SS Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Chevrolet SS VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Chevrolet SS
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Chevrolet SS VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Chevrolet SS VIN.
- 10th Character in the Chevrolet SS VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Chevrolet SS VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Chevrolet SS Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Chevrolet SS
- How to find a Chevrolet SS's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Chevrolet SS
What you’ll get from Chevrolet SS VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can suggest the vehicles model year being the year 2017, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can reveal the body class, potentially indicating that the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon, with 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Manufacturer and Engine Type: It highlights GM as the engine manufacturer, suggesting that the vehicle is equipped with technology and design principles relevant to that period, and also specifies an engine displacement of 6.2 liters or 6200.0 CC, an engine model LS3 - HO: High Output, ALUM, alongside the engine being an eight-cylinder unit, illustrating the vehicle’s potential power and performance capabilities.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency Features: The VIN reveals the primary fuel type as Gasoline and specifies the fuel delivery system as Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI), which can influence the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and performance.
- Safety Features: Safety features are comprehensive, including curtain airbags for all rows, front airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger), and knee airbags for the 1st row, indicating a high level of occupant protection in case of accidents.
- Assembly Location: It specifies the plant country as Australia and the plant city as Elizabeth, indicating the geographic origin of manufacturing which can affect the availability of parts or service options.
- Transmission and Drive Type: The VIN specifies a Manual/Standard transmission style, offering insights into the driving experience and control the vehicle offers to the driver.
Chevrolet SS Vehicle History Risk Factors
Chevrolet’s reliability is model-dependent — the Silverado and Suburban are among the most durable vehicles in their segments, while some car-based models have more checkered histories. A Bumper check on a used Chevrolet is particularly valuable for the following:
AFM/DoD lifter failures on 5.3L V8 engines (2007–2021 Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban). GM’s Active Fuel Management system, which deactivates cylinders at highway speeds, caused widespread lifter and camshaft failures in this engine generation. The repair cost ($2,000–$5,000) makes this one of the most expensive used-vehicle surprises in any segment. Service records showing lifter replacement or an AFM delete kit are significant items to verify before purchase.
Ignition switch recall (2005–2014 multiple models). GM’s ignition switch recall — one of the most significant safety-related recalls in automotive history — affected Malibus, Cobalts, and several other models. Affected switches could move out of the “run” position while driving, cutting power to safety systems including airbags. Verify recall compliance on any Chevrolet from this era.
Transmission shudder on 8-speed automatic (2015–2019 Silverado, Colorado). GM’s 8L90 and 8L45 eight-speed automatics generated extensive owner complaints and TSBs related to torque converter shudder, especially at low speeds. This is well-documented and frequently appears in service records.
Rust on older Silverado and Colorado frames. Like other full-size trucks, older Chevrolet pickups from rust-belt states can have significant frame deterioration. A registration and ownership history in the Bumper report is your first indicator — a truck that’s spent decades in Minnesota or Michigan is a different proposition than one from Arizona.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Chevrolet SS VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Chevrolet SS VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), uniquely identifying the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. Specifically, for the Chevrolet SS models produced between 2014 and 2017, the WMI 6G3 signifies that these vehicles were manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States. This identifier is crucial in the automotive industry for tracking, registration, and recall purposes. It not only aids in the identification of the vehicle’s manufacturing origin but also provides specific classification details about the vehicle, such as the fact that it is categorized as a passenger car. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI is essential for both manufacturers and consumers for verification and historical records.
List of WMI Codes for a Chevrolet SS
WMI: 6G3
- Model Years Covered: 2014-2017
- Example VIN: 6G3F15RW0EL924930
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Chevrolet SS VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Chevrolet’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes body style, restraint system, engine type, and series level across its Silverado, Equinox, Malibu, and Tahoe lineups. On Silverados, the VDS is particularly useful for confirming cab style (regular, double, or crew cab), bed length, and engine variant — important because a 5.3L V8 Silverado and a 4.3L V6 from the same model year can look identical from the exterior. For the Equinox and Traverse, the VDS distinguishes between engine variants that differ significantly in fuel economy, towing capacity, and long-term reliability profiles. When comparing two Chevrolets with similar prices, always cross-reference VDS characters to confirm you’re comparing equivalent specifications.
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 Chevrolet SS 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 Chevrolet SS VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| H | 2017 Chevrolet SS |
| G | 2016 Chevrolet SS |
| F | 2015 Chevrolet SS |
| E | 2014 Chevrolet SS |
11th Character in the Chevrolet SS VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Chevrolet SS Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Elizabeth | South Australia | Australia | Holden | 6G3F15RW0EL924930 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Chevrolet SS
The final 6 characters in a Chevrolet SS’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Chevrolet SS’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Chevrolet SS is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet SS. The VIN is often visible through the windshield on a small plate.
- Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet SS. You might find the VIN on a label or sticker where the door closes.
- Look under the hood of your Chevrolet SS. The VIN might also be located on a plate or sticker attached to the engine bay.
- Examine your Chevrolet SS’s insurance card or insurance policy documents; the VIN is usually listed there.
- Check the vehicle title and registration documents of your Chevrolet SS, as these legal papers always contain the VIN.
Don’t have your Chevrolet SS’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Chevrolet SS
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | All Rows |
| Displacement (CC) | 6200.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 378.34721338734 |
| Displacement (L) | 6.2 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | GM |
| Engine Model | LS3 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Model | SS |
| Model Year | 2014 |
| Other Engine Info | Book Code: 8E. Aluminum, HO. |
| Plant City | Elizabeth |
| Plant Company Name | Holden |
| Plant Country | Australia |
| Plant State | South Australia |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 6G3F15RW*EL |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Windows | 4 |
| Sample VIN | 6G3F15RW0EL924930 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Chevrolet SS for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Chevrolet SS?
On most Chevrolet vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Chevrolet SS's history for free?
Enter the Chevrolet SS’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Chevrolet SS VIN numbers start with?
Chevrolet SS VIN's start with 6G3 for vehicles manufactured by General Motors LLC in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Chevrolet SS.
Decode a Chevrolet VIN
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