- What you'll get from Honda Pilot VIN check?
- Honda Pilot Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Honda Pilot VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Honda Pilot
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda Pilot VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Honda Pilot VIN.
- 10th Character in the Honda Pilot VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Honda Pilot VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Honda Pilot Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda Pilot
- How to find a Honda Pilot's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda Pilot
What you’ll get from Honda Pilot VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2021, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class. For the 2021 Honda, this may indicate a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with a varying number of doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Drive Type: The drive type can also be identified from the VIN. In the case of the 2021 Honda, it is a 4x2, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
- Engine Type: The VIN can provide insights into the engine type, including the engine model (J35Y6), the number of cylinders (6), and engine displacement in liters (3.5L), indicating a V-Shaped engine configuration.
- Safety Features: A comprehensive array of safety features is often encoded, showcasing standard inclusions such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and curtain airbags available across all seat rows.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type, which in this scenario is Gasoline, is revealed through the VIN, giving insights into the vehicle’s possible fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Production Details: Information about the manufacturing location, including the plant city (Lincoln) and country (United States), can be gleaned to trace the vehicle’s production origin.
Honda Pilot Vehicle History Risk Factors
Honda has one of the strongest reliability reputations in the used car market, but that reputation can mask specific model-year problems that show up disproportionately in vehicle history reports. A Bumper VIN check on a used Honda is particularly valuable for catching three recurring patterns.
Transmission issues on 2015–2017 CR-Vs and 2016–2017 HR-Vs. Honda’s CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in these years generated an elevated number of NHTSA complaints and TSBs related to shuddering, hesitation, and premature failure. Look specifically for service records that reference transmission flushes or replacements — a clean-looking CR-V can have a transmission already on borrowed time.
Airbag recall compliance. Honda vehicles were among the most affected by the Takata airbag inflator recall — one of the largest automotive recalls in U.S. history. While most inflators have been replaced, a Bumper report will show you exactly which recalls are open on the specific VIN you’re checking, and whether the prior owner ever had the work done.
Flood and water damage on Civics and Accords. Honda sedans, particularly Civics from 2012–2015, appear frequently in flood damage reports from hurricane-affected regions. Water intrusion causes long-term electrical issues that don’t always show up immediately. If a VIN shows a registration history in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, or New Jersey, a flood damage check is worth running.
Odometer rollback on high-demand models. Honda Accords and CR-Vs rank consistently among the most stolen and most resold used vehicles in the U.S., which also makes them disproportionately common in odometer fraud cases. Verify reported mileage against service record intervals.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Honda Pilot VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Honda Pilot VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial three-character sequence found in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), crucial for identifying the manufacturer and the country where the vehicle was made. For the Honda Pilot, two WMI codes are used to signify where different models are manufactured - ‘2HK’ is designated for Pilot vehicles manufactured by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, covering model years 2003-2007. Meanwhile, ‘5FN’ represents those produced by the American Honda Motor Co., Inc. located in Torrance, California, United States, from model years 2004-2024. Both codes indicate that the vehicles are classified as Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPVs). These identifiers not only provide insight into the vehicle’s origins but also help in vehicle registration, recall identifications, and other legal purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a Honda Pilot
WMI: 2HK
- Model Years Covered: 2003-2007
- Example VIN: 2HKYF18103H521330
- Manufacturer Name: Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Alliston
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
WMI: 5FN
- Model Years Covered: 2004-2024
- Example VIN: 5FNYF18404B002224
- Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Torrance
- State or Province: California
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda Pilot VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Honda’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes trim level, engine type, body style, and restraint system in a way that’s relatively consistent across model years but uses alphanumeric combinations that aren’t intuitive without a reference. For the CR-V, for example, codes beginning with “RE” indicate the third-generation platform, while “RM” and “RW” codes correspond to later generations with different powertrain configurations. The engine character within the VDS will distinguish between Honda’s 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder, the 2.0L naturally aspirated, and hybrid variants — all of which affect insurance costs, parts availability, and maintenance schedules differently. If you’re comparing two Honda VINs that appear identical by year and trim, the VDS characters are where meaningful differences often hide.
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 Honda Pilot 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 Honda Pilot VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 Honda Pilot |
| P | 2023 Honda Pilot |
| N | 2022 Honda Pilot |
| M | 2021 Honda Pilot |
| L | 2020 Honda Pilot |
| K | 2019 Honda Pilot |
| J | 2018 Honda Pilot |
| H | 2017 Honda Pilot |
| G | 2016 Honda Pilot |
| F | 2015 Honda Pilot |
| E | 2014 Honda Pilot |
| D | 2013 Honda Pilot |
| C | 2012 Honda Pilot |
| B | 2011 Honda Pilot |
| A | 2010 Honda Pilot |
| 9 | 2009 Honda Pilot |
| 8 | 2008 Honda Pilot |
| 7 | 2007 Honda Pilot |
| 6 | 2006 Honda Pilot |
| 5 | 2005 Honda Pilot |
| 4 | 2004 Honda Pilot |
| 3 | 2003 Honda Pilot |
11th Character in the Honda Pilot VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Honda Pilot Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Marysville | Ohio | United States | 2HKYF18617A524005 | |
| B | Lincoln | Alabama | United States | 5FNYF18404B002224 | |
| C | Sayama | Saitama | Japan | 2HKYF18195C898318 | |
| E | Greensburg | Indiana | United States | 5FNYF3H50DE017115 | |
| G | El Salto | Jalisco | Mexico | 5FNYF5H90KG016787 | |
| H | Alliston | Ontario | Canada | 2HKYF18103H521330 | |
| L | East Liberty | Ohio | United States | 5FNYF6H35ML538732 | |
| S | Suzuka | Mie | Japan | 5FNYG1H72RS000490 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda Pilot
The final 6 characters in a Honda Pilot’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 Honda Pilot’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Honda Pilot is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda Pilot. You can usually see the VIN through the windshield on a small plate.
- Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Honda Pilot. The VIN might be found on a sticker or a label where the door latches.
- Examine the vehicle registration certificate for your Honda Pilot. The VIN is typically listed on this document.
- Check your Honda Pilot’s insurance card or insurance policy documents. The VIN is often printed here for reference.
- For older models, inspect the engine block of your Honda Pilot. VINs were sometimes stamped directly onto the engine.
- Review the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Peer through the wheel at the metal frame; sometimes the VIN is stamped there on Honda Pilot models.
Don’t have your Honda Pilot’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda Pilot
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 45220.00 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Standard |
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Cooling Type | Water |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Standard |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd and 3rd Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 3500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 213.58310433156 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.5 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 280 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Honda |
| Engine Model | J35Y6 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Engine Stroke Cycles | 4 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Headlamp Light Source | LED |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Lane Centering Assistance | Standard |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Standard |
| Model | Pilot |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 3 |
| Number of Seats | 7 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Engine Info | Direct Fuel Injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | seat belts: front, mid and rear right/left/center positions |
| Plant City | Lincoln |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Alabama |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Standard |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 9 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Trim | TOURING-7 |
| Valve Train Design | Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 5FNYF5H6*MB |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 111.00 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 20 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 20 |
| Sample VIN | 5FNYF5H60MB000112 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Honda Pilot for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Honda Pilot?
On most Honda 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 Honda Pilot's history for free?
Enter the Honda Pilot’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 Honda Pilot VIN numbers start with?
Honda Pilot VIN's start with 2HK for vehicles manufactured by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Canada, 5FN for vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 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 Honda Pilot.
Decode a Honda VIN
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