How to decode a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences that identify the manufacturer of a vehicle. They are the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides critical information about where a vehicle was made, by whom, and its type. For instance, a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche has a WMI of “3GN,” indicating it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States. This specific WMI tells us that the vehicle is classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), highlighting its versatility. Such identifiers are essential for tracking, registration, and recall purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche

WMI: 3GN

Model Years Covered: 2002-2013
Example VIN: 3GNMCEE00CG132391
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche 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 Chevrolet Avalanche:

Known VDS for a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche
MCEE0	TKEE7	MCGE0	MCFE0	TKGE7	TKFE7	TK7E7

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 Chevrolet Avalanche 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 Chevrolet Avalanche VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

11th Character in the 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G	Silao	Guanajuato	Mexico	Gmna	3GNMCEE00CG132391

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche

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

Check your Chevrolet Avalanche’s VIN below:

How to find a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield on a small metal or plastic plate.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb. Your Chevrolet Avalanche’s VIN should be found on a label or sticker in this area, where the door latches when closed.
Check the front of the engine block. You may locate the VIN engraved on the engine itself in your Avalanche, which may require opening the hood to access.
Inspect the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Sometimes the Chevrolet Avalanche VIN can be found above the tire.
Look at the frame of the vehicle beneath the vehicle. This could involve looking under the Avalanche where you may find the VIN stamped on the chassis.
Examine your vehicle’s insurance card, registration, or title documentation, where the VIN of your Chevrolet Avalanche will always be displayed.

What info can a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche VIN reveal?

Model Year & Model Name: The VIN can indicate that the vehicle is a 2012 Avalanche, possibly providing insights into the year of manufacture and the model to assist in identification and valuation.
Engine Details: Details within the VIN decode may suggest that the engine is a 5.3-liter V-Shaped LMG model with Flex Fuel capability (Gas/ALC), possibly featuring Cylinder Deactivation and constructed with Iron. This could describe the engine’s size, configuration, material, and fuel options, potentially highlighting its efficiency and performance characteristics.
Safety Features: Possible safety equipment specified includes curtain airbags in all rows, front airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger), and side airbags for 1st-row occupants, demonstrating a potential focus on passenger safety across multiple impact scenarios.
Fuel Type: It may be equipped to handle primary fuel type Gasoline and secondary fuel type Ethanol (E85), offering a potential flexibility in fuel choice and better fuel availability for the owner.
Drive Type & Body Class: The VIN may reveal the vehicle to be a Sport Utility Truck (SUT) with a 4x2 drive type, possibly shedding light on its design purpose as a versatile utility vehicle suited for both passenger comfort and cargo transportation.
Production Details: Manufacturing specifics may include being assembled in Silao, Mexico, by GMNA (General Motors North America), potentially adding valuable information about the origin and build quality expected from the production facility.
Additional Features: The vehicle might employ Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI) for fuel delivery, have a possible Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and use a potential Manual Seat Belt Type, possibly highlighting the advanced technological and safety features incorporated into the vehicle.

Don’t have your 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Truck (SUT)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	All Rows
Displacement (CC)	5300.0
Displacement (CI)	323.42584370208
Displacement (L)	5.3
Doors	4
Drive Type	4x2
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Model	LMG - Flex Fuel (Gas/ALC), Cylinder Deactivation, Iron
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
Fuel Type - Secondary	Ethanol (E85)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Model	Avalanche
Model Year	2012
Plant City	Silao
Plant Company Name	GMNA
Plant Country	Mexico
Plant State	Guanajuato
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	1/2 ton
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Trim	LT
Valve Train Design	Overhead Valve (OHV)
Vehicle Descriptor	3GNMCFE0*CG
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	3GNMCFE00CG104919