How to decode a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This code consists of the first three characters of the vehicle identification number (VIN) and designates the manufacturer, the type of vehicle they produce, and the country in which the vehicle was manufactured. For the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, the WMI is “1G1”, indicating that the vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, with specific reference to it being a passenger car. This car was assembled in Warren, Michigan, exemplifying how the WMI not only identifies the manufacturer but can also provide insight into the vehicle’s production location and vehicle characteristics. WMIs play a vital role in vehicle identification and tracking, offering a standardized method to recognize where and by whom a vehicle was made.

List of WMI Codes for a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

WMI: 1G1

Model Years Covered: 2005-2010
Example VIN: 1G1AK12F057588124
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 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 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 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt:

Known VDS for a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
AK12F	AP14P	AZ52F	AK52F	AL54F	AP12P	AK54F	AL14F	AJ12F	AZ54F
AJ52F	AL12F	AK14F	AL52F

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 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 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 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
5	2005

11th Character in the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
7	Lordstown	Ohio	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G1AK12F057588124

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

The final 6 characters in a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Chevrolet Cobalt’s VIN below:

How to find a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Review the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Cobalt where the VIN can frequently be seen through the windshield.
Examine the door pillar on the driver’s side when the door is open; the VIN can often be found on a sticker or plate in this area on your 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt.
Look under the hood of your Cobalt at the front engine block; the VIN might be stamped onto a plate in this location.
Inspect the rear wheel well above the tire; occasionally, the VIN can be found in this spot on a Chevrolet Cobalt.
Check beneath the spare tire in the trunk of the vehicle; sometimes the VIN is located here on a label or a sticker.
View the vehicle’s insurance or title documents, which will have the VIN listed for your Chevrolet Cobalt.

What info can a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN reveal?

Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating it is a GM model from around the year 2005, providing insights into the age and potential manufacturer details.
Engine Specifications: It specifies an engine with a 2.2 Liter (2200 CC or 134.25 CI) displacement, 170 horsepower, possibly configured in-line with 4 cylinders, potentially highlighting the power source’s capacity and design.
Body Class and Size: The VIN indicates the body class as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering a vague insight into the vehicle’s design and utility.
Fuel Efficiency and Type: The vehicle possibly uses gasoline as its primary fuel type, equipped with Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) for fuel delivery, indicating a likelihood of the fuel usage and injection mechanism.
Safety Features: The VIN may show the presence of front air bags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row and side air bags in the same row, suggesting the vehicle’s possible emphasis on safety.
Plant Information: Manufacturing details may include that the vehicle was assembled in Lordstown, Ohio, United States, potentially providing a trace of its production origin.
Additional Features: The VIN also possibly includes information such as manual seat belt type, 4 windows, and a specific engine model (L61), offering potential further insights into its features and design philosophy.

Don’t have your 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2200.0
Displacement (CI)	134.25223700841
Displacement (L)	2.2
Doors	4
Engine Brake (hp) From	170
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	GM
Engine Model	L61
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
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 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)
Model	Cobalt
Model Year	2005
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Opel
Plant City	Lordstown
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Ohio
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	LEV2 - All models
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1G1AL54F*57
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	1G1AL54F057548157