How to decode a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique sequence of characters assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to identify the manufacturer, vehicle type, and country of origin for motor vehicles. Regarding the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban, its WMI is either “1GN” for vehicles manufactured in the United States by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, indicating it is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), or “3GN” for those constructed during a specific range of years including 1998. This clarifies the vehicle’s origin, the type of vehicle it is classified as, and the specific manufacturer responsible for its production, providing valuable information for registration, regulation, and identification purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban

WMI: 1GN

Model Years Covered: 1987-2024
Example VIN: 1GNEC16R0WJ354152
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States WMI: 3GN
Model Years Covered: 1995-2009
Example VIN: 3GNGC26R4WG108088
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 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 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 1998 Chevrolet Suburban:

Known VDS for a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
EC16R	GC26R	GK26J	GK26F	FK16R	GK26R

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 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 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 1998 Chevrolet Suburban VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Chevrolet Suburban Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G	Silao	Guanajuato	Mexico		3GNGC26R4WG108088
J	Janesville	Wisconsin	United States	Gm Truck Group	1GNEC16R0WJ354152

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban’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?

TRY BUMPER

How to find a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Chevrolet Suburban is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Suburban, near where the windshield meets the dash, which is visible from outside the vehicle.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area, where you may find a sticker or plate with the VIN on your 1998 Chevrolet Suburban.
Check the engine block for a VIN stamp, which can typically be found on the front of the engine.
Inspect the frame near the windshield washer fluid tank, as some Suburbans may have the VIN in that location.
Look at the vehicle’s insurance and ownership documents, which will have the VIN listed for your Chevrolet Suburban.

What info can a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Details: The VIN provides information about the engine specifications, including its V-Shaped configuration, 6500.0 CC or 6.5 L displacement, and 8 cylinders.
Drive Type and Fuel Type: It can offer insights into the vehicle’s drive type, indicating 4WD, and the primary fuel type being diesel.
Body Class and Vehicle Type: The VIN encodes information classifying the vehicle as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) and its type as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle.
Manufacturing Information: Manufacturing details decoded from the VIN indicate that the vehicle was built in Janesville, Wisconsin, United States, by GM Truck Group.
Turbo and Brake System: It may suggest the presence of a turbo (Yes in this case) and the type of brake system utilized, such as Hydraulic.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The VIN can also provide data on the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, positioning this vehicle in Class 2G: 8,001 - 9,000 lb (3,629 - 4,082 kg).

Don’t have your 1998 Chevrolet Suburban’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Search License Plate

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Displacement (CC)	6500.0
Displacement (CI)	396.65433661575
Displacement (L)	6.5
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	ROM
Engine Number of Cylinders	8
Fuel Type - Primary	Diesel
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 2G: 8,001 - 9,000 lb (3,629 - 4,082 kg)
Model	Suburban
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	HO
Plant City	Janesville
Plant Company Name	GM Truck Group
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Wisconsin
Series	Conventional Cab
Trim2	3/4 ton nominal
Turbo	Yes
Vehicle Descriptor	1GNGK26F*WJ
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	1GNGK26F9WJ357431