How to decode a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are a crucial component of a vehicle’s unique identification, assigned as the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). They reveal key details about the vehicle, including the manufacturer and, in some cases, the vehicle type and country of assembly. For the 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, the WMI “1GN” indicates that it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifying its production in Warren, Michigan. This information not only highlights the Traverse as a multipurpose passenger vehicle but also underscores its American manufacturing roots. Understanding the WMI is an essential step in decoding the wealth of information encapsulated in a vehicle’s VIN.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse

WMI: 1GN

Model Years Covered: 2009-2023
Example VIN: 1GNKVGED0CJ100782
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 Traverse 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 Traverse:

Known VDS for a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
KVGED	KVEED	KVLED	KRGED	KVFED	KRJED	KREED	KRLED	KVJED	KRFED

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 Traverse 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 Traverse VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

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

Known 2012 Chevrolet Traverse Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
1	Wentzville	Missouri	United States	Gmna	1GNKRGED2C1276074
J	Lansing - Delta Township	Michigan	United States	Gmna	1GNKVGED0CJ100782

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse

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

Check your Chevrolet Traverse’s VIN below:

How to find a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse’s VIN?

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

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Traverse, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN can be seen from outside the vehicle.
Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb area; the VIN should be on a label or a sticker where the door latches.
Check the registration documents or the title for your 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, as the VIN will be printed on these documents.
Examine your Chevrolet Traverse’s insurance card or insurance policy documents; the VIN is always listed there.
If your vehicle has a spare tire compartment, sometimes the VIN can be found in that area, either on the body of the car or on the compartment cover.
Look under the hood at the front of the engine block; there may be a VIN plate visible on the engine itself.

What info can a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN information suggests that the vehicle is likely a model year 2012, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Vehicle Specifications: The decoded VIN points to a 2012 Traverse, which features a 3.6L V-Shaped engine designed by GM, with a horsepower potential linked to its 219.685 ci (cubic inches) displacement.
Body Class and Drive Type: Decoding the VIN may possibly reveal the vehicle’s body class as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system, offering potential insights into the vehicle’s design and drive configuration.
Engine and Fuel Efficiency: The engine possibly runs on Gasoline, possibly utilizing a Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI) system, implying a design for efficiency and performance.
Safety Features: According to the VIN decode, owners can expect advanced safety features, including airbags situated in all rows and at the 1st row for both driver and passenger sides, and it may come equipped with a direct-type Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Manufacturing Details: The decoded information suggests that the Traverse was assembled in Lansing - Delta Township, Michigan, United States, emphasizing its potential American manufacturing roots.
Additional Features: The VIN may encode specific attributes like the car’s trim level, the LS w/Connectivity Package, which might indicate additional connectivity and technological enhancements for the 2012 model.

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

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Curtain Air Bag Locations	All Rows
Displacement (CC)	3600.0
Displacement (CI)	219.68547874103
Displacement (L)	3.6
Doors	4
Drive Type	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	GM
Engine Model	LLT
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Model	Traverse
Model Year	2012
Plant City	Lansing - Delta Township
Plant Company Name	GMNA
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Michigan
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Trim	LT
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1GNKVGED*CJ
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	1GNKVGED0CJ100782