How to decode a 1998 Dodge Neon VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Dodge Neon VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, which is part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). For the 1998 Dodge Neon, the WMI codes are “3B3” and “1B3”, signifying two different manufacturing origins. The “3B3” code is assigned to Chrysler de Mexico Toluca, indicating that the vehicle was manufactured in Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico. On the other hand, the “1B3” code indicates that the vehicle was produced by FCA US LLC in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States. These identifiers not only reveal the make and model year of the vehicle but also pinpoint the exact location of its manufacture, reflecting the global nature of automotive production.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Dodge Neon

WMI: 3B3

Model Years Covered: 1995-1999
Example VIN: 3B3ES47C2WT269539
Manufacturer Name: Chrysler de Mexico Toluca
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Santa Fe
State or Province: Mexico City
Country: Mexico WMI: 1B3
Model Years Covered: 1995-2005
Example VIN: 1B3ES47Y8WD592642
Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Auburn Hills
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Dodge Neon 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 Dodge Neon:

Known VDS for a 1998 Dodge Neon
ES47C	ES47Y	ES42Y	ES42C

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 Dodge Neon 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 Dodge Neon VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Dodge Neon VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Dodge Neon Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
D	Belvidere	Illinois	United States	Belvidere Assembly	1B3ES47Y8WD592642
T	Toluca	State Of Mexico	Mexico	Toluca Assembly	3B3ES47C2WT269539

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Dodge Neon

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Dodge Neon’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Dodge Neon’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Dodge Neon’s VIN?

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

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Dodge Neon. The VIN is often viewable through the windshield on a small plate.
Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your 1998 Dodge Neon. You might find the VIN on a label or sticker where the door closes.
Look under the hood of your Dodge Neon where the engine bay is; the VIN might be stamped onto the firewall.
Examine the trunk of your Neon—you may find the VIN on the lid or the area where the spare tire is stored.
Review your vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance documents, which will contain the VIN of your 1998 Dodge Neon.

What info can a 1998 Dodge Neon 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.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN discloses the body class as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering a glimpse into the vehicle’s size and potential usage.
Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including its configuration (In-Line), number of cylinders (4), displacement (2,000 CC or 2L), and specific technologies like Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI), can be determined from a VIN, potentially providing insights into the vehicle’s performance and power.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle, which in this example is gasoline, can also be identified, providing insights into the vehicle’s environmental impact and potential fuel efficiency.
Safety Features: Information on safety features, including front airbag locations (1st Row for Driver and Passenger), can be extracted, hinting at the vehicle’s commitment to occupant safety.
Vehicle Weight Class: Data on the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating classifies the vehicle within Class 1, indicating it has a weight of 6,000 lb or less, which can be useful for understanding vehicle size and load capacity.
Manufacturing Details: Key manufacturing details including the plant’s location (Belvidere, Illinois, United States) and the name of the plant company (Belvidere Assembly) are encoded within the VIN, offering a trace of the vehicle’s production origin.

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

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Dodge Neon

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Coupe
Displacement (CC)	2000
Displacement (CI)	122.0474881894
Displacement (L)	2
Doors	2
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
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	Neon
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	Engine Info: 16V, Sales Code: ECC
Other Restraint System Info	CGW except LH
Plant City	Belvidere
Plant Company Name	Belvidere assembly
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Illinois
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series2	H Series
Trim	Base
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1B3ES42Y*WD
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1B3ES42Y2WD534789