- What you'll get from Dodge RAM 50 VIN check?
- Dodge RAM 50 Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Dodge RAM 50 VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Dodge RAM 50
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Dodge RAM 50 VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Dodge RAM 50 VIN.
- 10th Character in the Dodge RAM 50 VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Dodge RAM 50 VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Dodge RAM 50 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Dodge RAM 50
- How to find a Dodge RAM 50's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Dodge RAM 50
What you’ll get from Dodge RAM 50 VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN may reveal that the vehicle was manufactured in the year 1992, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturer Name: The VIN can indicate the manufacturer of the vehicle, which in this case could be Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), offering valuable information about the vehicle’s origin.
- Plant City: The VIN could show the city where the vehicle was assembled, for example Nagoya, shedding light on the vehicle’s production location.
- Body Class: The VIN may provide details about the body class of the vehicle, such as Pickup, giving insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Fuel Type: The VIN might indicate the primary fuel type used by the vehicle, such as Gasoline, offering valuable information about the vehicle’s fuel requirements.
- Displacement: The VIN can possibly provide information about the engine’s displacement, measured in cubic centimeters (CC) or liters (L), offering insights into the vehicle’s engine capacity.
Dodge RAM 50 Vehicle History Risk Factors
Dodge’s used vehicle market is heavily weighted toward performance cars and large SUVs — segments where hard use, modifications, and elevated accident rates all affect used vehicle condition. A Bumper VIN check is particularly important for several reasons.
HEMI tick and MDS lifter issues on 5.7L and 6.4L engines. Dodge’s HEMI V8 engines across the Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram lineup have documented issues with Multi-Displacement System (MDS) lifter failure, similar to the GM AFM problem. Repair costs are significant. Service records referencing lifter replacement, MDS delete, or oil consumption complaints are red flags on any HEMI-powered used Dodge.
Transmission failures on 8HP70/8HP75 8-speed automatic. Dodge’s ZF-sourced 8-speed automatics have generated owner complaints related to shuddering, hunting for gears, and torque converter issues — particularly in high-performance Charger and Challenger applications with significant power. This is a well-documented TSB item.
Accident frequency on Charger and Challenger. Dodge’s performance cars rank among the highest in accident rates in the used car market — not a knock on the vehicles, but a statistical reality that makes a Bumper accident history check particularly important. A Charger SRT or Challenger Hellcat with three owners and no reported accidents deserves more scrutiny than a minivan with the same profile.
Title issues on modified Hellcat and Demon models. High-value Hellcat and Demon variants are disproportionately represented in salvage title databases. Their high replacement values make total-loss designations more likely after even moderate damage. Title washing is a documented risk on these models.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Dodge RAM 50 VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Dodge RAM 50 VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier, commonly known as WMI, is a unique sequence of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This code is critical for identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle as well as the country of origin. For the Dodge RAM 50, the WMI is JB7, signaling that the truck was built by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), despite bearing the Dodge name. This reflects a period when Dodge had a partnership with Mitsubishi to sell rebranded vehicles in the North American market. The RAM 50 trucks with this WMI were assembled in Japan, further emphasizing the global nature of the automotive industry, even for vehicles sold under traditional American brands.
List of WMI Codes for a Dodge RAM 50
WMI: JB7
- Model Years Covered: 1987-1992
- Example VIN: JB7FM29E6HP111325
- Manufacturer Name: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Minato-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Dodge RAM 50 VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Dodge’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes model variant, engine configuration, body style, and restraint system across the Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram (now a separate brand) lineups. On Chargers and Challengers, the VDS is critical for confirming the specific engine variant — the 3.6L Pentastar V6, 5.7L HEMI, 6.4L 392 HEMI, and supercharged 6.2L Hellcat/Demon variants are all available on the same body and require completely different maintenance and insurance cost expectations. Dodge muscle cars are among the most frequently modified used vehicles on the market, and confirming factory engine specification via VDS before a pre-purchase inspection is essential to distinguishing factory performance from modified one-off builds.
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 Dodge RAM 50 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 Dodge RAM 50 VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| N | 1992 Dodge RAM 50 |
| M | 1991 Dodge RAM 50 |
| L | 1990 Dodge RAM 50 |
| K | 1989 Dodge RAM 50 |
| J | 1988 Dodge RAM 50 |
| H | 1987 Dodge RAM 50 |
11th Character in the Dodge RAM 50 VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Dodge RAM 50 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Nagoya | Japan | Nagoya #2 | JB7FM29E6HP111325 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Dodge RAM 50
The final 6 characters in a Dodge RAM 50’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?
How to find a Dodge RAM 50’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Dodge RAM 50 is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard near the windshield on the driver’s side of your Dodge RAM 50; the VIN is typically visible through the glass.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area of your Dodge RAM 50, as the VIN can often be found on a label or sticker where the door latches.
- Check the engine block of your Dodge RAM 50, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
- Inspect the vehicle’s registration documents or insurance papers since the VIN of your Dodge RAM 50 will be printed there.
- Look for the VIN on the frame of your Dodge RAM 50 near the front of the vehicle, which could be handy if the VIN plate on the dashboard is missing.
- Review the service records as the VIN of your Dodge RAM 50 is usually recorded during maintenance visits.
- Examine the rear wheel well on the driver’s side of your Dodge RAM 50; occasionally, VINs are placed in this less common location.
Don’t have your Dodge RAM 50’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Dodge RAM 50
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Pickup |
| Cab Type | Extra/Super/Quad/Double/King/Extended |
| Displacement (CC) | 2400.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 146.45698582735 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
| Model | RAM 50 |
| Model Year | 1990 |
| Plant City | Nagoya |
| Plant Company Name | Nagoya #2 |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | Conventional Cab |
| Trim | LE |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JB7FL55W*LP |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Sample VIN | JB7FL55W4LP000770 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Dodge RAM 50 for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Dodge RAM 50?
On most Dodge vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Dodge RAM 50's history for free?
Enter the Dodge RAM 50’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Dodge RAM 50 VIN numbers start with?
Dodge RAM 50 VIN's start with JB7 for vehicles manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) in Japan. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Dodge RAM 50.
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