- What you'll get from Honda VIN check?
- Honda Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Honda VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Honda
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Honda VIN.
- 10th Character in the Honda VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Honda VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Honda Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda
- How to find a Honda's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda
What you’ll get from Honda VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2021, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Safety Features: The dataset provides safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), and Curtain Air Bags available in both the 1st and 2nd rows, indicating comprehensive safety measures may be present in the vehicle.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency: It outlines the vehicle as a Strong HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) with primary fuel type being Gasoline and secondary as Electric, suggesting its environmentally friendly design and possibly efficient fuel consumption.
- Engine Specifications: Detailed engine information includes the displacement in CC, CI, and Liters, alongside the engine’s horsepower range from 107 to 129, potentially giving a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s power.
- Body Class and Capacity: Classified as a Sedan/Saloon, the dataset reveals the vehicle has 4 doors, seating for 5 across 2 seat rows, indicating this model’s potential suitability for family or group transportation.
- Drive Type and Transmission: It specifies the vehicle employs a 4x2 drive type coupled with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), suggesting its potential operation mode and efficiency in gear shifting.
- Advanced Technology Features: The presence of High-Tech features like Keyless Ignition, Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, may indicate the vehicle’s advanced technological capabilities aimed at enhancing the driving experience.
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Honda Vehicle History Risk Factors
Honda has one of the strongest reliability reputations in the used car market, but that reputation can mask specific model-year problems that show up disproportionately in vehicle history reports. A Bumper VIN check on a used Honda is particularly valuable for catching three recurring patterns.
Transmission issues on 2015–2017 CR-Vs and 2016–2017 HR-Vs. Honda’s CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in these years generated an elevated number of NHTSA complaints and TSBs related to shuddering, hesitation, and premature failure. Look specifically for service records that reference transmission flushes or replacements — a clean-looking CR-V can have a transmission already on borrowed time.
Airbag recall compliance. Honda vehicles were among the most affected by the Takata airbag inflator recall — one of the largest automotive recalls in U.S. history. While most inflators have been replaced, a Bumper report will show you exactly which recalls are open on the specific VIN you’re checking, and whether the prior owner ever had the work done.
Flood and water damage on Civics and Accords. Honda sedans, particularly Civics from 2012–2015, appear frequently in flood damage reports from hurricane-affected regions. Water intrusion causes long-term electrical issues that don’t always show up immediately. If a VIN shows a registration history in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, or New Jersey, a flood damage check is worth running.
Odometer rollback on high-demand models. Honda Accords and CR-Vs rank consistently among the most stolen and most resold used vehicles in the U.S., which also makes them disproportionately common in odometer fraud cases. Verify reported mileage against service record intervals.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Honda VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Honda VIN
WMIs, or World Manufacturer Identifiers, are unique three-letter codes assigned to vehicle manufacturers around the globe, serving as the initial segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). These identifiers reveal essential information about a vehicle, including its manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For instance, Honda vehicles showcase a variety of WMIs such as JHM for those produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan, 1HG for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. vehicles in the United States, and 2HG for those manufactured by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Canada. Each WMI is specific to different geographical locations and branches of the company, indicating Honda’s diverse manufacturing presence in Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. This systematized identification aids in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall implementations.
List of WMI Codes for a Honda
| WMI | Manufacturer Name | Vehicle Type | City | State or Province | Country | Model Years Covered | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JHM | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Passenger Car | Tokyo | Musashi | Japan | 1981-2024 | JHMSM3425BC126428 |
| 1HG | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Passenger Car | Torrance | California | United States | 1983-2024 | 1HGSZ742XDA004304 |
| 3HG | Honda de Mexico | Passenger Car | El Salto | Jalisco | Mexico | 2000-2007, 2015-2020 | 3HGCG6650YG703539 |
| 5KB | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Passenger Car | Torrance | California | United States | 2009-2011 | 5KBCP36709B001096 |
| 5J6 | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Torrance | California | United States | 2003-2024 | 5J6TF2H50AL000307 |
| 2HG | Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. | Passenger Car | Alliston | Ontario | Canada | 1988-2024 | 2HGED6454JH500146 |
| SHH | Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd. | Passenger Car | Swindon | Wiltshire | United Kingdom | 2002-2005, 2017-2021 | SHHEP33502U300649 |
| 19X | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Passenger Car | Torrance | California | United States | 2009-2024 | 19XFA16609E003798 |
| JHL | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Tokyo | Musashi | Japan | 1997-2012, 2019 | JHLRD1850VC005497 |
| SHS | Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Swindon | Wiltshire | United Kingdom | 2002-2006 | SHSRD77442U010959 |
| 3CZ | Honda de Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | El Salto | Jalisco | Mexico | 2008-2024 | 3CZRE48508G700005 |
| 2HK | Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Alliston | Ontario | Canada | 1999-2007, 2012-2024 | 2HKRM4H30CH106652 |
| 7FA | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Torrance | California | United States | 2017-2024 | 7FARW1H50HE000822 |
| 5FN | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Torrance | California | United States | 2002-2024 | 5FNRL18002B008886 |
| 4S6 | Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Plymouth | Michigan | United States | 1995-2002 | 4S6CM58V0S4432276 |
| 3GP | General Motors LLC | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Warren | Michigan | United States | 2024 | 3GPKHXRJ0RS500718 |
| 2HJ | Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. | Truck | Alliston | Ontario | Canada | 2006-2009 | 2HJYK16506H500438 |
| 5FP | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | Truck | Torrance | California | United States | 2009-2014, 2017-2024 | 5FPYK16209B100228 |
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Honda’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes trim level, engine type, body style, and restraint system in a way that’s relatively consistent across model years but uses alphanumeric combinations that aren’t intuitive without a reference. For the CR-V, for example, codes beginning with “RE” indicate the third-generation platform, while “RM” and “RW” codes correspond to later generations with different powertrain configurations. The engine character within the VDS will distinguish between Honda’s 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder, the 2.0L naturally aspirated, and hybrid variants — all of which affect insurance costs, parts availability, and maintenance schedules differently. If you’re comparing two Honda VINs that appear identical by year and trim, the VDS characters are where meaningful differences often hide.
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 Honda 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 Honda VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 |
| P | 2023 |
| N | 2022 |
| M | 2021 |
| L | 2020 |
| K | 2019 |
| J | 2018 |
| H | 2017 |
| G | 2016 |
| F | 2015 |
| E | 2014 |
| D | 2013 |
| C | 2012 |
| B | 2011 |
| A | 2010 |
| 9 | 2009 |
| 8 | 2008 |
| 7 | 2007 |
| 6 | 2006 |
| 5 | 2005 |
| 4 | 2004 |
| 3 | 2003 |
| 2 | 2002 |
| 1 | 2001 |
| Y | 2000 |
| X | 1999 |
| W | 1998 |
| V | 1997 |
| T | 1996 |
| S | 1995 |
| R | 1994 |
| P | 1993 |
| N | 1992 |
| M | 1991 |
| L | 1990 |
| K | 1989 |
| J | 1988 |
| H | 1987 |
| G | 1986 |
| F | 1985 |
| E | 1984 |
| D | 1983 |
| C | 1982 |
| B | 1981 |
11th Character in the Honda VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Honda Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Lafayette | Indiana | United States | Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc. | 4S6CM58V0S4432276 |
| A | Ohio | United States | 1HGSZ742XDA004304 | ||
| B | Lincoln | Alabama | United States | 5KBCP36709B001096 | |
| C | Sayama | Saitama | Japan | JHMSM3425BC126428 | |
| E | Greensburg | Indiana | United States | 1HGCM56425E075559 | |
| G | El Salto | Jalisco | Mexico | 3HGCG6650YG703539 | |
| H | Alliston | Ontario | Canada | 1HGCP26838H019853 | |
| L | East Liberty | Ohio | United States | 1HGCB7650ML000251 | |
| M | Celaya | Guanajuato | Mexico | 3HGGK5H50FM107627 | |
| S | Suzuka | Mie | Japan | 1HGCS2B82BS005571 | |
| T | Takanezawa | Tochigi | Japan | 2HKRW2H50LT168565 | |
| U | Swindon | Wiltshire | United Kingdom | 1HGCV1F30KUJ93253 | |
| X | Yorii | Saitama | Japan | JHMFC1F30JX000077 | |
| Y | Marysville | Ohio | United States | Pmc | SHHFK7H58HY253228 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda
The final 6 characters in a Honda’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Decode a Honda VIN
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Honda’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Honda is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Inspect the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Honda. The VIN is typically placed on a metal plate visible from outside the vehicle.
- Look inside the door frame on the driver’s side of your Honda, specifically where the door latches when it’s closed. A sticker or plate here should display the VIN.
- Check under the hood of your Honda. The VIN might be stamped on the engine block or on a metal plate attached to the chassis.
- Examine your Honda’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers. The VIN is always listed in these documents for identification and verification purposes.
Don’t have your Honda’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 25010 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Standard |
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Cooling Type | Water |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Standard |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 1500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 91.53561614209 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.5 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electrification Level | Strong HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 107 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 129 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | HONDA |
| Engine Model | LEB6 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Engine Stroke Cycles | 4 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Fuel Type - Secondary | Electric |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Headlamp Light Source | LED |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Lane Centering Assistance | Standard |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Standard |
| Model | Insight |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Engine Info | Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection / 107HP(Engine) & 129HP(Motor) |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belt: Front/Rear; Rear: Seat Belt and Side Curtain Air Bag (Rr outer positions) / Seat Belt (Rr center position) |
| Plant City | Greensburg |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Indiana |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Standard |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Indirect |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Style | Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) |
| Trim | EX |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 19XZE4F5*ME |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 106.30 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 16 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 16 |
| Sample VIN | 19XZE4F50ME000239 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Honda?
On most Honda 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 Honda's history for free?
Enter the Honda’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 Honda VIN numbers start with?
Honda VIN's start with JHM and JHL for vehicles manufactured by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan, 1HG, 5KB, 5J6, 19X, 7FA, 5FN, and 5FP for vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in United States, 3HG and 3CZ for vehicles manufactured by Honda de Mexico in Mexico, 2HG, 2HK, and 2HJ for vehicles manufactured by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Canada, SHH and SHS for vehicles manufactured by Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd. in United Kingdom, 4S6 for vehicles manufactured by Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. in United States, 3GP for vehicles manufactured by General Motors LLC in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Honda.
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