Free 1997 Honda Civic VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Honda Civic VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Honda Civic VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial string of characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) representing the manufacturer’s code and the attributes of the vehicle. For a 1997 Honda Civic, the WMI can identify the car as built by either American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in Torrance, California, with a WMI of “1HG,” or by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, with a WMI of “2HG.” This code helps in identifying the vehicle’s country of manufacture, the manufacturer itself, and provides a specific classification for the type of vehicle, indicating it is a Passenger Car in both instances. The WMI is a crucial tool in automotive identification, ensuring a standard method for tracking vehicles globally.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Honda Civic

WMI: 1HG

• Model Years Covered: 1987-2009
• Example VIN: 1HGEJ6220VL058072
• Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Torrance
• State or Province: California
• Country: United States WMI: 2HG
• Model Years Covered: 1988-2024
• Example VIN: 2HGEJ6670VH506815
• Manufacturer Name: Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Alliston
• State or Province: Ontario
• Country: Canada WMI: JHM
• Model Years Covered: 1981-1983, 1985-2012, 2018-2019, 2022-2023
• Example VIN: JHMEJ8540VS000345
• Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Tokyo
• State or Province: Musashi
• Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Honda Civic 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 1997 Honda Civic:

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 1997 Honda Civic 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 1997 Honda Civic VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Honda Civic VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Honda Civic Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Honda Civic

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Honda Civic’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Honda Civic’s VIN below:

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What info can a 1997 Honda Civic VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, such as the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, indicating that the vehicle is a Coupe with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Type: Detailed engine information, including a 1.589 liter displacement and in-line configuration, along with the model D16Y7, is encoded within the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
• Fuel Efficiency: The primary fuel type for the vehicle can often be found within the VIN data, offering insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Safety Features: Standard safety features, such as front airbags located in the 1st row for both the driver and passenger, can be inferred from the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s safety standards.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN provides manufacturing details including the plant city (East Liberty), state (Ohio), and country (United States) where the vehicle was produced, offering insights into the vehicle’s origin and production location.
• Transmission Details: A VIN can disclose transmission-related specifics, such as the car having a 4-speed automatic transmission, offering insight into the vehicle’s drivability and performance characteristics.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Honda Civic

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