How to decode a 2004 Honda Civic VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2004 Honda Civic VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designating the vehicle manufacturer, its country of origin, and additional attributes. For example, the 2004 Honda Civic produced in the United States has a WMI of “1HG,” indicating it was manufactured by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., in Torrance, California. Conversely, the same model Civic produced in Canada would bear the WMI “2HG,” signifying its production by Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc., in Alliston, Ontario. These identifiers not only help in identifying the manufacturing location but also provide details about the vehicle’s type, in this case, specifying them as passenger cars. The WMI is a crucial component in the automotive industry for vehicle tracking, registration, and recall purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 2004 Honda Civic

WMI: 1HG

Model Years Covered: 1987-2009
Example VIN: 1HGEM22304L039111
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: 2HGES26804H513552
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: JHMES15574S001584
Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Tokyo
State or Province: Musashi
Country: Japan WMI: SHH
Model Years Covered: 2002-2005, 2017-2021
Example VIN: SHHEP33624U504672
Manufacturer Name: Honda of the U.K. Mfg., Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Swindon
State or Province: Wiltshire
Country: United Kingdom

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2004 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 2004 Honda Civic:

Known VDS for a 2004 Honda Civic
EM223	ES268	EM216	EM211	EN265	EM220	ES155	EN264	EM218	ES258
ES257	EM226	ES156	ES163	EP336	EP335	ES153	ES151	ES267	EM229
EM213	EM227	EM215	EM219	ES164	ES165	EM225	ES166	EM221	EM210
ES152	ES966	EM228	ES956

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 2004 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 2004 Honda Civic VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
4	2004

11th Character in the 2004 Honda Civic VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2004 Honda Civic Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Example VIN
C	Sayama	Saitama	Japan	1HGEM22904C075806
H	Alliston	Ontario	Canada	2HGES26804H513552
L	East Liberty	Ohio	United States	1HGEM22304L039111
S	Suzuka	Mie	Japan	JHMES15574S001584
U	Swindon	Wiltshire	United Kingdom	SHHEP33624U504672

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2004 Honda Civic

The final 6 characters in a 2004 Honda Civic’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Honda Civic’s VIN below:

How to find a 2004 Honda Civic’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2004 Honda Civic is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda Civic. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on the lower corner where the dashboard meets the glass.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb. The VIN can often be found on a sticker where the door latches when closed, on your 2004 Honda Civic.
Check under the hood of your Honda Civic. The VIN might be located on the engine block or on a plate attached to the engine compartment.
Inspect the rear wheel well above the tire. In some vehicles, including the Honda Civic, the VIN might be found stamped in the metal above the tire.
Examine the trunk area of your Honda Civic. It’s possible to find the VIN on the trunk’s floor right below where the spare tire is usually kept, or on the lid of the trunk itself.

What info can a 2004 Honda Civic VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as the year 2004, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Fuel Efficiency and Type: The vehicle’s fuel type is a combination of gasoline and electric, indicating it is a Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), which can possibly offer better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
Engine Specifications: The vehicle features an In-Line engine configuration with 4 cylinders, a displacement of approximately 1.34 liters or 82 cubic inches, and produces around 85 horsepower, illustrating the possible engine size and power capability.
Safety Features: The presence of airbags in the 1st row for both the driver and passenger, along with side airbags, possibly highlights the vehicle’s designed safety measures to protect occupants in the event of an accident.
Vehicle Type and Specifications: The VIN information suggests a Sedan/Saloon body class with 4 doors, indicating the vehicle’s possible size, style, and passenger capacity, which may be typical for a Honda Civic Hybrid series.
Transmission and Drive: It is indicated that the vehicle is equipped with a Manual/Standard transmission that utilizes 5 speeds, showcasing the possible operational and handling characteristics.
Place of Manufacture: The plant located in Suzuka, Mie, Japan, denotes the possible geographic origin of the vehicle’s assembly, providing clues about potential manufacturing standards and the vehicle’s market value.

Don’t have your 2004 Honda Civic’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2004 Honda Civic

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	1343.739248
Displacement (CI)	82
Displacement (L)	1.343739248
Doors	4
Electrification Level	Strong HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
Engine Brake (hp) From	85
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Model	LDAI
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
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)
Model	Civic
Model Year	2004
Plant City	Suzuka
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Plant State	Mie
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Hybrid
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Transmission Speeds	5
Transmission Style	Manual/Standard
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JHMES956*4S
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	JHMES95604S012806