How to decode a 1999 Honda CR-V VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1999 Honda CR-V VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes that identify the manufacturer of every vehicle worldwide. Specifically, for the 1999 Honda CR-V, the WMI is “JHL,” indicating that Honda Motor Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan, is the manufacturer. This portion of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) not only confirms Honda as the maker but also specifies the vehicle’s classification as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), providing insight into the model’s intended use and design characteristics. By analyzing WMIs, one can determine essential details such as the vehicle type, manufacturing location, and the company’s manufacturing division, offering a valuable tool for vehicle identification and information retrieval.

List of WMI Codes for a 1999 Honda CR-V

WMI: JHL

Model Years Covered: 1997-2012, 2019
Example VIN: JHLRD1740XC010517
Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Tokyo
State or Province: Musashi
Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1999 Honda CR-V 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 1999 Honda CR-V:

Known VDS for a 1999 Honda CR-V
RD174	RD284	RD176	RD184	RD186	RD185

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 1999 Honda CR-V 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 1999 Honda CR-V VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
X	1999

11th Character in the 1999 Honda CR-V VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1999 Honda CR-V Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
C	Sayama	Saitama	Japan		JHLRD1740XC010517

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1999 Honda CR-V

The final 6 characters in a 1999 Honda CR-V’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Honda CR-V’s VIN below:

How to find a 1999 Honda CR-V’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1999 Honda CR-V is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda CR-V, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. It’s usually visible through the windshield.
Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side door of your Honda CR-V. The VIN might be on a sticker or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
Check under the hood of your Honda CR-V for a metal plate with the VIN, often located on the engine block or on the frame of the car near the firewall.
Examine the rear wheel well above the tire. Sometimes, the VIN can be found stamped on the body of your Honda CR-V in that area.

What info can a 1999 Honda CR-V VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1999, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: It can specify that the vehicle is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 5 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and utility.
Engine Type: The VIN can provide details about the engine, indicating a B20Z2 model with an inline configuration, 1.966-liter displacement, and 146 horsepower, illustrating the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Fuel Type: It may specify the vehicle’s fuel type as gasoline, which is essential for understanding fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety Features: With specifics like the standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), the VIN can shed light on the vehicle’s safety equipment and features.
Transmission Information: The type of transmission, such as an automatic with 4 speeds, provides insight into the vehicle’s driveability and performance characteristics.
Manufacturing Location: The VIN contains details about the manufacturing, indicating that this vehicle was assembled in Sayama, Saitama, Japan, pinpointing the vehicle’s origin and possibly its build quality.

Don’t have your 1999 Honda CR-V’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1999 Honda CR-V

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement (CC)	1966.447680
Displacement (CI)	120
Displacement (L)	1.966447680
Doors	5
Drive Type	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Engine Brake (hp) From	146
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Model	B20Z2
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Model	CR-V
Model Year	1999
Plant City	Sayama
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Plant State	Saitama
Transmission Speeds	4
Transmission Style	Automatic
Trim	LX
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JHLRD284*XC
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	JHLRD2840XC003670