How to decode a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial sequence of three letters or numbers in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designating the manufacturer, vehicle type, and region of manufacture. For instance, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class has a WMI of “WDC,” indicating it is produced by Mercedes-Benz Cars, specifically classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV). This luxury vehicle is manufactured in Stuttgart, located in the Baden-Württemberg state of Germany. The WMI is crucial for identifying the vehicle’s make and model, especially in registration, insurance, and recall processes. This coding system is standardized globally, ensuring that each vehicle’s origin and type are easily recognizable.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

WMI: WDC

Model Years Covered: 2002-2008, 2010-2020
Example VIN: WDCYC3HF0CX193521
Manufacturer Name: Mercedes-Benz Cars
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Stuttgart
State or Province: Baden-Württemberg
Country: Germany

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class:

Known VDS for a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
YC3HF

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 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

11th Character in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
X	Graz		Austria		WDCYC3HF0CX193521

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The final 6 characters in a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Mercedes-Benz G-Class’s VIN below:

How to find a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The VIN can usually be seen from outside the vehicle, just above the dashboard.
Open the driver’s door and inspect the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The VIN is often located on a label or sticker on the door jamb.
Check under the hood of your Mercedes-Benz G-Class; the VIN might be located on the front of the engine block.
Inspect the rear wheel well of the driver’s side; sometimes, the VIN can be found on the inside of it on some Mercedes-Benz models.
Look in the trunk of your G-Class, the VIN can sometimes be found on the trunk’s hinge or on the trunk wall.

What info can a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as the year 2012, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Drive Type: It is classified as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, showing both the vehicle’s purpose and drivetrain.
Engine Specifications: With a V-Shaped engine configuration and 8 cylinders, it has a displacement of 5.5 liters (5500.0 CC), highlighting its power plant’s size and configuration.
Safety Features: The vehicle comes equipped with first-row front airbags for both the driver and the passenger, side airbags, manual seat belts for all occupants, alongside pretensioners and a direct type Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), indicating a focus on occupant safety.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, which provides insights into its energy source and potential fuel economy.
Manufacturing Information: Manufactured in Graz, Austria, this detail provides insight into the vehicle’s origin, down to the city level.
Vehicle Type and Weight Classification: Designated as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in the range of Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb, it illustrates the vehicle’s classification and potential load capacity.

Don’t have your 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Search License Plate

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement (CC)	5500.0
Displacement (CI)	335.63059252102
Displacement (L)	5.5
Doors	4
Drive Type	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Number of Cylinders	8
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Model	G-Class
Model Year	2012
Other Restraint System Info	Type 2 seat belts for all occupants. Seat belts on all outboard designated seating position are equipped with load limiters and pretensioners.
Plant City	Graz
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Austria
Pretensioner	Yes
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	G550
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Trim	4-MATIC
Vehicle Descriptor	WDCYC3HF*CX
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	WDCYC3HF0CX193521