- What you'll get from Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN check?
- Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN.
- 10th Character in the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
- How to find a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
What you’ll get from Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can provide information about the vehicle’s model year, such as being the year 2019, offering insights into the age and brand of the car.
- Engine Specifications: It can reveal details about the engine, such as featuring a 2.0 L, 4-cylinder engine manufactured by Daimler with 208 hp and utilizing Gasoline as fuel. This information may provide a glimpse into the vehicle’s power and fuel efficiency.
- Safety Features: The VIN could indicate the presence of standard safety features like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), as well as optional ones like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA), suggesting a focus on passenger safety.
- Technology and Convenience: The VIN might specify if the car has modern technological conveniences like a Backup Camera and Keyless Ignition as standard, signifying a focus on ease of use and safety.
- Drive Type and Transmission: The VIN could provide information about the car’s drive type, such as Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), and the transmission type, for example, 7-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), describing the car’s drivetrain and how it translates engine power to movement.
- Body Type and Capacity: The VIN may contain details about the body type, such as Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), and the capacity to accommodate 5 passengers in 2 seat rows, providing an overview of the vehicle structure and its intended use.
- Additional Safety Mechanisms: The VIN might include descriptors like Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Standard Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching, highlighting additional measures taken to ensure passenger and vehicle safety.
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Vehicle History Risk Factors
Mercedes-Benz vehicles are sophisticated and expensive to maintain, and the used market includes a wide range of cars from meticulous single-owner buyers to high-mileage examples that have been through multiple owners and deferred maintenance. A Bumper history check on a used Mercedes addresses several high-frequency concerns.
Balance shaft and timing chain failures on M272/M273 V6 and V8 engines (2005–2011 C, E, S, ML, GL Class). Mercedes’ M272 V6 and M273 V8 engines had a documented balance shaft gear wear issue that, if left unaddressed, could cause catastrophic engine failure. Repair costs can exceed $5,000. Service records showing balance shaft replacement or inspection are critical on any Mercedes from this engine generation.
Air suspension failures on E, S, and GL Class. Mercedes’ AIRMATIC air suspension — standard on S-Class and optional on several other models — is expensive to repair when components fail ($1,500–$3,000 per corner). A sagging ride height in photos or listing descriptions is a warning sign that air suspension work is pending.
Transmission conductor plate issues on 7G-Tronic (722.9). Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic had a documented conductor plate failure mode that causes erratic shifting and transmission fault codes. Replacement conductor plates are a known maintenance item on high-mileage examples.
Salvage and rebuilt title AMG and S-Class vehicles. High-value Mercedes models — particularly AMG variants and S-Class sedans — are disproportionately represented in salvage title databases due to their high replacement values. Verify title history carefully on any Mercedes priced significantly below market value.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to each vehicle manufacturer, designated by the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). For Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class vehicles, the WMI codes include WDC for models produced between the years 2015 and 2020, and W1N for those crafted from 2020 to 2024. These prefixes identify vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The WMI WDC refers to their Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPV), while W1N designates vehicles within the same category but produced in a different model year range, emphasizing the evolution and identification of vehicles from this prestigious brand.
List of WMI Codes for a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
WMI: WDC
- Model Years Covered: 2015-2020
- Example VIN: WDCTG4EB0FJ102227
- Manufacturer Name: Mercedes-Benz Cars
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Stuttgart
- State or Province: Baden-Württemberg
- Country: Germany
WMI: WDD
- Model Years Covered: 2015-2019
- Example VIN: WDDTG5CB0FJ021135
- Manufacturer Name: Mercedes-Benz Cars
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Stuttgart
- State or Province: Baden-Württemberg
- Country: Germany
WMI: W1N
- Model Years Covered: 2020-2024
- Example VIN: W1NTG4GB0LJ691500
- 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 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Mercedes-Benz uses a structured VDS encoding system that reflects its vehicle class hierarchy — C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLE, GLC, and others each have distinct VDS patterns that encode body style, engine variant, and trim configuration. The engine character within the VDS is particularly meaningful on Mercedes vehicles, where the same model nameplate can house dramatically different powertrains — a C300 may have a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder while a C43 AMG has a biturbo V6 — with correspondingly different maintenance costs and reliability profiles. For AMG models, the VDS encodes performance variant designation separately from the base model, making it possible to confirm authenticity before a pre-purchase inspection.
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 Mercedes-Benz GLA-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 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| P | 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| N | 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| M | 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| L | 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| K | 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| J | 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| H | 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| G | 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
| F | 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
11th Character in the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pune | India | WDCTG4EB5J1443602 | ||
| A | Sindelfingen | Germany | W1N4N5BB1PA457511 | ||
| J | Rastatt | Germany | WDCTG4EB0FJ102227 | ||
| K | Rastatt | Germany | WDCTG4EE5JK443605 | ||
| U | Sindelfingen | Germany | WDCTG4GB2JU000030 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
The final 6 characters in a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class; the VIN is usually displayed here on a small plate.
- Look inside the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. The VIN can often be found on a label or sticker where the door latches.
- For the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, check beneath the bonnet. The VIN might be stamped on the engine block or affixed on a plate in the engine compartment.
- Search the rear wheel well. Sometimes, the VIN is placed above the tire on the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class.
- Examine the vehicle’s registration documents or insurance policy. The VIN of your Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class will be listed there.
Don’t have your Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Optional |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 35950.00 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Optional |
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Cooling Type | Water |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Optional |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 2000.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 122.04748818946 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.0 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 208 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Daimler |
| Engine Model | 270 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Engine Stroke Cycles | 4 |
| Entertainment System | CD + Stereo |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Optional |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Optional |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Optional |
| Model | GLA-Class |
| Model Year | 2019 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Type 2 seat belts for all occupants. Seat belts on all outboard designated seating positions are equipped with load limiters and pretensioners. |
| Parking Assist | Optional |
| Plant City | Pune |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | India |
| Pretensioner | Yes |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Series | GLA250-4M |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 7 |
| Transmission Style | Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) |
| Turbo | Yes |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | WDCTG4GB*K1 |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 106.30 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 18 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 18 |
| Sample VIN | WDCTG4GB1K1578901 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class?
On most Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class's history for free?
Enter the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class’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 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN numbers start with?
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class VIN's start with WDC, WDD, and W1N for vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz Cars in Germany. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class.
Decode a Mercedes-Benz VIN
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