How to decode a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, its origin, and other significant attributes. For the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse, the WMI “4A3” indicates that it is a vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors North America, specifically designed as a passenger car. This vehicle was produced in Cypress, California, United States. The WMI not only helps in recognizing the manufacturing division but also aids in vehicle registration, tracking, and recall processes. It serves as a global standard for classifying vehicles from different parts of the world.

List of WMI Codes for a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse

WMI: 4A3

Model Years Covered: 1991-1992, 1994-2012
Example VIN: 4A3AK34T09E028446
Manufacturer Name: Mitsubishi Motors North America
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Cypress
State or Province: California
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse 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 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse:

Known VDS for a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse
AK34T	AK24F

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 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse 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 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
9	2009

11th Character in the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
E	Bloomington-Normal	Illinois	United States		4A3AK34T09E028446

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The final 6 characters in a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Mitsubishi Eclipse’s VIN below:

How to find a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Mitsubishi Eclipse. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield on a plate near where the dashboard meets the glass.
Examine the door post or door jamb on the driver’s side. There should be a label or sticker when you open the door of your Mitsubishi Eclipse that displays the VIN.
Open the hood of your Mitsubishi Eclipse and check the front of the engine block. The VIN is often stamped onto the engine itself.
Look in the trunk under the spare tire. Sometimes the VIN is placed in this area in a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Check beneath the car at the front of the chassis. This might require you to go underneath the car, but some vehicles have the VIN located here.
Review your Mitsubishi Eclipse’s vehicle registration documents, insurance papers, or title/ownership documents, as the VIN will be printed there.

What info can a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating that it may possibly be a 2009 model, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Size: A VIN can specify the body class as a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, possibly providing insights into its design and functionality.
Engine Specifications: Specific details about the engine, such as it possibly being a 2.4L displacement engine with a SOHC MIVEC valve train, are encoded within the VIN.
Safety Features: The VIN may indicate safety features, showing there’s a chance that this vehicle comes equipped with front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the first row.
Fuel Type: It is possible that the VIN specifies the primary fuel type the vehicle utilizes, with this particular model possibly using gasoline.
Manufacturing Details: It offers a glance into the manufacturing location, including the city (Bloomington-Normal), state (Illinois), and country (United States), revealing where the vehicle was possibly assembled.
Vehicle Type and Series: This VIN possibly pinpoints the vehicle type as a passenger car and goes further to detail the series classification as ‘LOW’, giving insights into the model’s market positioning or features.

Don’t have your 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Search License Plate

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Displacement (CC)	3800.0
Displacement (CI)	231.89022755998
Displacement (L)	3.8
Doors	3
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Model	Eclipse
Model Year	2009
Other Engine Info	SOHC MIVEC
Plant City	Bloomington-Normal
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Illinois
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	MEDIUM
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	4A3AK34T*9E
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	4A3AK34T09E028446