How to decode a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique sequence that forms the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), indicating the vehicle’s manufacturer and attributes. For the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander, the WMI is “JA4,” signifying that it is manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), based in Tokyo, Japan. This particular WMI, assigned to multipurpose passenger vehicles, confirms the Mitsubishi Outlander as a versatile model produced by MMC. The “JA4” prefix is specific to Mitsubishi’s range of multipurpose vehicles and indicates the vehicle was produced for various markets worldwide. Through WMIs like “JA4,” each vehicle is uniquely identified, hinting at its origin, manufacturer, and type.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

WMI: JA4

Model Years Covered: 2003-2024
Example VIN: JA4JS4AX0CU001318
Manufacturer Name: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Minato-Ku
State or Province: Tokyo
Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Mitsubishi Outlander:

Known VDS for a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
JS4AX	JT3AW	AS3AW	AP3AU	AP4AU	JT5AX	AR4AU	AS2AW

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 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Mitsubishi Outlander VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

11th Character in the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
U	Mizushima		Japan		JA4JS4AX0CU001318
Z	Okazaki		Japan		JA4AP3AU0CZ000173

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

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

Check your Mitsubishi Outlander’s VIN below:

How to find a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Mitsubishi Outlander. Typically, the VIN can be seen through the lower corner of the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb. The VIN for your Mitsubishi Outlander may be found on a sticker or a plate where the door latches when it is closed.
Lift the hood of the Mitsubishi Outlander and check for a VIN plate on the engine block, which is commonly a metal tag that contains the VIN.
Check inside the wheel well; specifically, the front wheel well on the driver’s side sometimes has the VIN stamped on the body of the car.
Finally, look at your Mitsubishi Outlander’s vehicle registration documents, insurance papers, or the vehicle title, where the VIN will be printed.

What info can a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year 2012, providing insights into the vehicle’s age and potentially its technological and safety features.
Body Class: The VIN decoding indicates that the vehicle is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), offering a clue about its size, intended use, and capacity.
Engine Specifications: The VIN decodes to show the engine has a displacement of 2.0 liters (2000.0 CC or 122.04748818946 CI), with a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) design, hinting at the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Safety Features: Safety equipment such as curtain airbags in the 1st and 2nd rows, front airbags for the driver and passenger, and side airbags in the 1st and 2nd rows are indicated, which is critical for assessing the vehicle’s safety standards.
Fuel Type: The VIN indicates that the vehicle uses gasoline as its primary fuel, which could inform potential owners about fuel economy and environmental impact.
Drive Type: The mention of 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 suggests the vehicle’s suitability for various terrains and weather conditions, providing insights into its versatility.
Manufacturing Information: Details such as the plant city being Okazaki and the country Japan give an idea of the manufacturing origin, which could influence perceptions of quality and reliability.

Don’t have your 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	2000.0
Displacement (CI)	122.04748818946
Displacement (L)	2.0
Doors	5
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Model	Outlander
Model Year	2012
Other Engine Info	DOHC MIVEC
Plant City	Okazaki
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Japan
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	HIGH
Series2	Wagon body style
Side Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Trim	SPORT
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	JA4AR4AU*CZ
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	JA4AR4AU0CZ000108