How to decode a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a code unique to every vehicle manufacturer, encoded within the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to provide essential details about the vehicle. For the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass, the WMI is “1G3,” indicating that this vehicle was produced by General Motors LLC in the United States. More specifically, this line of cars was assembled in Warren, Michigan, marking them as American-made passenger cars. The WMI forms the initial part of the VIN, which further comprises other details about the car, such as its specifications, model year, and production number. This system ensures that each vehicle can be uniquely identified worldwide.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass

WMI: 1G3

Model Years Covered: 1997-1999
Example VIN: 1G3NG52M0W6310184
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass 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 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass:

Known VDS for a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
NG52M	NB52M

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 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass 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 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
6	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G3NG52M0W6310184

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Oldsmobile Cutlass’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on the lower corner.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the area where the door latches to the body of the car, known as the door jamb. There should be a sticker or plate with the VIN.
Check under the hood of your Oldsmobile Cutlass; the VIN may be located on the front of the engine block.
Inspect the rear wheel well. Sometimes the VIN can be found above the tire on the frame.
Lift the trunk lid and look at the area where the trunk hinges attach to the body of the car; a VIN sticker might be placed there.

What info can a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting a production year around 1998, possibly indicating the age and market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Size: The VIN may indicate that the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon, possibly featuring a specific design tailored to passenger comfort.
Engine Details: The VIN specifies the engine as having a V-Shaped configuration with a displacement of 3.1 liters or 3100.0 CC, possibly manufactured by FLT, and featuring six cylinders. It also notes the use of Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) for fuel delivery.
Safety Features: Standard safety features such as front airbags for both the driver and passenger (1st row) are detailed, suggesting an emphasis on passenger safety.
Manufacturing Information: Through the VIN, one can possibly pinpoint the manufacturing location to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, within the United States, under the operation of NA-GM Corp, potentially offering insights into the vehicle’s origin.
Model and Manufacturer: The VIN decodes to specify the model as a Cutlass, with other engine information possibly hinting at compatibility or association with other brands like Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick.
Vehicle Specifics: Additional vehicle specifics provided possibly include the presence of four doors and windows, alongside a manual seat belt type, potentially painting a clear picture of the vehicle’s interior and exterior features.

Don’t have your 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3100.0
Displacement (CI)	189.17360669367
Displacement (L)	3.1
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	FLT
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Model	Cutlass
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chev, Pont, Olds, Buick
Plant City	Oklahoma City
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Oklahoma
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Vehicle Descriptor	1G3NB52M*W6
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	1G3NB52M0W6336542