How to decode a 2006 Saturn Ion VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2006 Saturn Ion VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences used to identify the manufacturer of every vehicle globally. For the 2006 Saturn Ion, the WMI “1G8” indicates it was manufactured by General Motors LLC, emphasizing its origin from a major American automotive company. It specifies that the vehicle is a passenger car, designed and assembled with the characteristics typical of General Motors’ production quality and standards. The production location for this specific vehicle is identified within Warren, Michigan, USA. This three-letter code not only confirms the vehicle’s authenticity and origins but also links it to its manufacturing heritage.

List of WMI Codes for a 2006 Saturn Ion

WMI: 1G8

Model Years Covered: 2003-2007
Example VIN: 1G8AY14P06Z190455
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 2006 Saturn Ion 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 2006 Saturn Ion:

Known VDS for a 2006 Saturn Ion
AY14P	AJ58F	AW18B	AW15F	AK55B	AM15F	AK55F	AL55F	AW18F	AN18F
AY11P	AV18B	AL55B	AZ55F	AL58B	AZ58F	AK58B	AV15F	AJ55F	AN15F
AV15B	AL58F	AW15B	AM18F

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 2006 Saturn Ion 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 2006 Saturn Ion VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
6	2006

11th Character in the 2006 Saturn Ion VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2006 Saturn Ion Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
Z	Spring Hill	Tennessee	United States	Spring Hill Manufacturing	1G8AY14P06Z190455

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2006 Saturn Ion

The final 6 characters in a 2006 Saturn Ion’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?

TRY BUMPER

How to find a 2006 Saturn Ion’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2006 Saturn Ion is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Saturn Ion. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield on a metal plate positioned near where the dashboard meets the glass.
Look at the door pillar on the driver’s side when you open the front door of your Saturn Ion. The VIN can often be found on a sticker or a plate where the door latches.
The vehicle registration documents for your 2006 Saturn Ion should have the VIN printed on them. This is often a reliable source and can be used to cross-reference with the VIN found on the vehicle.
Inspect the engine block of your Saturn Ion, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Check your insurance card or policy for your Saturn Ion, as the VIN is usually provided there for identification and verification purposes.

What info can a 2006 Saturn Ion VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can possibly reveal the vehicle’s model year as 2006, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: Through the VIN, one might learn that the vehicle is possibly equipped with a 2.2 liter, in-line 4-cylinder engine (model L61 by GM), capable of possibly producing up to 170 horsepower. It also seems that it features a Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) system for fuel delivery.
Body Class and Size: The vehicle might be classified as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, possibly providing insights into its size and configuration.
Safety Features: The VIN possibly reveals the presence of curtain airbags for the 1st row (driver and passenger), front airbags in the same location, and details about the seat belt type being manual as well as an occupant sensor for additional restraints.
Fuel Type: According to the VIN, it may be possible that the primary fuel type for this vehicle is gasoline, indicating its energy source.
Transmission and Drive: It can be indicated from the VIN that it is possibly equipped with an automatic transmission, possibly tying into its overall handling and performance characteristics.
Manufacturing Details: There’s a chance that one can discover from the VIN that the vehicle was possibly manufactured in Spring Hill, Tennessee, United States, by Spring Hill Manufacturing, possibly pinpointing its origin.

Don’t have your 2006 Saturn Ion’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Search License Plate

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2006 Saturn Ion

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Displacement (CC)	2200.0
Displacement (CI)	134.25223700841
Displacement (L)	2.2
Doors	4
Engine Brake (hp) From	170
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	GM
Engine Model	L61
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Model	Ion
Model Year	2006
Other Restraint System Info	Occupant Sensor
Plant City	Spring Hill
Plant Company Name	Spring Hill Manufacturing
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Tennessee
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Sedan Level 3 - Auto (RF5)
Transmission Style	Automatic
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1G8AL58F*6Z
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1G8AL58F06Z106142