How to decode a 2001 Saturn LS VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2001 Saturn LS VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle. In the case of the 2001 Saturn LS, its WMI is “1G8,” indicating that it was produced by General Motors LLC. This WMI code also reveals that the vehicle was manufactured in Warren, Michigan, in the United States and is classified as a passenger car. Such identifiers are essential for distinguishing the make, production location, and type of vehicle globally. They play a critical role in vehicle identification, registration, and in the tracking of recalls and warranties.

List of WMI Codes for a 2001 Saturn LS

WMI: 1G8

Model Years Covered: 2000-2002
Example VIN: 1G8JS54F21Y512804
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 2001 Saturn LS 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 2001 Saturn LS:

Known VDS for a 2001 Saturn LS
JS54F	JS52F

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 2001 Saturn LS 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 2001 Saturn LS VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
1	2001

11th Character in the 2001 Saturn LS VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2001 Saturn LS Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
Y	Wilmington	Delaware	United States	Wilmington Assembly	1G8JS54F21Y512804

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2001 Saturn LS

The final 6 characters in a 2001 Saturn LS’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Saturn LS’s VIN below:

How to find a 2001 Saturn LS’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2001 Saturn LS is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2001 Saturn LS. You should be able to see the VIN through the windshield on a small section near where the dashboard meets the glass.
Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side. The VIN can often be found on a sticker or a plate on this part of the door jamb.
Check under the hood; the VIN might be stamped on the front engine block.
Inspect the rear wheel well of the driver’s side. Occasionally, the VIN is placed above the tire. 5. Examine the underside of the spare tire cover or in the spare tire compartment. Sometimes the VIN is located there in vehicles like the 2001 Saturn LS.
Review your vehicle insurance card/policy, as the VIN is typically listed on these documents, which can be easier than finding it on the car itself.

What info can a 2001 Saturn LS VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2001, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Type and Specifications: The VIN includes detailed information about the engine, such as an In-Line engine by GM, model L61, with 170 horsepower, offering valuable insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Fuel Type and Engine Configuration: A VIN can provide information about the primary fuel type and engine configuration, for instance, Gasoline as the fuel type with a Multipoint Fuel Injection system and an In-Line engine configuration, helping to understand its fuel efficiency and performance.
Safety Features: The VIN can indicate the presence and location of airbags, showcasing standard safety features such as front and side airbags in the 1st row for the driver and passenger, providing crucial information about the vehicle’s safety equipment.
Vehicle Type and Body Class: Information on the type and body class of the vehicle is encoded in the VIN, revealing details like a Passenger Car with a Sedan/Saloon body class, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Manufacturing Details: Details about the manufacturing, including the plant location, company name, and country, can be derived from a VIN, such as vehicles assembled in Wilmington, Delaware, United States by Wilmington Assembly, providing insight into the vehicle’s origin and production.
Transmission and Powertrain: A VIN may detail the transmission style and specific powertrain features, such as an Automatic transmission style and a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) valve train design, offering insights into the vehicle’s driving experience and performance capabilities.

Don’t have your 2001 Saturn LS’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2001 Saturn LS

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
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	LS
Model Year	2001
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile
Plant City	Wilmington
Plant Company Name	Wilmington assembly
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Delaware
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Transmission Style	Automatic
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1G8JS54F*1Y
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	1G8JS54F21Y512804