How to decode a 2003 Toyota Tacoma VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2003 Toyota Tacoma VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle, providing insights into where and by whom a vehicle was made. In the case of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma, the WMI is “5TE,” which specifies that it was manufactured by Toyota Motor Manufacturing in California, United States. This specific code not only denotes the vehicle’s manufacturer but also indicates that the type of vehicle is a truck. The WMI is part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which serves as a fingerprint for the vehicle, offering valuable information about its history, characteristics, and authenticity. For this Toyota Tacoma model, the details embedded in the WMI reveal its origins from the Fremont plant in California, highlighting the geographical and corporate lineage of this particular vehicle.

List of WMI Codes for a 2003 Toyota Tacoma

WMI: 5TE

Model Years Covered: 2000-2010
Example VIN: 5TEVN52N13Z223276
Manufacturer Name: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, California, Inc.
Vehicle Type: Truck
City: Fremont
State or Province: California
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 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 2003 Toyota Tacoma:

Known VDS for a 2003 Toyota Tacoma
VN52N	WN72N	GM92N	GN92N	HN72N	NM92N	NL42N	SN92N	WM72N	SM92N
PM62N	VL52N

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 2003 Toyota Tacoma 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 2003 Toyota Tacoma VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
3	2003

11th Character in the 2003 Toyota Tacoma VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2003 Toyota Tacoma Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
Z	Fremont	California	United States	New United Motor Manufacturing (Nummi)	5TEVN52N13Z223276

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2003 Toyota Tacoma

The final 6 characters in a 2003 Toyota Tacoma’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Toyota Tacoma’s VIN below:

How to find a 2003 Toyota Tacoma’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2003 Toyota Tacoma is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Toyota Tacoma, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN is commonly placed here and can be seen from outside the vehicle.
On the Toyota Tacoma, the VIN can also be found on the driver’s side door jamb. Open the door and check for a sticker or plate on the area where the door latches when closed.
Check under the hood of your Toyota Tacoma; the VIN may be stamped onto a plate that’s attached to the engine block or on the firewall.
Examine the frame of the Toyota Tacoma. Sometimes, the VIN is stamped on the frame near the front.
Inspect your Toyota Tacoma’s vehicle insurance card/insurance policy or title/registration documents, where the VIN is usually noted.

What info can a 2003 Toyota Tacoma VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2003, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Details: The VIN indicates that the Tacoma is equipped with a 2.4-liter engine (2438 cc displacement) by Toyota, identified as the 2RZ-FE model, featuring an In-Line configuration and four cylinders, suggesting the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, complemented by a Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) system for fuel delivery, indicating the engine’s efficiency and performance characteristics.
Drive Type and Body Class: The drive type is identified as 4x2, and the body class is noted as Pickup, providing insights into the vehicle’s operational capabilities and utility aspects.
Brake System and Safety Features: The VIN decoding unveils that the vehicle utilizes a Hydraulic brake system, implying the type of braking mechanism and potential safety features associated with the vehicle’s design.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN decoding provides manufacturing details, indicating that the Tacoma was manufactured in Fremont, California, by New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI), offering clues on the vehicle’s origin and the quality standards it might adhere to.
Identification and Verification: The sample VIN provided, 5TENL42N03Z160302, enables vehicle identification and verification, crucial for ownership, legal, and repair purposes, ensuring authenticity and traceability.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2003 Toyota Tacoma

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Pickup
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Cab Type	Extra/Super/Quad/Double/King/Extended
Displacement (CC)	2438
Displacement (CI)	148.8
Displacement (L)	2.4
Drive Type	4x2
Engine Brake (hp) From	142
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	Toyota
Engine Model	2RZ-FE
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Engine Stroke Cycles	4
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Model	Tacoma
Model Year	2003
Plant City	Fremont
Plant Company Name	New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI)
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	California
Series	RZN150L/VZN150L
Trim	DELUXE
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	5TEVL52N*3Z
Vehicle Type	Truck
Wheel Base Type	Extra Long
Sample_VIN	5TEVL52N03Z145725