How to decode a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle. For the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta, the WMI is “3VW”, which signifies that the vehicle was manufactured by Volkswagen de Mexico SA de CV in Cuautlancingo Ciudad Pueb, Mexico. This code is the first part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides specific information about the vehicle, including its manufacturer, vehicle type, and production location. WMIs are crucial for vehicle tracking, registration, and recall purposes, ensuring that each vehicle can be uniquely identified. The 1998 Jetta’s WMI, “3VW”, tells us it’s a passenger car made by Volkswagen in Mexico, encapsulating essential details about its origin and type.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta

WMI: 3VW

Model Years Covered: 1994-2024
Example VIN: 3VWTD81H6WM116343
Manufacturer Name: Volkswagen de Mexico SA de CV
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Cuautlancingo Ciudad Pueb
State or Province:
Country: Mexico

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

Known VDS for a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta
TD81H	PB81H	PA81H	SB81H	SA61H	SA81H	RB81H	RF81H	VA81H	RA81H
VB81H	TD61H

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 Volkswagen Jetta 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 Volkswagen Jetta VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Volkswagen Jetta Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
M	Puebla		Mexico		3VWTD81H6WM116343

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta

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

Check your Volkswagen Jetta’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta’s VIN?

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

Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Volkswagen Jetta. Typically, the VIN is visible through the windshield on a small metal or plastic plate near where the dashboard meets the glass.
Look on the driver’s side door frame for your 1998 Volkswagen Jetta. There should be a sticker in the door jamb that displays the VIN when the door is open.
Examine the area under the hood of your Volkswagen Jetta. The VIN might be found engraved on the firewall of the vehicle’s engine bay.
Check the vehicle’s rear wheel well. Sometimes on older models like the 1998 Volkswagen Jetta, the VIN can be found stamped above the tire.
If you still haven’t found the VIN, inspect the trunk of your Jetta. The VIN may be located under the trunk mat or on the spare tire well.

What info can a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, showing the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Details: The VIN discloses comprehensive engine information, indicating that the vehicle is manufactured by Volkswagen, has a displacement of 2.792 liters (2792 CC or 170.378 CI), and boasts a 6-cylinder engine potentially producing up to 172 horsepower.
Body Class and Doors: A VIN can denote the body class and size, in this case, indicating a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Fuel Type: The data specifies the primary fuel type, indicating that the Volkswagen Jetta is powered by gasoline.
Safety Features: The VIN provides details on safety features, mentioning the presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger, as well as side airbags in the 1st row, potentially enhancing the overall safety of the vehicle.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): It classifies the vehicle within Class 1, having a GVWR of 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), potentially providing insights into the vehicle’s usage and capabilities.
Manufacturing Information: The VIN discloses the manufacturing details, revealing that the Volkswagen Jetta was assembled in Puebla, Mexico, adding an extra layer of information for historical or importation purposes.

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

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2792
Displacement (CI)	170.378293512
Displacement (L)	2.792000
Doors	4
Engine Brake (hp) From	172
Engine Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Jetta
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	51-St., Emissions Certification Test Group: WVWXV02.8224
Other Restraint System Info	Restraint System: AirBag - Dr/Pass, Active - Dr/Pass
Plant City	Puebla
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Mexico
Series	GLX
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Vehicle Descriptor	3VWTD61H*WM
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	3VWTD61H3WM228781