Citroen VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Be different. Feel good.”
Citroën is a French automaker founded in 1919 by industrialist André Citroën in Paris, and is now a brand within Stellantis. Citroën pioneered the use of mass-production assembly lines in Europe (modeled after Ford's Detroit operations) and introduced numerous engineering innovations including the front-wheel-drive monocoque Traction Avant (1934), the hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension on the DS (1955), and the Citroën 2CV — France's answer to the Volkswagen Beetle.
The DS (1955-1975) was voted the most beautiful car of all time by Classic & Sports Car Magazine, and the 2CV (1948-1990) sold over 5 million units across 42 years. Modern Citroën focuses on comfort-oriented design with the C3, C4, C5 X, C5 Aircross and the all-electric ë-C3, ë-C4, and ë-C5 X. The DS sub-brand was spun off as a separate Stellantis luxury marque (DS Automobiles) in 2014. Citroën exited the United States after the 1974 sale of its US operations and has not returned.
Citroën's parent Stellantis trades on the NYSE under STLA. Recall data for European-market Citroën vehicles is tracked through European agencies. ForCar.org maintains historical Citroën VIN data from the brand's pre-1974 US era.
Citroen at a glance
- Founded
- 1919
- Founder
- André Citroën
- Headquarters
- Poissy, France
- Parent
- Stellantis (NYSE: STLA)
- Iconic model
- DS (1955-1975) — voted most beautiful car
- Best-selling legacy
- 2CV (5M+ units, 1948-1990)
- Innovation
- First mass FWD monocoque (Traction Avant 1934)
- Sister luxury brand
- DS Automobiles (spun off 2014)
- Basic warranty
- 2 years / unlimited miles
- EV battery warranty
- 8 years / 100,000 miles
Decode any Citroen VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that Citroen dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature Citroen technology
Citroen heritage
André Citroën founded the company in 1919 after producing artillery shells during World War I in Paris. The 1934 Traction Avant introduced the world's first mass-produced monocoque front-wheel-drive car. Citroën went bankrupt in 1934 and was acquired by Michelin (its largest creditor), which owned Citroën until selling to Peugeot in 1976. The 1955 DS, with its hydropneumatic suspension and avant-garde aerodynamics, was used as the official car of French president Charles de Gaulle. Citroën US operations ended in 1974.
Market position
Citroën positions in mainstream European passenger segments with comfort and design quirks as differentiators from Peugeot (its Stellantis sibling) and other mainstream rivals. The 2014 spin-off of DS Automobiles into a luxury marque allowed Citroën to refocus on affordable comfort. The ë- prefix EV variants compete with Renault, Volkswagen and Stellantis siblings on price.
New-vehicle warranty
CITROEN VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide
Watch our quick CITROEN VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any CITROEN VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.
All Citroen models (1)
Frequently asked questions
When was Citroen founded and by whom?
Citroen was founded in 1919 by André Citroën and is headquartered in Poissy, France.
Where is the VIN on a Citroen vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many Citroen models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 1 Citroen nameplates. Any 17-character Citroen VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the Citroen warranty?
Basic: 2 years / unlimited miles (Europe). Powertrain: 8 years / 100,000 miles (EV battery).
How to check Citroen recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers Citroën, the Stellantis brand — not DS Automobiles (the separate Stellantis luxury sister brand spun off in 2014) or André Citroën personally.
← All brands