A Acura CL VIN opens with 19U (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often A (67%); a 2003 CL carries 3 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 11 recall campaigns and 468 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Acura CL VIN
Here is a real 2003 Acura CL VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 19UYA41653A010548 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Where Acura CL VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 7 Acura CL VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:
| WMI | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on file | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19U | United States | — | 7 |
Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.
Model-year codes for the Acura CL
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Acura CL has not yet outlived: its 16 years still map one-to-one. All 16 model years of the Acura CL, 1987 to 2003, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Acura CL VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 7 VINs the Acura CL uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | Y (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | A (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 5 (43%) · 6 (43%) · 7 (14%) | 3 distinct |
What a decoded Acura CL VIN gets you
Behind a Acura CL VIN: 468 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 11 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 468 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 16 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Acura CL
A Acura CL VIN normally opens with 19U; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Acura CL VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 11 recall campaigns and 468 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Acura CL.
What year is my CL by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2003 CL carries 3, a 2002 CL carries 2, a 2001 CL carries 1.
Where was my CL built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 468 dated Acura CL VINs it reads A 67%, L 31%, 0 1%.
What does position 4 mean on a Acura CL VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 7 Acura CL VINs here, Y is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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