A Cadillac CTS VIN opens with 1G6 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often 0 (99%); a 2019 CTS carries K in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 27 recall campaigns and 1,888 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Cadillac CTS VIN
Here is a real 2019 Cadillac CTS VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G6A15S65K0101556 — 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 Cadillac CTS VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 120 Cadillac CTS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G6 | United States | — | 120 |
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 Cadillac CTS
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Cadillac CTS has not yet outlived: its 17 years still map one-to-one. All 17 model years of the Cadillac CTS, 2003 to 2019, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Cadillac CTS VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 120 VINs the Cadillac CTS uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | D (53%) · A (48%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | P (13%) · X (11%) · 1 (10%) · R (10%) · V (9%) · S (8%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | X (18%) · 3 (15%) · 6 (11%) · S (11%) · 7 (10%) · P (7%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Cadillac CTS VIN gets you
Behind a Cadillac CTS VIN: 1,888 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 27 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,888 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 8 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 17 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Cadillac CTS
A Cadillac CTS VIN normally opens with 1G6; 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 Cadillac CTS VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 27 recall campaigns and 1,888 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Cadillac CTS.
What year is my CTS by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2019 CTS carries K, a 2018 CTS carries J, a 2017 CTS carries H.
Where was my CTS built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,888 dated Cadillac CTS VINs it reads 0 99%, U 0%, 1 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Cadillac CTS VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 120 Cadillac CTS VINs here, D is the most common character in position 4, on 53% of them.
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