A Cadillac ELR VIN opens with 1G6 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, reads U; a 2026 ELR carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 2 recall campaigns and 19 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Cadillac ELR VIN
Here is a real 2016 Cadillac ELR VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G6RL1E44GU137500 — 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 ELR VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 3 Cadillac ELR 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 | — | 3 |
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 ELR
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Cadillac ELR has not yet outlived: its 13 years still map one-to-one. All 13 model years of the Cadillac ELR, 2014 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Cadillac ELR VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 3 VINs the Cadillac ELR uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | R (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | N (33%) · R (33%) · L (33%) | 3 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 4 (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded Cadillac ELR VIN gets you
Behind a Cadillac ELR VIN: 19 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 2 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 19 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 13 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Cadillac ELR
A Cadillac ELR 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 ELR VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 2 recall campaigns and 19 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Cadillac ELR.
What year is my ELR by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 ELR carries T, a 2025 ELR carries S, a 2024 ELR carries R.
Where was my ELR built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 19 dated Cadillac ELR VINs it reads U 100%.
What does position 4 mean on a Cadillac ELR VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 3 Cadillac ELR VINs here, R is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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