Chevrolet Avalanche VIN Decoder

Decode any Chevrolet Avalanche VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 72 real Avalanche VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2002–2013 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

A Chevrolet Avalanche VIN opens with 3GN (Mexico). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often G (99%); a 2013 Avalanche carries D in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 21 recall campaigns and 1,705 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Chevrolet Avalanche VIN

Here is a real 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMI3GN
4–8 · VDSTKGE7
9 · Check9
10 · YearD
11 · PlantG
12–17 · Serial260072

VIN 3GNTKGE79DG260072 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Chevrolet Avalanche VIN structure
PositionSectionWhat it tells you
1–3WMIWorld Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type.
4–8VDSVehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series.
9Check digitA calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN.
10Model yearOne character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z.
11PlantThe assembly plant that built the car.
12–17SerialSequential production number of this exact vehicle.
ROWS 6·SOURCE ISO 3779 / NHTSA vPIC

Where Chevrolet Avalanche VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 72 Chevrolet Avalanche VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Chevrolet Avalanche assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
3GNMexico—72100%
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · ForCar decoded VINs

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 Chevrolet Avalanche

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Chevrolet Avalanche has not yet outlived: its 12 years still map one-to-one. All 12 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche, 2002 to 2013, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Chevrolet Avalanche VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
2013D—
2012C—
2011B—
2010A—
20099—
20088—
20077—
20066—
20055—
20044—
20033—
20022—
ROWS 12·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Chevrolet Avalanche VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 72 VINs the Chevrolet Avalanche uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Chevrolet Avalanche VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyE (44%) · F (25%) · T (18%) · G (6%) · M (4%) · V (3%)6 distinct
5 — seriesK (76%) · C (24%)2 distinct
8 — engine3 (25%) · T (24%) · 0 (18%) · 7 (14%) · G (6%) · Z (6%)6 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Chevrolet Avalanche VIN gets you

Behind a Chevrolet Avalanche VIN: 1,705 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Chevrolet Avalanche data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns21 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints1,705 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy16 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered12 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Chevrolet Avalanche

A Chevrolet Avalanche VIN normally opens with 3GN; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Chevrolet Avalanche VIN locations
WhereHow to see itWhy it matters
Dashboard, driver sideThrough the windshield, bottom cornerEasiest to check before you touch anything
Driver door jambOpen the door, sticker on the pillarAlso lists tire pressures and build date
Under the hoodFirewall or strut tower plateSurvives a windshield replacement
Title and insurancePaper documentsMust match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel
ROWS 4·SOURCE ForCar
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Frequently asked questions

Is this Chevrolet Avalanche VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 21 recall campaigns and 1,705 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Chevrolet Avalanche.

What year is my Avalanche by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2013 Avalanche carries D, a 2012 Avalanche carries C, a 2011 Avalanche carries B.

Where was my Avalanche built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,702 dated Chevrolet Avalanche VINs it reads G 99%, 6 0%, 9 0%.

What does position 4 mean on a Chevrolet Avalanche VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 72 Chevrolet Avalanche VINs here, E is the most common character in position 4, on 44% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 72 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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