A Chevrolet Cavalier VIN opens with 1G1 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often 7 (85%); a 2005 Cavalier carries 5 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 50 recall campaigns and 3,474 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Chevrolet Cavalier VIN
Here is a real 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G1JC52F447107455 — 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 Chevrolet Cavalier VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 17 Chevrolet Cavalier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G1 | United States | — | 14 | |
| 4G1 | United States | — | 2 | |
| 3G1 | Mexico | — | 1 |
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 Cavalier
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Chevrolet Cavalier has not yet outlived: its 25 years still map one-to-one. All 25 model years of the Chevrolet Cavalier, 1981 to 2005, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 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 | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
| 1982 | C | — |
| 1981 | B | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Chevrolet Cavalier VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 17 VINs the Chevrolet Cavalier uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | J (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | C (65%) · F (24%) · E (6%) · H (6%) | 4 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 4 (41%) · F (29%) · T (24%) · 1 (6%) | 4 distinct |
What a decoded Chevrolet Cavalier VIN gets you
Behind a Chevrolet Cavalier VIN: 3,474 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 50 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 3,474 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 24 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 25 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Chevrolet Cavalier
A Chevrolet Cavalier VIN normally opens with 1G1; 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 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 50 recall campaigns and 3,474 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Chevrolet Cavalier.
What year is my Cavalier by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2005 Cavalier carries 5, a 2004 Cavalier carries 4, a 2003 Cavalier carries 3.
Where was my Cavalier built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 3,421 dated Chevrolet Cavalier VINs it reads 7 85%, S 5%, M 5%, B 2% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Chevrolet Cavalier VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 17 Chevrolet Cavalier VINs here, J is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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