A Chevrolet Cruze VIN opens with 1G1 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 4 codes, most often 7 (97%); a 2026 Cruze carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 26 recall campaigns and 3,371 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Chevrolet Cruze VIN
Here is a real 2019 Chevrolet Cruze VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G1BC5SM2K7110645 — 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 Cruze VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 158 Chevrolet Cruze 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 | — | 142 | |
| 3G1 | Mexico | — | 15 | |
| KL1 | South Korea | — | 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 Cruze
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Chevrolet Cruze has not yet outlived: its 17 years still map one-to-one. All 17 model years of the Chevrolet Cruze, 2010 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 | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Chevrolet Cruze VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 158 VINs the Chevrolet Cruze uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | P (64%) · B (36%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | C (36%) · E (30%) · G (9%) · F (8%) · A (6%) · H (4%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | B (39%) · M (35%) · H (9%) · 9 (6%) · C (6%) · G (3%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Chevrolet Cruze VIN gets you
Behind a Chevrolet Cruze VIN: 3,371 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 26 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 3,371 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 34 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 9 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 17 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Chevrolet Cruze
A Chevrolet Cruze 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 Cruze VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 26 recall campaigns and 3,371 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Chevrolet Cruze.
What year is my Cruze by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Cruze carries T, a 2025 Cruze carries S, a 2024 Cruze carries R.
Where was my Cruze built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 3,366 dated Chevrolet Cruze VINs it reads 7 97%, S 2%, 2 0%, 1 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Chevrolet Cruze VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 158 Chevrolet Cruze VINs here, P is the most common character in position 4, on 64% of them.
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