A Chevrolet Impala VIN opens with 2G1 (Canada). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often 9 (67%); a 2026 Impala carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 39 recall campaigns and 8,463 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Chevrolet Impala VIN
Here is a real 2020 Chevrolet Impala VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 2G11Z5S39L9103497 — 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 Impala VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 171 Chevrolet Impala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G1 | Canada | — | 135 | |
| 1G1 | United States | — | 36 |
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 Impala
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Chevrolet Impala has already happened — 1985 and 2015 share the character F. All 32 model years of the Chevrolet Impala, 1981 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 | 1985 |
| 2014 | E | 1984 |
| 2013 | D | 1983 |
| 2012 | C | 1982 |
| 2011 | B | 1981 |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1985 | F | 2015 |
| 1984 | E | 2014 |
| 1983 | D | 2013 |
To tell the two apart on a car or light truck, look at position 7: a number for 1980–2009 models, a letter from 2010 on.
Body and engine characters we see on Chevrolet Impala VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 171 VINs the Chevrolet Impala uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | 1 (53%) · W (47%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | B (13%) · 2 (13%) · 0 (12%) · F (8%) · Z (7%) · D (6%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 3 (59%) · K (19%) · L (4%) · E (4%) · C (4%) · N (4%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Chevrolet Impala VIN gets you
Behind a Chevrolet Impala VIN: 8,463 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 39 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 8,463 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 9 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 32 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Chevrolet Impala
A Chevrolet Impala VIN normally opens with 2G1; 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 Impala VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 39 recall campaigns and 8,463 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Chevrolet Impala.
What year is my Impala by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Impala carries T, a 2025 Impala carries S, a 2024 Impala carries R. A 1985 and a 2015 share F; position 7 tells them apart, a number for 1980–2009 and a letter from 2010 on.
Where was my Impala built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 8,435 dated Chevrolet Impala VINs it reads 9 67%, 1 29%, U 4%, F 0% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Chevrolet Impala VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 171 Chevrolet Impala VINs here, 1 is the most common character in position 4, on 53% of them.
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