Chevrolet Metro VIN Decoder

Decode any Chevrolet Metro VIN free — model year, assembly plant, engine and body codes, then recalls and owner complaints for the same car.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 62 models · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often 6 (88%). A 2001 Metro carries 1 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 0 recall campaigns and 8 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Chevrolet Metro VIN

Every Chevrolet Metro VIN follows the same 17-character layout:

FIG.01·Chevrolet Metro 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

Model-year codes for the Chevrolet Metro

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Chevrolet Metro has not yet outlived: its 4 years still map one-to-one. All 4 model years of the Chevrolet Metro, 1998 to 2001, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Chevrolet Metro VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
20011—
2000Y—
1999X—
1998W—
ROWS 4·SOURCE ISO 3779

What a decoded Chevrolet Metro VIN gets you

Behind a Chevrolet Metro VIN: 8 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Chevrolet Metro data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Owner complaints8 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy37 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered4 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Chevrolet Metro

Four places on a Chevrolet Metro carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.

FIG.06·Chevrolet Metro 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 Metro VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows the recalls and 8 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Chevrolet Metro.

What year is my Metro by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2001 Metro carries 1, a 2000 Metro carries Y, a 1999 Metro carries X.

Where was my Metro built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 8 dated Chevrolet Metro VINs it reads 6 88%, 7 13%.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 0 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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