a 1997 Stratus carries V in position 10.
Got a VIN from another make? The free VIN decoder reads any 17-character VIN, whatever built it.
How to read a Chrysler Stratus VIN
Every Chrysler Stratus VIN follows the same 17-character layout:
| 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. |
Model-year codes for the Chrysler Stratus
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Chrysler Stratus has not yet outlived: its 6 years still map one-to-one. All 6 model years of the Chrysler Stratus, 1984 to 1997, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
What a decoded Chrysler Stratus VIN gets you
What a decoded VIN opens up:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Model years covered | 6 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Chrysler Stratus
Four places on a Chrysler Stratus carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.
| 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 Chrysler Stratus VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows the recalls NHTSA holds on the Chrysler Stratus.
What year is my Stratus by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1997 Stratus carries V, a 1996 Stratus carries T, a 1995 Stratus carries S.
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