Dodge Hornet VIN Decoder

Decode any Dodge Hornet VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 33 real Hornet VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2023–2025 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

A Dodge Hornet VIN opens with ZAC (Italy). Position 11, the plant, reads 3; a 2026 Hornet carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 7 recall campaigns and 54 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Dodge Hornet VIN

Here is a real 2025 Dodge Hornet VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMIZAC
4–8 · VDSPDFCW
9 · Check7
10 · YearS
11 · Plant3
12–17 · SerialA45219

VIN ZACPDFCW7S3A45219 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Dodge Hornet 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

Where Dodge Hornet VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 33 Dodge Hornet VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Dodge Hornet assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
ZACItaly—33100%
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · ForCar decoded VINs

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 Dodge Hornet

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Dodge Hornet has not yet outlived: its 4 years still map one-to-one. All 4 model years of the Dodge Hornet, 2023 to 2026, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Dodge Hornet VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
2026T—
2025S—
2024R—
2023P—
ROWS 4·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Dodge Hornet VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 33 VINs the Dodge Hornet uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Dodge Hornet VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyP (79%) · N (21%)2 distinct
5 — seriesD (100%)1 distinct
8 — engineW (79%) · N (21%)2 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Dodge Hornet VIN gets you

Behind a Dodge Hornet VIN: 54 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Dodge Hornet data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns7 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints54 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy26 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered4 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Dodge Hornet

A Dodge Hornet VIN normally opens with ZAC; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Dodge Hornet 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 Dodge Hornet VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 7 recall campaigns and 54 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Dodge Hornet.

What year is my Hornet by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2026 Hornet carries T, a 2025 Hornet carries S, a 2024 Hornet carries R.

Where was my Hornet built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 54 dated Dodge Hornet VINs it reads 3 100%.

What does position 4 mean on a Dodge Hornet VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 33 Dodge Hornet VINs here, P is the most common character in position 4, on 79% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 33 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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