Dodge RAM 50 VIN Decoder

Decode any Dodge RAM 50 VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 1 real RAM 50 VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 1988–1988 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

A Dodge RAM 50 VIN opens with JB7 (Japan). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often P (75%); a 1993 RAM 50 carries P in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 1 recall campaign and 24 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Dodge RAM 50 VIN

Here is a real 1988 Dodge RAM 50 VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMIJB7
4–8 · VDSFM45E
9 · Check0
10 · YearJ
11 · PlantP
12–17 · Serial068284

VIN JB7FM45E0JP068284 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Dodge RAM 50 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 RAM 50 VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 1 Dodge RAM 50 VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Dodge RAM 50 assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
JB7Japan—1100%
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 RAM 50

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Dodge RAM 50 has not yet outlived: its 7 years still map one-to-one. All 7 model years of the Dodge RAM 50, 1987 to 1993, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Dodge RAM 50 VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
1993P—
1992N—
1991M—
1990L—
1989K—
1988J—
1987H—
ROWS 7·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Dodge RAM 50 VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 1 VINs the Dodge RAM 50 uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Dodge RAM 50 VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyF (100%)1 distinct
5 — seriesM (100%)1 distinct
8 — engineE (100%)1 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Dodge RAM 50 VIN gets you

Behind a Dodge RAM 50 VIN: 24 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Dodge RAM 50 data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns1 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints24 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy22 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered7 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Dodge RAM 50

A Dodge RAM 50 VIN normally opens with JB7; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Dodge RAM 50 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 RAM 50 VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 1 recall campaign and 24 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Dodge RAM 50.

What year is my RAM 50 by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 1993 RAM 50 carries P, a 1992 RAM 50 carries N, a 1991 RAM 50 carries M.

Where was my RAM 50 built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 24 dated Dodge RAM 50 VINs it reads P 75%, S 13%, K 8%.

What does position 4 mean on a Dodge RAM 50 VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 1 Dodge RAM 50 VINs here, F is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 1 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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