A GMC Safari VIN opens with 1GK (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 7 codes, most often B (95%); a 2005 Safari carries 5 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 18 recall campaigns and 882 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a GMC Safari VIN
Here is a real 2005 GMC Safari VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1GKEL19X25B501362 — 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 GMC Safari VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 11 GMC Safari 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GK | United States | — | 9 | |
| 1GT | United States | — | 1 | |
| 1GD | United States | — | 1 |
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 GMC Safari
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the GMC Safari has not yet outlived: its 21 years still map one-to-one. All 21 model years of the GMC Safari, 1985 to 2005, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
Body and engine characters we see on GMC Safari VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 11 VINs the GMC Safari uses 6 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | E (55%) · D (45%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | L (55%) · M (45%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | X (55%) · W (45%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded GMC Safari VIN gets you
Behind a GMC Safari VIN: 882 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 18 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 882 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 18 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 21 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a GMC Safari
A GMC Safari VIN normally opens with 1GK; 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 GMC Safari VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 18 recall campaigns and 882 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the GMC Safari.
What year is my Safari by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2005 Safari carries 5, a 2004 Safari carries 4, a 2003 Safari carries 3.
Where was my Safari built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 867 dated GMC Safari VINs it reads B 95%, 5 2%, 8 1%, 1 1% and 3 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a GMC Safari VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 11 GMC Safari VINs here, E is the most common character in position 4, on 55% of them.
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