Honda del Sol VIN Decoder

Decode any Honda del Sol VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 4 real del Sol VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 1994–1997 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

A Honda del Sol VIN opens with JHM (Japan). A 1997 del Sol carries V in position 10.

How to read a Honda del Sol VIN

Here is a real 1997 Honda del Sol VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMIJHM
4–8 · VDSEH616
9 · Check1
10 · YearV
11 · PlantS
12–17 · Serial004458

VIN JHMEH6161VS004458 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Honda del Sol 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 Honda del Sol VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 4 Honda del Sol VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Honda del Sol assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
JHMJapanPassenger Car4100%
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 Honda del Sol

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Honda del Sol has not yet outlived: its 4 years still map one-to-one. All 4 model years of the Honda del Sol, 1994 to 1997, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Honda del Sol VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
1997V—
1996T—
1995S—
1994R—
ROWS 4·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Honda del Sol VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 4 VINs the Honda del Sol uses 6 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Honda del Sol VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyE (100%)1 distinct
5 — seriesG (50%) · H (50%)2 distinct
8 — engine6 (50%) · 7 (25%) · 4 (25%)3 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Honda del Sol VIN gets you

What a decoded VIN opens up:

FIG.05·Honda del Sol data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns6 campaignsNHTSA
Fuel economy32 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered4 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Honda del Sol

A Honda del Sol VIN normally opens with JHM; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Honda del Sol 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 Honda del Sol VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 6 recall campaigns NHTSA holds on the Honda del Sol.

What year is my del Sol by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 1997 del Sol carries V, a 1996 del Sol carries T, a 1995 del Sol carries S.

What does position 4 mean on a Honda del Sol VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 4 Honda del Sol VINs here, E 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 4 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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