A Lexus ES VIN opens with JTH (Japan). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often U (73%); a 2026 ES carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 24 recall campaigns and 74 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Lexus ES VIN
Here is a real 2026 Lexus ES VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JTHBCCA11T2003201 — 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 Lexus ES VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 376 Lexus ES 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JTH | Japan | — | 214 | |
| 58A | United States | — | 148 | |
| JT8 | Japan | — | 14 |
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 Lexus ES
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Lexus ES has already happened — 1996 and 2026 share the character T. All 37 model years of the Lexus ES, 1990 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | 1996 |
| 2025 | S | 1995 |
| 2024 | R | 1994 |
| 2023 | P | 1993 |
| 2022 | N | 1992 |
| 2021 | M | 1991 |
| 2020 | L | 1990 |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
To tell the two apart on a car or light truck, look at position 7: a number for 1980–2009 models, a letter from 2010 on.
Body and engine characters we see on Lexus ES VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 376 VINs the Lexus ES uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | B (70%) · D (16%) · E (5%) · F (5%) · J (2%) · C (1%) | 6 distinct |
| 5 — series | K (33%) · Z (22%) · A (13%) · J (10%) · W (8%) · F (7%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | G (63%) · 1 (38%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Lexus ES VIN gets you
Behind a Lexus ES VIN: 74 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 24 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 74 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 28 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 7 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 37 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Lexus ES
A Lexus ES VIN normally opens with JTH; 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 Lexus ES VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 24 recall campaigns and 74 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Lexus ES.
What year is my ES by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 ES carries T, a 2025 ES carries S, a 2024 ES carries R. A 1996 and a 2026 share T; position 7 tells them apart, a number for 1980–2009 and a letter from 2010 on.
Where was my ES built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 74 dated Lexus ES VINs it reads U 73%, 2 24%.
What does position 4 mean on a Lexus ES VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 376 Lexus ES VINs here, B is the most common character in position 4, on 70% of them.
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