A Lexus LS VIN opens with JTH (Japan). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often 5 (66%); a 2026 LS carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 18 recall campaigns and 41 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Lexus LS VIN
Here is a real 2025 Lexus LS VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JTHG5LGF7S5012856 — 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 LS VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 146 Lexus LS 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 | — | 133 | |
| JT8 | Japan | — | 13 |
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 LS
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Lexus LS has already happened — 1996 and 2026 share the character T. All 37 model years of the Lexus LS, 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 LS VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 146 VINs the Lexus LS uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | B (54%) · C (17%) · D (14%) · G (11%) · U (3%) · F (1%) | 6 distinct |
| 5 — series | L (45%) · N (23%) · 5 (18%) · H (6%) · U (3%) · F (3%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | F (97%) · E (3%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Lexus LS VIN gets you
Behind a Lexus LS VIN: 41 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 18 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 41 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 21 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 37 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Lexus LS
A Lexus LS 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 LS VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 18 recall campaigns and 41 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Lexus LS.
What year is my LS by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 LS carries T, a 2025 LS carries S, a 2024 LS 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 LS built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 41 dated Lexus LS VINs it reads 5 66%, 0 34%.
What does position 4 mean on a Lexus LS VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 146 Lexus LS VINs here, B is the most common character in position 4, on 54% of them.
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