Mitsubishi Sigma VIN Decoder

Decode any Mitsubishi Sigma VIN free — model year, assembly plant, engine and body codes, then recalls and owner complaints for the same car.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 26 models · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

Most Mitsubishi Sigma VINs open with JA3 (Japan, 1990). Position 11, the plant, reads Y; a 1990 Sigma carries L in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 1 recall campaign and 1 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Mitsubishi Sigma VIN

Every Mitsubishi Sigma VIN follows the same 17-character layout:

FIG.01·Mitsubishi Sigma 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

Mitsubishi Sigma VIN prefixes, and when each one was used

Every Mitsubishi Sigma we have on record, all from 1990, opens with the same three characters, JA3:

FIG.02·Mitsubishi Sigma VIN prefixes by year
VIN starts withYears seenBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on record
JA31990–1990JapanPassenger Car1
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · NHTSA complaint VINs

Counted from 1 dated Mitsubishi Sigma VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.

Model-year codes for the Mitsubishi Sigma

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Mitsubishi Sigma has not yet outlived: its 2 years still map one-to-one. All 2 model years of the Mitsubishi Sigma, 1989 to 1990, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Mitsubishi Sigma VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
1990L—
1989K—
ROWS 2·SOURCE ISO 3779

What a decoded Mitsubishi Sigma VIN gets you

Behind a Mitsubishi Sigma VIN: 1 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Mitsubishi Sigma data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns1 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints1 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy18 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered2 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Mitsubishi Sigma

Four places on a Mitsubishi Sigma carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.

FIG.06·Mitsubishi Sigma 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 Mitsubishi Sigma VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 1 recall campaign and 1 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Mitsubishi Sigma.

What year is my Sigma by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 1990 Sigma carries L, a 1989 Sigma carries K.

Where was my Sigma built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 1 dated Mitsubishi Sigma VINs it reads Y 100%.

What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?

On a Mitsubishi Sigma check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with JA3. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 0 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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