A Pontiac Bonneville VIN opens with 1G2 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 4 codes, most often 4 (67%); a 2002 Bonneville carries 2 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 11 recall campaigns and 1,214 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Pontiac Bonneville VIN
Here is a real 2002 Pontiac Bonneville VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G2HY54K424139973 — 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 Pontiac Bonneville VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 5 Pontiac Bonneville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G2 | United States | — | 4 | |
| 2G2 | Canada | — | 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 Pontiac Bonneville
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Pontiac Bonneville has not yet outlived: its 22 years still map one-to-one. All 22 model years of the Pontiac Bonneville, 1981 to 2002, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
| 1982 | C | — |
| 1981 | B | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Pontiac Bonneville VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 5 VINs the Pontiac Bonneville uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | H (80%) · A (20%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | Z (40%) · N (20%) · X (20%) · Y (20%) | 4 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 1 (40%) · K (40%) · S (20%) | 3 distinct |
What a decoded Pontiac Bonneville VIN gets you
Behind a Pontiac Bonneville VIN: 1,214 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 11 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,214 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
Where to find the VIN on a Pontiac Bonneville
A Pontiac Bonneville VIN normally opens with 1G2; 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 Pontiac Bonneville VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 11 recall campaigns and 1,214 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Pontiac Bonneville.
What year is my Bonneville by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2002 Bonneville carries 2, a 2001 Bonneville carries 1, a 2000 Bonneville carries Y.
Where was my Bonneville built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,210 dated Pontiac Bonneville VINs it reads 4 67%, H 28%, U 4%, 2 1%.
What does position 4 mean on a Pontiac Bonneville VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 5 Pontiac Bonneville VINs here, H is the most common character in position 4, on 80% of them.
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