A Pontiac Sunfire VIN opens with 3G2 (Mexico). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often 7 (82%); a 2005 Sunfire carries 5 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 21 recall campaigns and 847 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Pontiac Sunfire VIN
Here is a real 2005 Pontiac Sunfire VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 3G2JB12FX5S146772 — 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 Sunfire VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 6 Pontiac Sunfire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G2 | Mexico | — | 4 | |
| 1G2 | United States | — | 2 |
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 Sunfire
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Pontiac Sunfire has not yet outlived: its 5 years still map one-to-one. All 5 model years of the Pontiac Sunfire, 2001 to 2005, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Pontiac Sunfire VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 6 VINs the Pontiac Sunfire uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | J (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | B (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | F (50%) · 4 (33%) · T (17%) | 3 distinct |
What a decoded Pontiac Sunfire VIN gets you
Behind a Pontiac Sunfire VIN: 847 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 21 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 847 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 25 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
Where to find the VIN on a Pontiac Sunfire
A Pontiac Sunfire VIN normally opens with 3G2; 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 Sunfire VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 21 recall campaigns and 847 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Pontiac Sunfire.
What year is my Sunfire by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2005 Sunfire carries 5, a 2004 Sunfire carries 4, a 2003 Sunfire carries 3.
Where was my Sunfire built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 840 dated Pontiac Sunfire VINs it reads 7 82%, S 13%, B 5%.
What does position 4 mean on a Pontiac Sunfire VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 6 Pontiac Sunfire VINs here, J is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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