A Pontiac Vibe VIN opens with 5Y2 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often Z (99%); a 2010 Vibe carries A in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 22 recall campaigns and 1,639 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Pontiac Vibe VIN
Here is a real 2010 Pontiac Vibe VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5Y2SP6E06AZ414459 — 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 Vibe VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 35 Pontiac Vibe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5Y2 | United States | — | 35 |
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 Vibe
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Pontiac Vibe has not yet outlived: its 8 years still map one-to-one. All 8 model years of the Pontiac Vibe, 2003 to 2010, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Pontiac Vibe VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 35 VINs the Pontiac Vibe uses 8 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | S (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | L (51%) · P (29%) · M (9%) · R (9%) · N (3%) | 5 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 8 (57%) · 0 (43%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Pontiac Vibe VIN gets you
Behind a Pontiac Vibe VIN: 1,639 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 22 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,639 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 29 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
Where to find the VIN on a Pontiac Vibe
A Pontiac Vibe VIN normally opens with 5Y2; 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 Vibe VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 22 recall campaigns and 1,639 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Pontiac Vibe.
What year is my Vibe by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2010 Vibe carries A, a 2009 Vibe carries 9, a 2008 Vibe carries 8.
Where was my Vibe built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,639 dated Pontiac Vibe VINs it reads Z 99%, 2 1%, 4 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Pontiac Vibe VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 35 Pontiac Vibe VINs here, S is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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