A Saturn Vue VIN opens with 5GZ (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 5 codes, most often S (98%); a 2010 Vue carries A in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 7 recall campaigns and 1,911 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Saturn Vue VIN
Here is a real 2010 Saturn Vue VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 3GSALAE19AS609511 — 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 Saturn Vue VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 22 Saturn Vue 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5GZ | United States | — | 13 | |
| 3GS | Mexico | — | 9 |
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 Saturn Vue
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Saturn Vue has not yet outlived: its 8 years still map one-to-one. All 8 model years of the Saturn Vue, 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 Saturn Vue VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 22 VINs the Saturn Vue uses 11 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | C (77%) · D (18%) · A (5%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | Z (59%) · L (41%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 4 (36%) · D (23%) · 7 (14%) · P (14%) · N (9%) · 1 (5%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Saturn Vue VIN gets you
Behind a Saturn Vue VIN: 1,911 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 7 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,911 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
Where to find the VIN on a Saturn Vue
A Saturn Vue VIN normally opens with 5GZ; 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 Saturn Vue VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 7 recall campaigns and 1,911 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Saturn Vue.
What year is my Vue by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2010 Vue carries A, a 2009 Vue carries 9, a 2008 Vue carries 8.
Where was my Vue built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,897 dated Saturn Vue VINs it reads S 98%, 5 1%, 8 0%, D 0% and 1 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Saturn Vue VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 22 Saturn Vue VINs here, C is the most common character in position 4, on 77% of them.
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