Enter any 17-character Tahoe VIN to get the model year, series, engine and assembly plant, plus open recalls, free. Then compare it with 1,944,749 Tahoes in the EpicVIN database: 4.16 recall campaigns are on file per model year on average.
This is how the decoder reads a real Tahoe vehicle identification number (VIN): a 2002 sport utility vehicle [suv]/multipurpose vehicle [mpv] with the 5.3 L LM7 V8 engine, built in Arlington, Texas, United States. The 17 characters split into six zones; the table shows what each position encodes and what it says about this car.
| Position | Characters | What it encodes | This VIN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1GN | World Manufacturer Identifier | General Motors LLC, multipurpose passenger vehicle (mpv), built in the United States (usa) |
| 4–8 | EC13T | Vehicle descriptor: model, series, body, engine | Tahoe 1500 (1/2 Ton); Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]; 5.3 L LM7 V8 |
| 9 | 0 | Check digit | valid |
| 10 | 2 | Model year | 2002 |
| 11 | R | Assembly plant | Arlington, Texas, United States (usa) |
| 12–17 | 130570 | Serial number | sequential production number |
Model year 2002 has 6 vehicle recall campaigns on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); whether any is still open on this exact car is shown in the decode.
The example is a real VIN from the model's demo set on this page, not the fleet average.
Year 2002
Make Chevrolet
Model Tahoe
Fuel Type
Engine 5.3L V-Shaped LM7
Made in USA
Among the 1,944,749 Tahoe VINs in the EpicVIN database, the median last-reported odometer reading is 95,245 miles. For vehicles with two dated readings, mileage works out to about 13,070 miles a year, in line with the Chevrolet average. 16.6% (about 1 in 6) have been seen at a salvage auction (Copart or IAAI), well below the Chevrolet rate.
95,245 mi
median last-reported odometer
above Chevrolet average
13,070 mi/yr
based on 559,321 VINs with two dated readings
16.6%
about 1 in 6 · 323,251 VINs
below Chevrolet average
2015
average age 12.5 years
Heavy use (more miles per year than three in four passenger models we track) means mileage adds up quickly, so make sure the service history keeps up.
Source: EpicVIN Vehicle Data Research · Data as of · August 2026
9.9% of Tahoe VINs (about 1 in 10) show a salvage or junk title on an auction lot or listing. Odometer history is also worth checking: 1.4% of VINs have a later reading more than 1,000 miles below an earlier one, a possible rollback, less common than a salvage title. Another 1.4% were sold at auction with a “Not Actual” odometer flag.
| Record | Share of VINs | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Salvage title reported | 9.9% | Check on a VIN |
| Rebuilt title reported | 0.1% | Check on a VIN |
| Odometer rollback signs | 1.4% | Check on a VIN |
| “Not Actual” odometer brand | 1.4% | Check on a VIN |
Run the full report for this VIN
Title brands, odometer readings, auction and listing history, damage records and open recalls for the exact car.
A full EpicVIN report is $24.99 for one VIN, or a 3-day trial for $1 that renews at $49.99/month unless cancelled.
On average, 4.16 recall campaigns from NHTSA are on file for a Tahoe's model year: campaigns filed against a VIN's model year, averaged over all Tahoe VINs we track. That is well above the Chevrolet average and in line with the average across passenger vehicles in the EpicVIN database, so check the open-recall list carefully before buying. NHTSA lists 75 distinct vehicle campaigns across the 46 model years checked, with the most recorded for model year 2021 (16).
Only NHTSA vehicle recall campaigns for the model year are counted; aftermarket-equipment recalls that simply list the Tahoe as compatible (10 campaigns since 1981) are excluded.
| Model year | Campaigns | Components |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0 | - |
| 1982 | 0 | - |
| 1983 | 0 | - |
| 1984 | 0 | - |
| 1985 | 0 | - |
| 1986 | 0 | - |
| 1987 | 0 | - |
| 1988 | 0 | - |
| 1989 | 0 | - |
| 1990 | 0 | - |
| 1991 | 0 | - |
| 1992 | 0 | - |
| 1993 | 0 | - |
| 1994 | 2 | Visibility |
| 1995 | 6 | Visibility · Vehicle speed control · Air bags · Power train · Seat belts |
| 1996 | 3 | Visibility · Vehicle speed control |
| 1997 | 0 | - |
| 1998 | 2 | Steering · Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 1999 | 1 | Seat belts |
| 2000 | 6 | Service brakes, hydraulic · Structure · Air bags · Seats |
| 2001 | 5 | Structure · Service brakes, hydraulic · Seat belts · Seats |
| 2002 | 3 | Service brakes, hydraulic · Seats · Structure |
| 2003 | 4 | Seat belts · Service brakes, hydraulic · Structure |
| 2004 | 2 | Seat belts · Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2005 | 4 | Electrical system · Service brakes, hydraulic · Power train · Seat belts |
| 2006 | 2 | Electrical system · Steering |
| 2007 | 4 | Air bags · Electrical system |
| 2008 | 4 | Air bags · Electrical system |
| 2009 | 5 | Air bags · Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical system |
| 2010 | 3 | Air bags |
| 2011 | 5 | Air bags · Electrical system · Steering · Suspension |
| 2012 | 3 | Electrical system · Air bags |
| 2013 | 4 | Steering · Electrical system · Air bags |
| 2014 | 3 | Service brakes, hydraulic · Electrical system · Air bags |
| 2015 | 13 | Steering · Seat belts · Service brakes, hydraulic · Air bags · Electrical system · Power train |
| 2016 | 7 | Seat belts · Service brakes, hydraulic · Air bags · Suspension · Power train |
| 2017 | 4 | Service brakes, hydraulic · Air bags · Power train |
| 2018 | 3 | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2019 | 2 | Service brakes, hydraulic · Power train |
| 2020 | 2 | Fuel system, gasoline · Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2021 | 16 | Steering · Service brakes, hydraulic · Power train · Seat belts · Fuel system, gasoline · Seats · Air bags · Exterior lighting · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, diesel |
| 2022 | 4 | Seat belts · Exterior lighting · Engine and engine cooling · Power train |
| 2023 | 5 | Exterior lighting · Suspension · Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, diesel |
| 2024 | 3 | Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, diesel |
| 2025 | 1 | Wheels |
| 2026 | 2 | Power train · Wheels |
A campaign filed for a model year does not mean the repair is still open on a given car; the decode lists open recalls for the exact VIN.
Texas is where Tahoe VINs turn up most often - 14.1% of listings and lots - followed by California, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. 12.4% of these VINs have been seen in more than one state, in line with the Chevrolet average.
12.4%
share of VINs seen in more than one state
All Tahoe VINs in the EpicVIN database decode as SUVs (100%). 99.5% were built in the United States.
Body style
body class as decoded by NHTSA vPIC
Fuel
11.8% of VINs have no fuel type on record
Built in
Drivetrain
15.5% of VINs have no drive type on record
A Tahoe build sheet is not stored in the VIN itself. The 17 characters cover the model year, series, body, engine, and assembly plant, while factory options, packages, and the trim level are recorded by the manufacturer against the VIN. To check options, use a window sticker lookup by VIN (original stickers are mostly available for recent model years), while the decoder shows what is encoded in the VIN.
Figures on this page come from 1,944,749 unique Tahoe VINs in the EpicVIN database (296,760,071 VINs in total). Data as of August 29, 2026.
Salvage, title, odometer, damage, and theft figures come from auction and listing records: a proxy rather than title-registry data. Recall exposure is matched to model year using NHTSA campaigns and does not mean a specific car still has an open recall.
Percentages are based on all Tahoe VINs; one VIN may appear under several damage types or states. VIN codes and the example decode are checked against NHTSA vPIC. Recall campaigns come from the NHTSA recalls API.
Data as of · August 2026
Cite this page: EpicVIN, “Chevrolet Tahoe VIN Decoder and Fleet Statistics,” epicvin.com/vin-decoder/chevrolet/tahoe, data as of August 29, 2026.
The median last-reported odometer reading across 1,944,749 Tahoe VINs in the EpicVIN database is 95,245 miles. Vehicles with two dated readings average about 13,070 miles a year.
16.6% of Tahoe VINs we track (about 1 in 6) have shown up at salvage auctions. 9.9% carry a salvage or junk title on an auction lot or listing. These figures come from auction and listing records; the full report checks title history for the exact VIN.
More than most passenger models we track: on average 4.16 NHTSA recall campaigns are on file per Tahoe model year. NHTSA lists 75 distinct vehicle campaigns across 46 model years; whether one is still open on a specific car is shown in the decode.
Collision damage, on 10.7% of all Tahoe VINs we track, followed by all-over damage on 1%. Shares are based on all VINs, not just auctioned vehicles. One VIN may have more than one damage type.
Enter the 17-character VIN above. The decoder shows the model year, series, body, engine, assembly plant, and open NHTSA recalls. The full report adds title brands, odometer readings, and auction and listing history.
Look on the driver's side of the dashboard by the windshield, on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb, or on the title, registration, and insurance card.
Yes: decoding the model year, series, engine, plant, and open recalls costs nothing and needs no account. A full history report is $24.99 for one VIN.
Option packages are not built into the VIN itself. A window sticker lookup can pull the original sticker by VIN when the manufacturer still provides it, usually for newer model years.
No. The decoder shows what the VIN tells you about the vehicle from the factory. The history report shows what happened later, including title brands, odometer readings, auction sales, damage, and theft records.
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