Mazda VIN Decoder

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Mazda VIN Check: What is a Mazda VIN?

Mazda started out as a manufacturer of three wheel mini-trucks, shifting to traditional cars in the early 1960s. Looking for a way to stand out, they licensed NSU’s rotary engine and turned it into a race-winning powerplant. The success of the Cosmo in endurance racing helped the company build a worldwide export network. They built on this success with the rotary-powered RX-7 and a series of practical piston-powered family vehicles. From the 1970s to the 2010s, Mazda worked closely with Ford, co-developing cars and trucks. When Ford sold off the last of its shares in 2015, Mazda shifted their attention to technology development and partnerships with Toyota and Subaru. Today, they’re known for their sports-oriented sedans and crossovers, as well as the MX-5, the world’s most popular roadster.

Whether you want a track day car or a fun family hauler, Mazda makes the right vehicle for you. However, like any car, buying one of these vehicles is a big investment. When you get a VIN check from EpicVIN, you’ll learn important information that can help you find the right car for you. Our site can decode the VIN number, turning into readable information. Want to know more? You can also order a full VIN report, which will tell you the history of the vehicle. This can help you avoid cars with salvage titles, unpaid liens and other mechanical and legal problems.

List of Mazda Models

Mazda VIN Number Lookup

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is an identifier issued by Mazda on every vehicle they make. This code is more than a serial number. It includes information on where the car was built and the equipment fitted to it at the factory. This helps you identify obvious errors in sale listings, and spot modifications made since the car rolled off of the factory line.

For some buyers, this is useful for finding the exact model you want. For example, if you’re buying a Miata, there are certain gearbox and differential combinations that handle spirited driving better than others. For other buyers, it helps you identify changes that make the car seem more valuable than it really is. There’s a big difference between factory-installed equipment and parts added haphazardly to boost value.

Where to Search for the VIN?

Mazda applies the VIN to several parts of their cars and crossovers. You should be able to find this code in at least a few of these locations:

  • Look at the dash through the windshield. You should see a small VIN plate next to the driver’s door.
  • Open the driver’s door. Look for a large white sticker near the bottom of the door pillar. The VIN is printed on this sticker.
  • Open the hood and look at the passenger’s side inner fender. You should see the VIN printed on a small white sticker at the top of the fender, just ahead of the strut tower. If you don’t see it there, look at the firewall directly behind the passenger’s side strut tower. If you’re looking at an MX-5 or a Miata, this sticker may be on the right side of the firewall, somewhere close to the clutch and brake master cylinders. On most Mazdas, the VIN is also stamped into the top center of the firewall.

The VIN is also inside the cabin of most Mazdas. Slide the front passenger’s seat all the way back. You will see a small carpet flap sticking up. Tilt this flap back to uncover the VIN stamped into the floor.

Since VINs are unique for each vehicle, they’re also used on official records. You can find this code on titles, insurance paperwork, window stickers and service receipts.

Where to find VIN on a vehicle?
🟡 Basic Report Cost: Free
🟡 Mazda VIN Database: 8.3M+
🟡 Car-on-Sale Photos: Up to 100
🟡 Full Report: Extensive History

Comprehensive VIN Decoder Guide

Here’s what each of the digits in Mazda’s VIN numbers can tell you about a vehicle.

VIN Decode Guide?

The first three digits of the VIN identify the area where the vehicle was built. There are 7 codes you’ll find on North American market Mazdas.

American-built Mazdas:

CodeMarket
1YV, 4F2, 4F4Built by Ford
1ZWBuilt by AutoAlliance International
JM1, JM3, JM7Japanese-built Mazdas
JMZMazdas built in Thailand.

The 4th digit identifies the vehicle’s GVWR and safety equipment. The GVWR is the total combined weight of the vehicle and its maximum cargo capacity.

CodeEquipment
CSide airbags, up to 5,000 lbs.
DSide airbags, 5,000 lbs. or more
YFront airbags only, up to 5,000 lbs.
ZFront airbags only, 5,000 lbs. or more
F, H, E, T and UAlso used in this position, but the meanings of these letters change frequently.

The 4th and 5th digits together identify the vehicle model. However, the codes for the fifth digit change from year to year, making it hard to decode. It’s much easier to match the model to the VIN using our online decoder.

The 6th digit is the safety restraint system. A car with a “1” has side airbags, while a car with a “2” doesn’t.

The 7th digit is the body style. H, J, K, L, M and N are used for 5 door vehicles, including wagons, hatchbacks and SUVs. S, T, U, V, W and X are used for four-door sedans.

The 8th digit is the engine. Here are some of the codes used on recent models:

CodeEngine
13.0 V6
32.3 I4 turbo
A3.7 V6
B2.0 I4
C3.5 V6 (Tribute) or 2.3 I4 (Mazda 6)
С2.3 I4
D3.0 V6
F2.0 I4
Y3.5 V6 (CX-9)
2.3 I4Z

Digit 9 is used for error correction, and has no meaning by itself.

Digit 10 is the year. This cycles through 30 numbers and letters. For the 2023 model year, this character is “P”.

CodeCountryCodeCountryCodeCountryCodeCountry
E1984R199442004E2014
F1985S199552005F2015
G1986T199662006G2016
H1987V199772007H2017
J1988W199882008J2018
K1989X199992009K2019
L1990Y2000A2010L2020
M199112001B2011M2021
N199222002C2012N2022
P199332003D2013P2023

Digit 11 is the manufacturing location. Most models are built in one of three plants:

CodePALNT
0Hiroshima, Japan
1Hofu, Japan
KKansas City, Missouri

The rest of the VIN is the car’s serial number.

Mazda VIN Samples

What can you learn about a car using our search system? Here are some real world examples:

  • JM1GL1VM4M1605064: 2021 Mazda 6 2.5 liter with cylinder deactivation
  • JM3KFABM2J1401971: 2018 CX-5 2.5 liter with cylinder deactivation
  • JM1NC2MF0D0229257: 2013 MX-5 2.0 liter
  • 2006 MAZDA Mazda6

    2006 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C065M70498
    Listed for sale on:
    11/24/2010
    Price:
    $8,025
    Odometer:
    232,469 km
  • 2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C035M26481
    Listed for sale on:
    02/15/2015
    Price:
    $4,950
    Odometer:
    249,697 km
  • 2005 MAZDA Mazda6

    2005 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C155M50470
    Listed for sale on:
    10/12/2016
    Price:
    $0
    Odometer:
    233,567 km
  • 2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C045N64295
    Listed for sale on:
    07/31/2017
    Price:
    $0
    Odometer:
    256,218 km
  • 2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C145N90453
    Listed for sale on:
    03/21/2012
    Price:
    $1,550
    Odometer:
    150,525 km
  • 2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C045N35525
    Listed for sale on:
    09/25/2015
    Price:
    $7,900
    Odometer:
    190,288 km
  • 2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C035M31566
    Listed for sale on:
    04/11/2016
    Price:
    $900
    Odometer:
    206,142 km
  • 2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C135M07566
    Listed for sale on:
    07/20/2020
    Price:
    $1,733
    Odometer:
    318,371 km
  • 2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C145N22718
    Listed for sale on:
    04/05/2017
    Price:
    $500
    Odometer:
    315,817 km
  • 2006 MAZDA Mazda6

    2006 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C065M25478
    Listed for sale on:
    02/24/2011
    Price:
    $10,575
    Odometer:
    0 km
  • 2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    2003 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C135M05820
    Listed for sale on:
    12/02/2015
    Price:
    $0
    Odometer:
    240,799 km
  • 2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    2004 MAZDA Mazda6

    VIN 1YVFP80C145N24680
    Listed for sale on:
    07/31/2015
    Price:
    $0
    Odometer:
    211,440 km

Frequently Asked Questions

Locations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, there are three places you can find the code on most vehicles:

- Look through the windshield at the dashboard. On the driver’s side, you should see a small metal plate with the number stamped into it.
- Open the driver’s door. Look at the front and side of the door pillar for an I.D. sticker. It usually has the manufacturer’s logo on it. The code should be on this sticker.
- Open the hood. You may see a sticker on the firewall or near the passenger’s side strut tower. Some cars have the number engraved in one of these areas.

Since this number is used to identify the vehicle on official documents, you can also find it on the title, the window sticker, and on insurance policies.

We also decode numbers for RVs, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. If you need to decode an RV number, make sure it’s the one issued by the chassis manufacturer, not the RV outfitter.

No. Canadian and Mexican cars usually use the same format. Other countries use their own formats.

It’s up to the manufacturer to determine what they want to include for some parts of the number. For example, some companies don’t include information about transmissions or trim levels.

Usually, no. A few manufacturers stamp the code into the engine. If the VINs on the engine and car match, then it’s the original engine. On most vehicles, there isn’t anything that ties an engine to a specific vehicle. At most, looking up the vehicle on our website will tell you if a different type of engine was installed. For example, if someone swaps a V8 into a Ford Mustang, our site will tell you it originally came with a V6.

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