Acura VIN Decoder: Free VIN Lookup
Decode any 17-character Acura VIN to see year, model, engine, and build plant, instantly, free, no signup.
Enter a 17-character Acura VIN
For full vehicle history (title brands, salvage, recalls, market value), get the report for $9.99
An Acura VIN is a 17-character code identifying where and how the vehicle was built. Japan-built Acuras start with JH4; U.S.-built models start with 19U, 19V, or 5J8; Canadian-built models start with 2HN. Decoding is free, but a decode does not show title, accident, or odometer history.
Example: decoding an Acura VIN
Sample pattern: 5J8YE1H4•PL••••••
| Positions | Characters | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 5J8 | Acura light truck/SUV, USA |
| 4–8 | YE1H4 | MDX AWD platform; body/trim/restraints |
| 9 | • | Check digit |
| 10 | P | 2023 model year |
| 11 | L | Plant code (varies by era; verify via live decode) |
| 12–17 | •••••• | Serial number |
Structure per NHTSA 49 CFR Part 565.
Acura WMI codes: where your Acura was built
| WMI | Country | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| JH4 | Japan | Acura cars built by Honda Motor Co. (Integra, RL, TSX, NSX) |
| 19U | USA | Marysville, OH, TL, CL, current Integra, TLX |
| 19V | USA | ILX (Greensburg, IN era production) |
| 5J8 | USA | Acura SUVs, MDX, RDX (East Liberty, OH / Lincoln, AL) |
| 2HN | Canada | Alliston, ON, early MDX (2001–2006), ZDX, CSX |
Source: NHTSA vPIC WMI registry.
How to read each position of an Acura VIN
- Positions 1–3, WMI: World Manufacturer Identifier. Identifies the maker and country of origin.
- Positions 4–8, VDS: Vehicle Descriptor Section. Encodes body style, engine, restraint system, and model line.
- Position 9, Check digit: Math-derived validator. A failed check digit can indicate a typo or a cloned VIN.
- Position 10, Model year: Single character; see the table below.
- Position 11, Assembly plant: Manufacturer-specific code for the factory.
- Positions 12–17, Sequence: Sequential production number unique to that car.
Model-year code table (position 10)
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 / 2010 | S | 1995 / 2025 |
| B | 1981 / 2011 | T | 1996 / 2026 |
| C | 1982 / 2012 | V | 1997 / 2027 |
| D | 1983 / 2013 | W | 1998 / 2028 |
| E | 1984 / 2014 | X | 1999 / 2029 |
| F | 1985 / 2015 | Y | 2000 / 2030 |
| G | 1986 / 2016 | 1 | 2001 / 2031 |
| H | 1987 / 2017 | 2 | 2002 / 2032 |
| J | 1988 / 2018 | 3 | 2003 / 2033 |
| K | 1989 / 2019 | 4 | 2004 / 2034 |
| L | 1990 / 2020 | 5 | 2005 / 2035 |
| M | 1991 / 2021 | 6 | 2006 / 2036 |
| N | 1992 / 2022 | 7 | 2007 / 2037 |
| P | 1993 / 2023 | 8 | 2008 / 2038 |
| R | 1994 / 2024 | 9 | 2009 / 2039 |
Plant codes vary by model line, the decoder above returns the registered plant for your exact VIN.
Where to find the VIN on an Acura
- On a metal plate at the base of the windshield on the driver's side (visible from outside).
- On a sticker on the driver's door jamb.
- Stamped on the engine block or firewall on many models.
- On the title, registration, and insurance card, always confirm the paperwork matches the physical VIN. Mismatches are a serious red flag.
Acura title & history red flags to check before you buy
Decoding a VIN tells you how a vehicle was built. To see what happened to it, you need a full vehicle history report, which surfaces title brands, odometer readings, theft records, and more.
Takata airbag exposure
Roughly 12.9 million Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. were subject to Takata inflator recalls, the largest single-automaker exposure, so open-recall status on used 2001–2016 Acuras matters.
Denso fuel pump recall
2,539,902 Honda/Acura vehicles (2017–2020, incl. ILX, MDX, RDX, RLX, TLX, NSX) recalled in Dec 2023 for fuel pumps that can fail and stall the engine.
Luxury depreciation → salvage-rebuild economics
Luxury models depreciate faster than mainstream cars (industry depreciation studies), so insurers total damaged Acuras at lower repair thresholds, used listings see more rebuilt/salvage titles than the brand's reputation suggests.
Odometer fraud on high-mileage commuters
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles are sold yearly with rolled-back odometers; durable, high-mile Acura sedans are classic rollback candidates.
Acura recalls: check before you buy
Takata airbag inflators (multi-year, ~12.9M Honda/Acura U.S. vehicles, incl. "Alpha" do-not-drive inflators); Denso fuel pump impeller (2023, 2.54M vehicles incl. six Acura lines); various 3.5L V6 fuel-injection and software campaigns, check the report's NHTSA recall section for the specific VIN.
Run a free Acura recall check →Recall counts shown by the free tool are model-level context for this model year, not a VIN-specific verdict. VIN-specific recall completion status is in the $9.99 report.
Buying an electric Acura?
Acura ZDX (2024+) is GM Ultium-based and built alongside GM EVs, its VIN pattern differs from Honda-built Acuras (GM-style WMI); verify with a live decode. MDX Sport Hybrid and NSX hybrid systems add battery-related recall lines worth checking.
What to check on a used Acura
A used Acura can be an excellent buy, but the condition you can see during a test drive is only part of the picture. Two vehicles with the same year, mileage, and asking price can have completely different histories, and the difference usually lives in the paperwork rather than under the hood.
Start with maintenance evidence. Ask for service records covering oil changes, cooling system work, brakes, tires, and any major repair, and be skeptical of a seller who offers a single recent receipt instead of a history. Inspect for mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps, replacement lights, and fresh undercoating, since all of them can mask prior collision repair. Look for rust on the frame, rocker panels, and brake lines if the vehicle spent time in a salt state.
Flood damage is the pattern buyers miss most often. Storm-damaged vehicles are frequently repaired, moved to another state, and retitled, so check for musty odors, silt under the carpet and in the spare tire well, corroded seat rails and bolts, and moisture inside light housings. A car that smells strongly of air freshener deserves a closer look.
Before money changes hands, verify the four items a visual inspection cannot answer: whether the title carries a brand such as salvage, junk, rebuilt, or flood, whether the recorded odometer readings move forward consistently over time, whether the vehicle was ever declared a total loss or reported stolen, and whether a lien is still open against it. Recall completion on the exact VIN belongs on that list too.
See the history on this exact Acura before you pay for it.
Get the full Acura history: $9.99Looking at safety campaigns? Read Acura recalls: how to check open safety recalls, or run a VIN through the free recall check.
Free VIN decode vs. full vehicle history report
| What you learn | TitlePull Report, $9.99 one-time | Free decoder | Other providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year, make, model, engine specs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (free) |
| Title history | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Title brands (salvage, flood, lemon) | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Odometer readings over time | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Theft & total-loss records | ✓ | No | Varies by provider |
| Recalls | ✓ VIN-specific completion status | Model-level list (free tool) | Varies |
| Black Book® valuation | ✓ | No | Often extra |
| AI summary | ✓ | No | Rare |
| Subscription required | Never | Never | Often |
Checked the specs? Now check the history.
Get Your Acura Report, $9.99Acura VIN decoder: frequently asked questions
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Related: Cars guide · Buying in California · Buying in Texas · Buying in Florida · Vehicle history reports guide
By the TitlePull Team · Published June 7, 2026 · Last updated July 29, 2026 · Fact-checked against NHTSA vPIC
Sources: NHTSA vPIC & 49 CFR Part 565 · NHTSA recall database · NICB theft data · HLDI (Highway Loss Data Institute) · Mitchell · NMVTIS (U.S. Department of Justice).