Free 1998 GMC Safari VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 GMC Safari VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 GMC Safari VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit sequence at the start of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle it is, and the country of manufacturing. For the 1998 GMC Safari, the WMI “1GK” denotes it was manufactured by General Motors LLC, categorized as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), indicating its versatile use. This vehicle was specifically assembled in Warren, Michigan, United States. The WMI is crucial for vehicle registration, identification, and in tracking recalls or warranties. It provides essential information about the vehicle’s origins and type at a glance.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 GMC Safari

WMI: 1GT

• Model Years Covered: 1987, 1992, 1994-1995, 1997-2005
• Example VIN: 1GTDM19W0WB508856
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

WMI: 1GK

• Model Years Covered: 1987-1988, 1992-2005
• Example VIN: 1GKEL19W0WB523286
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 GMC Safari VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1998 GMC Safari:

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1998 GMC Safari VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 1998 GMC Safari VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 GMC Safari VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 GMC Safari Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 GMC Safari

The final 6 characters in a 1998 GMC Safari’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1998 GMC Safari VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Engine Details: The VIN may include substantial details about the engine, such as a 4.3L V-shaped engine configuration, manufactured by WRN, with six cylinders.
• Body Class and Size: The VIN indicates that this vehicle’s body class is a Cargo Van, specifically noted as a Small and Extended Van, pointing towards its size and utility purpose.
• Drive Type and Brake System: Information such as the vehicle being a 4x2 drive type with a hydraulic brake system is possibly encoded within the VIN.
• Plant Location: The manufacturing details, such as the plant city Baltimore/Lansing (Craft Center) in Maryland, United States, by GM Truck Group/ NA-GM Corp, may be specified in the VIN.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: It is possibly classified under Class 1D, indicating a weight rating from 5,001 to 6,000 lb (2,268 to 2,722 kg), which might help in understanding the vehicle’s capacity.
• Vehicle Type and Specifics: The VIN decodes to possibly show that the vehicle type is considered a Truck, with specific model details indicating it as a Safari model, providing insights into both purpose and design.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 GMC Safari