Free 1998 Honda Civic VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Honda Civic VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Honda Civic VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial three-character sequence in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), revealing crucial details about the car’s manufacturer, including the name, location, and type of vehicle. For instance, 1998 Honda Civics have WMIs like “1HG,” indicating they were manufactured by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in Torrance, California, United States, for passenger use. Another common WMI for this model is “2HG,” which points to Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc. in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. These identifiers help in tracking, regulation, and recall implementation for vehicles globally.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Honda Civic

WMI: 1HG

• Model Years Covered: 1987-2009
• Example VIN: 1HGEJ8540WL026586
• Manufacturer Name: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Torrance
• State or Province: California
• Country: United States

WMI: 2HG

• Model Years Covered: 1988-2024
• Example VIN: 2HGEJ8541WH539018
• Manufacturer Name: Honda of Canada Mfg., Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Alliston
• State or Province: Ontario
• Country: Canada

WMI: JHM

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1983, 1985-2012, 2018-2019, 2022-2023
• Example VIN: JHMEJ6670WS004359
• Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Tokyo
• State or Province: Musashi
• Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Honda Civic 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 Honda Civic:

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 Honda Civic 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 Honda Civic VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Honda Civic VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Honda Civic Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Honda Civic

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

What info can a 1998 Honda Civic 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.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, such as Sedan/Saloon, and the number of doors; for a 1998 vehicle, this may indicate a 4-door design, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and potential space for passengers.
• Engine Type and Size: The VIN details provide engine characteristics, such as the D16Y7 model with an approximate displacement of 1.589 liters and 97 cubic inches, suggesting a focus on compact and efficient engine design.
• Fuel Type: The VIN indicates that the vehicle runs on gasoline, which can offer insights into the type of engine and potential fuel efficiency users can expect from vehicles of this era and model.
• Safety Features: The VIN notes the presence of front airbags for both driver and passenger in the first row, illustrating the safety measures equipped in the vehicle.
• Transmission Details: The VIN specifies that this vehicle has a manual/standard transmission with 5 speeds, providing insights into the driving experience and vehicle control.
• Plant Information: The vehicle manufacturing information reveals that it was manufactured in East Liberty, Ohio, United States, providing geographic origin insights for regional specifications or manufacturing standards.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Honda Civic