Free 1998 Lexus ES VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Lexus ES VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Lexus ES VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is an integral part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of origin. In the case of the 1998 Lexus ES, the WMI “JT8” specifically denotes vehicles made by Toyota Motor Corporation, indicating they are passenger cars produced in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. This identifier is crucial for various stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, manufacturers, and consumers, serving as a universal marker for vehicle tracking, registration, and recall purposes. It embodies a standardized approach to vehicle identification, ensuring a clear and concise understanding of a vehicle’s origins, type, and manufacturing entity. Through the WMI, the lineage and specifications of the 1998 Lexus ES are transparently communicated, ensuring reliability and trust in automotive identification and documentation.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Lexus ES

WMI: JT8

• Model Years Covered: 1991-2001, 2004
• Example VIN: JT8BF28G0W5014320
• Manufacturer Name: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Toyota City
• State or Province: Aichi Prefecture
• Country: Japan

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

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 Lexus ES 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 Lexus ES VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Lexus ES VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Lexus ES Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Lexus ES

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

Check your Lexus ES’s VIN below:

What info can a 1998 Lexus ES VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating a year such as 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN often includes manufacturing information, including the plant city, company name, and country of manufacture. For example, the VIN may indicate that the vehicle was manufactured in Toyota City, by Toyota Motor Corporation - Tsutsumi Plant in Japan.
• Vehicle Specifications: The VIN provides insights into basic specifications, including the make, model (e.g. ES), and engine details, possibly indicating features such as a 3.0L V-Shaped configuration by Toyota with the engine model 1MZ-FE.
• Engine Performance: The VIN can define engine performance ranges, possibly illustrating a horsepower range from 200 to 217, indicative of the vehicle’s potential power output.
• Fuel Type: The VIN may detail the primary fuel type for the vehicle, for example, Gasoline, which can be crucial for understanding the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Safety Features: Essential safety features could be encoded, potentially including the locations of airbags, with the VIN providing information such as the presence of front airbags in the 1st row for both the driver and passenger, as well as similarly situated side airbags.
• Drive Type and Body Class: The VIN can reveal the drive type, such as 4x2, and the body class, possibly indicating a design such as Sedan/Saloon, providing a somewhat clear picture of the vehicle’s design and functionality.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Lexus ES