Free Mitsubishi Galant VIN Decoder

How to decode a Mitsubishi Galant VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Mitsubishi Galant VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer across the globe to identify the make and location of a vehicle’s production. For the Mitsubishi Galant, there are two distinct WMIs. The first, JA3, was used for Galants manufactured in Japan by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation between 1989 and 1992, indicating the vehicle’s origin was within the Minato-Ku district of Tokyo. The second WMI, 4A3, signifies Galants crafted in the United States by Mitsubishi Motors North America, specifically in Cypress, California, covering model years from 1994 through 2012. This differentiation aids in identifying the geographic origin and manufacturing entity of Mitsubishi Galants, showcasing the global reach and production diversity of the Mitsubishi Motors brand.

List of WMI Codes for a Mitsubishi Galant

WMI: JA3

• Model Years Covered: 1989-1992
• Example VIN: JA3BR56R8KZ058145
• Manufacturer Name: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Minato-Ku
• State or Province: Tokyo
• Country: Japan

WMI: 4A3

• Model Years Covered: 1994, 1996-2012
• Example VIN: 4A3AJ56G7RE018561
• Manufacturer Name: Mitsubishi Motors North America
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Cypress
• State or Province: California
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Mitsubishi Galant 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 Mitsubishi Galant:

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 Mitsubishi Galant 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 Mitsubishi Galant VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the Mitsubishi Galant VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Mitsubishi Galant Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Mitsubishi Galant

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

What info can a Mitsubishi Galant VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year as 2012, offering insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class and size, indicating this vehicle as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and size.
• Engine Type: Details about the engine, including its displacement in CC (2400.0), CI (146.45698582735), and liters (2.4), as well as design features like a Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) and MIVEC technology, are encoded within the VIN, giving an overview of the engine’s specifications.
• Safety Features: The VIN can give insights into safety features, noting the presence of curtain airbags in both the 1st and 2nd rows, front airbags for both driver and passenger, and side airbags covering the 1st and 2nd rows, providing an overview of the safety features present in the vehicle.
• Fuel Type: It specifies the primary fuel type the vehicle uses, which in this case is gasoline, providing information about the fuel efficiency and performance of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN decodes to provide manufacturing information, pinpointing the plant city as Bloomington-Normal, in the state of Illinois, United States, offering insights into the vehicle’s origin.
• Advanced Features: Additional vehicle technicalities such as the type of seat belt (Manual) and the tire pressure monitoring system being of the Direct type, are also discernible, providing details about advanced features present in the vehicle.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Mitsubishi Galant