Free 1998 Toyota 4Runner VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Toyota 4Runner VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and some key characteristics about it. The WMI for the 1998 Toyota 4Runner, for instance, begins with “JT3,” indicating that the vehicle was manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, specifically within Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. This specific WMI also denotes that the vehicle is classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), highlighting its versatility and functionality. These first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) provide essential information, enabling the identification of the vehicle’s manufacturing origin and the type of vehicle it is. This facilitates global recognition and uniformity in vehicle identification, necessary for regulatory compliance, vehicle tracking, and ownership verification.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Toyota 4Runner

WMI: JT3

• Model Years Covered: 1985-1986, 1988-2002
• Example VIN: JT3GN87R0W0058917
• Manufacturer Name: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Toyota City
• State or Province: Aichi Prefecture
• Country: Japan

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

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 Toyota 4Runner 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 Toyota 4Runner VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Toyota 4Runner VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Toyota 4Runner Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Toyota 4Runner’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Toyota 4Runner’s VIN below:

What info can a 1998 Toyota 4Runner VIN reveal?

• Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1998 and manufacturer as Toyota, offering insights into the vehicle’s age and origin.
• Body Class and Type: It may indicate that the vehicle is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 4 doors, highlighting its design and versatility for various uses.
• Engine Details: The VIN encodes key engine specifications, such as a 3.4-liter displacement, V-Shaped engine configuration, and Toyota as the engine manufacturer. The engine model 5VZ-FE and its horsepower range between 183 to 190 hp may elucidate the vehicle’s performance characteristics.
• Fuel Type: The VIN data suggests the primary fuel type is Gasoline, which can provide essential information for understanding the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Drive Type and Transmission: It appears that the VIN specifies a 4x2 drive type, which might impact the vehicle’s handling and fuel efficiency.
• Vehicle Manufacturing Information: The VIN contains details about the manufacturing location in Tahara, Aichi, Japan, at the Toyota Motor Corporation plant, possibly providing insights into the vehicle’s origin and production standards.
• Safety and Weight Class: VIN-related data often gives insight into safety features and the gross vehicle weight rating, which might provide information about the vehicle’s size and weight category. For example, it might possibly fall within Class 1D, indicating its size and weight category.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Toyota 4Runner