Lexus VINs start with JTH (cars) or JTJ (SUVs) when built in Japan, 2T2 (Cambridge, Ontario), 58A (Georgetown, Kentucky) or 5TD (Princeton, Indiana).
Specs are free. The Lexus's history is the part that costs money — $5.99 of it.
Accident records, title brands, odometer readings, service history and open recalls for this VIN.
Get the full report — $5.99Lexus VIN decoder: reading the code yourself
Lexus uses Toyota's VIN system, so if you have read a Toyota VIN you can read a Lexus one. The difference is where they come from: most Lexus models sold in the US are still built in Japan, but the RX and NX are also built in Ontario, the ES in Kentucky and the TX in Indiana, and the first character of the VIN tells you which.
| Position | What Lexus encodes there |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier — country and vehicle type (table below). |
| 4–8 | Body, engine, model series, restraint system and grade. A 2020 RX 350 reads HZMDA here whether its VIN starts JTJ (Japan) or 2T2 (Canada). |
| 9 | Check digit. |
| 10 | Model year (table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant — a digit for Japanese plants, a letter for North American ones. |
| 12–17 | Production serial. |
Lexus WMI codes (positions 1–3)
| Code | Meaning | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| JTH | Toyota Motor Corporation, Lexus cars built in Japan | IS, GS, LS, RC, LC, CT; Japanese-built ES |
| JTJ | Lexus SUVs built in Japan | RX, NX, GX, LX |
| JT8 · JT6 | Older Lexus cars and SUVs | 1990s and early-2000s models |
| 2T2 | Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Cambridge, Ontario | RX (2004 on), NX (2022 on) |
| 58A | Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Georgetown | ES |
| 5TD | Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, Princeton | TX (2024 on) |
Lexus assembly plant codes (position 11)
| Code | Plant | Builds |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Toyota Motor Kyushu (Miyata), Japan | RX, NX, ES, UX |
| 5 | Tahara, Japan | IS, GS, LS, GX |
| C | Cambridge, Ontario | RX, NX |
| U | Georgetown, Kentucky | ES |
| S | Princeton, Indiana | TX |
Some buyers ask specifically for a Japanese-built RX. Both plants build it to the same specification, and the VIN — not the seller — tells you which one you are looking at.
Model-year letters (position 10)
Every maker uses the same tenth-character code. 2001–2009 are the digits 1–9; from 2010 the alphabet starts again at A, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z so nothing is mistaken for a digit. The same letters were used for 1980–2000, which is why a VIN's seventh character matters: a letter there means the vehicle is 2010 or newer, a digit means 2009 or older.
| 1 2001 | 2 2002 | 3 2003 | 4 2004 | 5 2005 |
| 6 2006 | 7 2007 | 8 2008 | 9 2009 | A 2010 |
| B 2011 | C 2012 | D 2013 | E 2014 | F 2015 |
| G 2016 | H 2017 | J 2018 | K 2019 | L 2020 |
| M 2021 | N 2022 | P 2023 | R 2024 | S 2025 |
| T 2026 | V 2027 | W 2028 | X 2029 | Y 2030 |
Lexus trouble spots to check in the history report
Lexus reliability keeps used prices high, which is exactly why odometer tampering and title washing are worth checking for. These are the documented problem areas. Years are approximate.
- 3.5 V6 (2GR-FE) oil-cooler line, about 2006–2010 (ES 350, RX 350, IS 350, GS 350): a rubber section of the oil line could burst; Toyota replaced it with an all-metal line under a warranty enhancement. Confirm it was done.
- IS 250, 2006–2008: carbon build-up on the intake valves causing rough running, covered by an extended warranty.
- Dashboards and door panels, 2003–2010: sticky or melting tops on several models, replaced under a warranty enhancement.
- 2010 GX 460: stability-control software recall after a rollover-risk warning from Consumer Reports.
- Floor mats and accelerator pedals, 2007–2010: unintended-acceleration recalls across most of the range.
- Hybrid batteries on older h models (RX 400h, RX 450h, GS 450h, CT 200h, ES 300h): on a car over ten years old, battery health matters more than mileage, so ask for a hybrid health check.
- LX 600, 2022–2023: recalled in 2024 for machining debris in the twin-turbo V6 that can cause engine failure; many received new engines.
- Takata airbag inflators on early-2000s models such as the IS 300 and SC 430. The free recall check above lists the campaigns for the model and year; nhtsa.gov/recalls confirms whether this VIN's repair was done.
A VIN-first checklist for buying a used Lexus
- Decode the VIN and check model, engine and grade against the listing.
- Run the history report for accidents, title brands and an odometer timeline that makes sense — a high-value Lexus is worth tampering with.
- On a hybrid, ask for a battery health report as well as the service records.
- Pull the original window sticker to confirm packages such as Mark Levinson audio or the Luxury package.
- Match the dashboard VIN, the door-jamb label and the title.
What a Lexus VIN decode can't tell you
Everything above was fixed on the day the vehicle was built, which is exactly why it is reliable and exactly why it is incomplete. A collision, a flood title issued in another state, a rolled-back odometer or a skipped timing-chain service all happen later, so none of them touch the VIN. They live in the vehicle history report: accident and damage records, title brands, the odometer timeline, open recalls, service entries and ownership changes. Decode here for free as often as you like; buy history only for the Lexus you are serious about. Dealers and flippers who check every car can bring that to $1.30 a report.
Guides that go with this decoder
- Toyota VIN decoder — the VIN system Lexus shares, in more detail.
- What the 17 digits in a VIN mean — the full position-by-position breakdown.
- Signs of a rolled-back odometer — what a decode can't catch and a report can.
- Is a salvage-title car worth buying? — every brand, and what it does to value.
- Dealer auction VIN checks — the pre-bid routine volume buyers use.
- Other makes: any VIN · Ford · Chevrolet · Toyota · Honda · Nissan · Jeep · BMW · Mercedes-Benz · Audi · Volkswagen · Lexus · Porsche · window sticker lookup
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a Lexus VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN above. The decoder returns model year, model, trim, body, engine, drivetrain and assembly plant from the official NHTSA vPIC database. The first three characters tell you where it was built: JTH is a car and JTJ an SUV built in Japan, 2T2 an RX or NX built in Cambridge, Ontario, 58A an ES built in Georgetown, Kentucky, and 5TD the TX built in Princeton, Indiana.
Was my Lexus RX built in Japan or Canada?
The first character tells you: J is Japan (plant code 2, Kyushu) and 2 is Cambridge, Ontario (plant code C). Both plants build the RX for North America and it is the same vehicle — a 2020 RX 350 has the same model block, HZMDA, in positions 4 to 8 either way.
Which plant built my Lexus?
The eleventh character: a digit for Japanese plants and a letter for North American ones. 2 is Kyushu and 5 Tahara in Japan; C is Cambridge, Ontario; U is Georgetown, Kentucky; S is Princeton, Indiana. The decoder names the plant for you.
Is a Lexus VIN read the same way as a Toyota's?
Yes. Lexus is Toyota's luxury brand and uses Toyota's VIN layout, plant codes and model-year letters; the Toyota VIN decoder guide covers the shared parts in more detail.
Does a Lexus VIN show the options?
No. The VIN fixes model, engine, drive and grade, but packages such as Mark Levinson audio, the head-up display or the Luxury package are not in it. The window-sticker lookup shows the original equipment.
Does a VIN decode show if a Lexus has been in an accident?
No. A decode returns factory build data only. Accidents, branded titles, odometer readings, service records and open recalls appear in the full vehicle history report, $5.99 for a single VIN.