Mazda VINs start with JM1 or JM3 (Japan), 3MZ or 3MV (Mexico), 7MM (Huntsville, Alabama) or 1YV (older Mazda6 from Michigan).
Specs are free. The Mazda'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 — $5.99Mazda VIN decoder: reading the code yourself
Most Mazdas sold in the US come from Japan, but the CX-30 and some Mazda3s are built in Mexico and the CX-50 in Alabama, and the first three characters say which. Positions 4 and 5 carry Mazda's chassis code, which is how parts catalogues and enthusiasts tell generations apart.
| Position | What Mazda encodes there |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (table below). |
| 4–5 | Chassis code (table below). |
| 6–8 | Body, trim, restraint and engine codes; the decoder translates them. |
| 9 | Check digit. |
| 10 | Model year (table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant (table below). |
| 12–17 | Production serial. |
Mazda WMI codes (positions 1–3)
| Code | Meaning | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| JM1 | Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan, cars | Mazda3, Mazda6, MX-5 Miata |
| JM3 | Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan, SUVs | CX-5, CX-9 |
| 3MZ · 3MV | Mazda Mexico, Salamanca (cars · SUVs) | Mazda3 · CX-30 |
| 7MM | Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, Huntsville, Alabama | CX-50 |
| 1YV | AutoAlliance International, Flat Rock, Michigan | Mazda6 (2003–2013) |
Mazda chassis codes (positions 4–5)
| Code | Model | Years |
|---|---|---|
| KF | CX-5, second generation | 2017 on |
| BP | Mazda3, fourth generation | 2019 on |
| GL | Mazda6 | 2018–2021 |
| TC | CX-9, second generation | 2016–2023 |
| DM | CX-30 | 2020 on |
| ND | MX-5 Miata | 2016 on |
| VA | CX-50 | 2023 on |
Mazda assembly plant codes (position 11)
| Code | Plant | Builds |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Hiroshima, Japan | CX-5, CX-9, MX-5 |
| 1 | Hofu, Yamaguchi, Japan | Mazda3, Mazda6 |
| M | Salamanca, Mexico | CX-30, Mazda3 |
| N | Huntsville, Alabama | CX-50 |
| 5 | Flat Rock, Michigan | Mazda6 (2003–2013) |
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 |
Mazda trouble spots to check in the history report
Years are approximate.
- CX-9 3.7 V6, 2007–2015: the water pump sits inside the engine and is driven by the timing chain; a leak can put coolant into the oil, and the repair is large. A replacement on record is good news.
- RX-8 rotary, 2004–2011: apex-seal wear and low compression; Mazda extended engine coverage on many early cars. Ask for a compression test.
- Rust, about 2004–2009 Mazda3 and 2003–2008 Mazda6: rear wheel arches and subframes in salt states.
- Mazda Connect screens, about 2014–2018: "ghost touch" from a delaminating touchscreen; a replaced screen on record is common.
- Takata airbag inflators: older Mazda6, RX-8 and the Ford-built B-Series pickup, whose 2006 model carries a do-not-drive warning. 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 Mazda
- Decode the VIN and note the engine and chassis code — they decide which issues above apply.
- Run the history report for accidents, title brands and the service trail.
- On older cars from snow states, look underneath for rust before anything else.
- Match the dashboard VIN, the door-jamb label and the title.
- Pull the original window sticker to confirm packages the decode doesn't list.
What a Mazda 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 Mazda 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 — Toyota shares the Huntsville plant (7MM) with Mazda.
- 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 · GMC · Toyota · Honda · Nissan · Hyundai · Kia · Subaru · Mazda · Jeep · Dodge and Ram · Tesla · BMW · Mercedes-Benz · Audi · Volkswagen · Lexus · Land Rover · Porsche · window sticker lookup
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a Mazda VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN above. The decoder returns model year, model, trim, body, engine, drivetrain, transmission and assembly plant from the official NHTSA vPIC database. JM1 and JM3 are Japan, 3MZ and 3MV are Salamanca, Mexico, 7MM is Huntsville, Alabama and 1YV is the former Flat Rock, Michigan plant.
What do positions 4 and 5 of a Mazda VIN mean?
Mazda's chassis code. KF is the CX-5 (2017 on), BP the Mazda3 (2019 on), GL the Mazda6 (2018–2021), TC the CX-9 (2016–2023), DM the CX-30, ND the MX-5 Miata (2016 on) and VA the CX-50. Each was checked against NHTSA's database with a sample VIN.
Which plant built my Mazda?
The eleventh character. 0 is Hiroshima (CX-5, CX-9, MX-5), 1 is Hofu in Yamaguchi (Mazda3, Mazda6), M is Salamanca, Mexico (CX-30), N is Huntsville, Alabama (CX-50) and 5 is Flat Rock, Michigan (Mazda6, 2003–2013).
Why does my CX-50 VIN start with 7MM?
The CX-50 is built in Huntsville, Alabama by Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, a joint venture with Toyota; the same plant builds the Toyota Corolla Cross, which carries the same code.
Is the 3.7 V6 in an older CX-9 a risk?
It can be. The 2007–2015 CX-9's 3.7-litre V6 has a water pump inside the engine, driven by the timing chain; when it leaks, coolant can mix with the oil, and replacing it is a large job. A pump replacement on record is good news.
Does a VIN decode show if a Mazda 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.