Decode a Miata VIN Number
I've noticed that many of the VIN number decoders currently out there give you an error if you feed them a VIN from the third-generation Miata. To that end, here is a guide on decoding Miata VINs all the way through MY09.
Update: You can also use our new Miata VIN Decoder to automatically decode your VIN.
Let's take a couple of example VINs from some cars for sale on AutoTrader:
We'll start with JM1NC25F680150517, here's how you break it up:
J Indicates the car's country of origin is Japan. Could vary with other models, but Miatas are built in Japan.
M Indicates the manufacturer, M is for Mazda.
1 Indicates the type of vehicle, 1 is for cars and every Miata is a car.
NC This is the generation indicator, NA is 1st Gen (1989-97), NB is 2nd Gen (1998-2004), NC is 3rd Gen (2005-Current)
25 This is the body-style indicator for all Mazda vehicles, convertibles are 35 (1st and 2nd Gen) and 25 (3rd Gen).
F Indicates the engine-size. 1 is 1.6 liter, 3 for the 1.8l, 4 for the 1.8l Turbo, and F is for 2.0l.
6 This is a"check digit" which can be any number 0-9, or letter A-Z and it has no meaning.
8 Indicates the model year, the following is a table of all the possible values through 2009.
1990=L 1995=S 2000=Y 2005=5 2010=A
1991=M 1996=T 2001=1 2006=6
1992=N 1997=V 2002=2 2007=7
1993=P 1998=W 2003=3 2008=8
1994=R 1999=X 2004=4 2009=9
0 Indicates the manufacturing plant, almost every Miata is a 0, indicating the Hiroshima plant, but a few Miatas built between 1991 and 1993 have a '1', but Mazda says all Miatas have been built in Hiroshima.
150517 This is your production number, every new model year resets the counter to 100000, so this car is #50,517 produced in 2008.
Onto the next example: JM1NA351XP0411034
J Japan
M Mazda
1 Car
NA 1st Generation
35 Early-year convertible body style
1 A 1.6 liter engine
X Check digit, meaningless
P MY1993
0 Manufactured in Hiroshima
411034 This was the 311,034th car produced in 1993
And that is how you decode a Mazda Miata VIN Number.
The “MyMazda” section of the MazdaUSA website itself does not recognize my VIN!
It looks like the MazdaUSA site isn’t playing well with 2010’s at the moment. At least not Miatas which are the only VINs I’ve been experimenting with.
Note though that the VIN digit for the Model year has wrapped back to A for 2010. Wiki link for decoding a VIN number is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Number
Good point, Joseph. We’ve updated our VIN Decoder, but not this document. Will add it momentarily!