NHTSA Database · Connected / Model Years 1981 — Present

Toyota VIN Decoder.
Check every recall.

Enter any Toyota VIN. Get the full factory build specification and every open NHTSA safety recall, free.

VIN Diagnostic Terminal

Vehicle Identification Number17 CHAR

00 / 17

Data Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recall Registry: Live
Coverage: All Toyota Models
Cost: $0.00

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Toyota VIN Guide

Reading A Toyota VIN

Toyota's VIN follows the same 17-character ISO standard as every other manufacturer, but the first few characters split out by division and country in a way that's worth knowing before you buy.

World Manufacturer Identifier (positions 1–3)

The first character marks the country of assembly — J for Japan, 4 or 5 for the US, 2 for Canada, 3 for Mexico — followed by Toyota's own code. JTD and JTE mark Japan-built cars, 4T1 marks a US-built car from Georgetown, Kentucky, and 5TD/5TF mark US-built trucks and SUVs from Princeton, Indiana and San Antonio, Texas.

Code	Meaning
JTD / JTE / JTH / JTM	Japan-built Toyota (car / MPV / Lexus / truck)
4T1 / 4T3	US-built Toyota car (Georgetown, Kentucky)
5TD / 5TF / 5TE	US-built Toyota MPV/truck (Princeton, Indiana & San Antonio, Texas)
2T	Canada-built Toyota (Cambridge, Ontario)
3T	Mexico-built Toyota (Tacoma, Guanajuato)

Engine and hybrid code (positions 4–8)

This block separates Toyota's gas, hybrid and AWD variants — on a RAV4 or Camry it's what confirms whether the listing's claimed Hybrid trim actually matches the VIN. Engine codes recycle over time, so the live decode above always resolves against the actual model year rather than a static chart.

Model year and plant (positions 10–11)

Toyota operates major US plants at Georgetown, Kentucky; Princeton, Indiana; and San Antonio, Texas, alongside Cambridge, Ontario and Guanajuato, Mexico. Position 11 resolves the exact plant for any VIN decoded above.

Coverage

Toyota Models You Can Decode

Any Toyota sold in the US since 1981 is covered, retail or fleet. Common models people check:

CamryCorollaRAV4TacomaTundraHighlander4RunnerPriusSiennaSequoiaLand CruiserCrown

Safety

What The Recall Check Catches

Toyota's recall history spans a wide range of components over the decades. Rather than listing past campaigns here (which would go stale), the tool above queries NHTSA's live recall registry the moment you decode a VIN, so what you see is always current for that exact year, make and model.

Support

Toyota VIN Questions

What does 4T1 mean on a Toyota VIN?

4T1 identifies a US-built Toyota passenger car assembled at the Georgetown, Kentucky plant. JTD and JTE mark Japan-built Toyotas, and 5TD/5TF mark US-built trucks and SUVs.

Is this the same as Toyota's own VIN decoder?

No. This tool is independent and not affiliated with Toyota Motor Corporation. It reads the same publicly standardized VIN format and pulls factory specifications from NHTSA's public vPIC database, which covers every manufacturer sold in the US.

Does this show Toyota recalls?

Yes. After decoding, the tool automatically checks NHTSA's recall database for the vehicle's year, make and model and lists every open safety campaign, including the defect, risk and remedy.

Where do I find the VIN on a Toyota?

On the dash at the base of the windshield (visible from outside, driver's side), on the driver-door jamb sticker, and on the title and registration. Some models also stamp it on the engine bay firewall.

Toyota VIN Decoder.Check every recall.