Chrysler VIN Decoder: How to Read a Chrysler VIN (2C4, 2C3, 1C3)

Most used Chrysler VINs start with 2C4 (Pacifica, Voyager and Town and Country minivans from Windsor, Ontario) or 2C3 (the 300 sedan from Brampton, Ontario). A US-built Chrysler 200 starts with 1C3, and the older Mexico-built PT Cruiser starts with 3A4. Position 8 is the engine, and on the minivans we tested it flagged the plug-in hybrid. Position 10 is the year and 11 is the plant. Because Dodge shares these same prefixes, check the make field too, then run recalls and a history report.

We ran 13 Chrysler-era patterns through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder on October 12, 2026. The brand question confuses people. Chrysler is one nameplate inside FCA US, now part of Stellantis, along with Dodge, Jeep and Ram. vPIC lists the maker on our Windsor and Brampton patterns as FCA Canada Inc. and on US patterns as FCA US LLC, and the recall filings we read say "Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)" no matter which badge is on the grille. Our Dodge VIN decoder and Jeep VIN decoder cover the siblings, and the general method is in how to decode a VIN.

Positions 1-3: 2C4, 2C3, 1C3 and 3A4

The WMI tells you the country and the maker's vehicle type, and it does not tell you the brand. Our 2014 Town and Country, 2017, 2021, 2024 and 2025 Pacifica, and 2020 Voyager patterns all started 2C4 and decoded to Windsor Assembly. A 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan also started 2C4 and came out of the same plant. Our 2015 and 2019 Chrysler 300 patterns started 2C3 and decoded to Brampton Assembly, the plant that also built the Dodge Charger and Challenger. A 2015 Chrysler 200 starting 1C3 came back Sterling Heights, Michigan, and a 2007 PT Cruiser starting 3A4 decoded to Toluca, Mexico, under the old "Chrysler de Mexico" name. So 2C4 alone could be a Chrysler or a Dodge van.

Positions 4-8: brand, line and engine

The fifth character is the quick brand tell on the minivans. Every Chrysler van pattern we tried read 2C4RC, while the Dodge Grand Caravan read 2C4RD. After that, vPIC returned the model, trim and engine. The gas Pacificas, Voyager and Town and Country all came back with the 3.6-liter V6, and on those patterns the eighth character was G. The plug-in hybrid patterns (2017, 2021 and 2024 Pacifica) had 7 in position 8, and vPIC labeled them PHEV. That one character matters, because the hybrid has its own recall list. Car and Driver's Pacifica page now describes the van as gas-only with a 287-hp 3.6-liter V6 and a nine-speed automatic, after Stellantis dropped the Pacifica Hybrid, which means the plug-in Pacificas you see now are used ones. The 300 patterns returned a 3.6-liter V6 with rear-wheel drive and Limited trim.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant

Position 9 is the check digit defined in 49 CFR 565.15. It catches typos and will not stop a cloned VIN. Position 10 is the year: E was 2014, F was 2015, H was 2017, K was 2019, L was 2020, M was 2021, R was 2024 and S was 2025 in our runs. Position 11 was R for Windsor on every minivan, H for Brampton on the 300, N for Sterling Heights on the 200 and T for Toluca on the PT Cruiser. If a Pacifica's position 11 is anything other than R, slow down and look at the door label and title.

Recalls: the Pacifica Hybrid list is the one to read

We pulled Chrysler minivan recalls from NHTSA data in mid October 2026, and the plug-in hybrid has the heaviest ones. Recall 22V-077 covered about 16,700 2017-2018 Pacifica Hybrids that could catch fire while parked and off, with owners told to stop charging and park outside until repaired. Recall 26V-362, filed in June 2026, does the same for about 17,300 2020-2022 Pacifica Hybrids: park outside, do not charge, and dealers update battery control software and replace the pack if needed. Recall 23V-010 covers about 67,000 2017-2023 hybrids whose internal transmission wiring connector can short and shut the engine off. On the gas vans, recall 26V-189 covers about 293,000 2022-2026 Pacifica and Voyager vans whose side curtain airbags may not hold pressure; letters went out May 14, 2026. Recall 22V-181 covers a smaller group of 2021-2022 Pacificas and 2021 Voyagers where the second-row seat latch can stick open.

Honestly, if a Pacifica Hybrid has an open fire recall, do not let it sleep in your garage until the dealer paperwork is in your hand. Comparing minivans? Our used Honda Odyssey buying guide covers the other common choice.

After the decode: history and cost

Check IIHS Pacifica ratings for the year you want. Minivans see rental fleets, family wrecks and flood lots, none of which a VIN decode can show. CARFAX describes the title, accident, odometer and ownership records its reports draw on. Pull your own report rather than trusting the seller's printout. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail; confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.

Sources

• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• 49 CFR 565.15 VIN requirements
• NHTSA: recall report 22V-077 (2017-2018 Pacifica Hybrid fire)
• NHTSA: recall report 26V-362 (2020-2022 Pacifica Hybrid battery)
• NHTSA: recall report 23V-010 (hybrid transmission connector)
• NHTSA: recall report 26V-189 (side curtain airbags)
• Car and Driver: Chrysler Pacifica
• IIHS: Chrysler Pacifica ratings
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports