Mercedes-Benz VIN Decoder: How to Read a Mercedes VIN (WDD, W1K, 4JG)

A Mercedes-Benz VIN usually starts with WDD (older cars), W1K (newer cars), WDC (older SUVs) or W1N (newer SUVs), and US-built models from Vance, Alabama start with 4JG on SUVs or 55S on the C-Class sedans we tested. Positions 4-8 carry the model and engine, 9 is the check digit, 10 is the year and 11 is the plant, which in our tests ranged from Sindelfingen and Bremen to East London, South Africa. Decode first, then run recalls and a history report.

We ran 18 Mercedes patterns, including two Sprinters, through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder on October 12, 2026. One thing that cost us time: NHTSA's recall search wants specific badges like "GLE 350" or "C 300," and a search for "GLE-Class" came back empty. The VIN lookup is cleaner, which is one more reason to work from the full 17 characters. For the general walkthrough, see how to decode a VIN; for the other German brand people cross-shop, our BMW VIN decoder.

Positions 1-3: the old W codes, the new W1 codes, and 4JG

The first three characters tell you the maker and vehicle type, and Mercedes changed its prefixes partway through the 2020s. Our 2015-2018 car patterns started WDD and our 2016-2020 GLC patterns started WDC. Newer patterns used W1K for cars (a 2021 E 350, 2022 CLA 250, 2023 C 300 and 2023 S 580) and W1N for SUVs (a 2021 GLC and 2023 GLC). vPIC even shows the manufacturer name shifting, from "Mercedes-Benz Cars" on the WDD patterns to "Mercedes-Benz, AG" on several W1N ones. US-built SUVs are the exception: 4JG patterns for the 2016 and 2020 GLE came back Vance, Alabama, under Mercedes-Benz of North America. A 2015 C-Class pattern starting 55S also decoded to Vance. So a W1N GLC and a 4JG GLE can sit on the same lot and both be legit.

Positions 4-8: model, series and engine code

The middle characters give model, body and drive, and Mercedes is better than many brands about returning an engine code. In our decodes, a 2016 GLC 300 4MATIC and a 2017 E 300 returned the M274 2.0-liter four, a 2021 E 350 and a 2020 GLE 350 4MATIC returned the M264 2.0, and a 2023 GLC 300 and 2023 C 300 returned the newer M254. A 2016 GLE 350 returned the M276 V6, a 2018 S 560 4MATIC the M278 V8 and a 2023 S 580 the M176 V8. The CLA patterns returned M270 (2018) and M260 (2022). Write the code down, because some recalls are filed by engine, and a turbo-four GLE and a V6 GLE do not share every campaign.

Sprinters are a different animal. A 2019 cargo van starting WD3PE8CD decoded to Dusseldorf, Germany with the OM 642 3.0-liter V6 diesel, while a 2020 pattern starting W1Y4ECHY came back Charleston, South Carolina. If you are shopping a work van, read our used Sprinter van history post, because fleet mileage changes everything.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant

Position 9 is the check digit defined in 49 CFR 565.15. A cloned VIN passes it, so treat it as a typo check. Position 10 is the year (F was 2015, G was 2016, H was 2017, J was 2018, L was 2020, M was 2021, N was 2022, P was 2023). Position 11 is the plant, and it varies more than people expect. In our runs, A was Sindelfingen (E-Class and S-Class), F was Bremen (GLC), R was East London, South Africa (a 2015 and a 2023 C 300), N was Kecskemet, Hungary (CLA), V was Uusikaupunki, Finland (a 2021 GLC), and A on a 4JG GLE meant Vance. The plant does not tell you whether a car is good. It does tell you whether the seller's story is accurate.

Recalls that follow a Mercedes VIN

Run the exact VIN for open campaigns. A few from NHTSA filings we read this week. Recalls 23V-445 and 23V-880 together cover more than 220,000 2021-2024 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLC, GLE, GLS and other models whose fuel pump may shut down and cut drive power; dealers replace the pump. Recall 22V-955 covers about 348,000 older ML and GLE SUVs, spanning 2012 ML models through 2020 AMG GLE 63s, where water can collect in the spare tire well and damage the fuel pump control unit, causing a stall; the fix adds a drain plug and replaces the unit if needed. That one matters on any GLE that lived somewhere wet. And recall 21V-072 is a small but telling one: on certain 2017-2021 models, the communication module may have been switched off during a service visit, disabling the emergency call function. It costs nothing to have a dealer confirm the module is active. Our NHTSA recall check by VIN walkthrough covers the lookup, and Mercedes-Benz USA's recall page is the brand-side check.

After the decode: history and price

Car and Driver's GLC page helps with generation changes, and IIHS GLC ratings vary by year. A decoder cannot see salvage brands, flood titles, odometer rollbacks or the insurance claim from that fender-bender, and expensive cars are exactly where a washed title pays the seller best. CARFAX describes the DMV, insurer and shop records its reports draw from. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us costs about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, against 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: MBUSA recall report 23V-445 (fuel pump)
• NHTSA: MBUSA recall report 23V-880 (fuel pump)
• NHTSA: MBUSA recall report 22V-955 (spare well water, fuel pump control unit)
• NHTSA: MBUSA recall report 21V-072 (eCall deactivated)
• Mercedes-Benz USA: Recall information
• Car and Driver: Mercedes-Benz GLC
• IIHS: Mercedes-Benz GLC ratings
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports