Pontiac VIN Decoder: 1G2, 2G2, 5Y2 Vibe and 6G2 G8 Codes

Most Pontiac VINs start with 1G2 on U.S.-built cars such as the G6, G5, Solstice, Grand Am and Bonneville, or 2G2 on the Canadian-built Grand Prix. The exceptions are where sellers trip: the Vibe starts 5Y2 because NUMMI built it in Fremont, California, the G8 starts 6G2 because Holden built it in Australia, the Aztek we decoded starts 3G7 from Mexico, and the Torrent starts 2CK from the CAMI plant in Ontario. Position 10 is the model year and 11 is the plant. Decode it, then check GM recalls and a history report.

We ran Pontiac patterns through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder on October 14, 2026. Every one came back with Pontiac as the make, and all but the Vibe listed General Motors LLC as the manufacturer. The brand has been dead a long time. NPR reported on April 27, 2009 that GM would eliminate Pontiac, and Consumer Reports lists it as discontinued in 2010 along with Hummer, Saab and Saturn. So every Pontiac for sale this fall is at least 16 years old, and the VIN is often the only paperwork that still agrees with itself. If the 17 positions are new, start with how to decode a VIN, and use our Chevrolet VIN decoder for the GM codes the two brands share.

Positions 1-3: the GM-built Pontiacs

The 1G2 cars are where the plant letter does most of the work. A 2007 G6 pattern starting 1G2ZG57N decoded to a 3.5-liter LZ4 V6 built in Orion, Michigan. A 2007 G5 coupe starting 1G2AL15F came back with the 2.2-liter four from Lordstown, Ohio. A 2006 Solstice starting 1G2MB35B returned the 2.4-liter LE5 and Wilmington Assembly in Delaware, while a 2007 Solstice starting 1G2MG35X showed the 2.0-liter LNF from the same plant. A 2004 Grand Am starting 1G2NF52E decoded to a 3.4-liter V6 from Lansing, and a 2005 Bonneville starting 1G2HX52K came back with a 3.8 from Hamtramck. The Grand Prix uses 2G2: our 2007 pattern decoded to the 3.8-liter L26 and Oshawa, Ontario.

The Pontiacs GM did not build in its own plants

This is the section that saves arguments. A 2003 Vibe starting 5Y2SL628 lists New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. in Fremont as the maker, with a 1.8-liter 1ZZ-FE, which is a Toyota engine code. A 2009 Vibe AWD starting 5Y2SM670 came back with a 2.4-liter four and the same Fremont plant. A 2009 G8 GT starting 6G2EC57Y decoded to a 6.0-liter L76 V8 built by Holden in Elizabeth, South Australia. The 2001 Aztek (3G7DA03E) decoded to Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, the 2008 Torrent (2CKDL33F) to CAMI, a GM and Suzuki joint venture in Ontario, and a 2006 Montana SV6 minivan (1GMDV33L) to Doraville, Georgia. Honestly, a 6G2 VIN on a G8 is the correct answer, not a gray-market warning sign.

One honest negative from our run. A G8 pattern we mistyped returned a check digit error and a "multiple matches" note but still printed a plant and trim, so a decoder showing data does not mean the VIN is valid. Read the error line.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant

Position 9 is the check digit in 49 CFR 565.15. Typos usually fail, but a cloned VIN lifted from a real car passes. Position 10 is the year: 1 was 2001, 4 was 2004, 6 was 2006, 7 was 2007, 8 was 2008 and 9 was 2009 in our samples. Position 11 is the plant, and on Pontiacs it ranges from Lordstown to Fremont to South Australia. Match the dash plate, the door jamb and the title before you discuss price.

Recalls GM still handles on Pontiac VINs

NHTSA recall 14V-047 is the GM ignition switch recall. It covered 2007 G5 and 2006-2007 Solstice cars, then 2008-2010 G5 and Solstice cars that may have received the bad switch as a service part. Until it is fixed, GM tells owners to take everything off the key ring except the ignition key. 14V-400 covers 1999-2005 Grand Am and 2004-2008 Grand Prix cars for a similar key-weight problem. The Vibe follows Toyota's filings: 15V-286 covers passenger air bag inflators on certain 2003-2007 Vibes in Florida, the Gulf Coast and other listed areas, and the filing says GM notifies Vibe owners. Our Pontiac recall check by VIN lists more, and the GM ignition switch recall guide explains how to confirm the new switch went in.

After the decode: history, and what it costs

A decode will not show salvage brands, odometer jumps, flood titles or old insurance claims. Those come from DMV, insurer, auction and shop records, which CARFAX describes as the basis of its reports. On a car this old, we have seen sellers hand over a printout with no VIN on it at all. Pull your own. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us runs 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
• NPR: GM to eliminate Pontiac (2009)
• Consumer Reports: Pontiac
• 49 CFR 565.15 VIN requirements
• NHTSA: recall 14V-047 (ignition switch)
• NHTSA: recall 14V-400 (Grand Am, Grand Prix)
• NHTSA: recall 15V-286 (Vibe inflators)
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports