Saturn VIN Decoder: 1G8 Cars, 5GZ Vue and Outlook Codes

A Saturn VIN usually starts with 1G8 on cars such as the Ion, Aura, Sky and the older S-Series and L-Series, or 5GZ on the Vue, Outlook and Relay. Two outliers matter: the 2008-and-later Vue we decoded starts 3GS and came from Mexico, and the Astra starts W08 because Opel built it in Belgium. Position 10 is the model year and 11 is the plant, and the same plant letter can mean different factories under different WMIs. Decode it, then run GM recalls and a history report before you buy.

We ran Saturn patterns through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder on October 14, 2026. The make field read Saturn every time, with General Motors LLC as manufacturer except on the Astra, which listed Adam Opel AG. ABC News reported in September 2009 that GM would stop building Saturns that year and wind the brand down by the end of 2010 after a sale to Penske fell apart, with dealers given until October 2010. So the newest Saturn is about 16 years old. If you are new to the 17 positions, start with how to decode a VIN. For the GM crossover codes the Outlook shares with its siblings, our GMC VIN decoder helps.

Positions 1-3: 1G8 cars from Spring Hill and beyond

Spring Hill, Tennessee is where most 1G8 cars start. A 1999 SL2 pattern and a 2002 SL1 pattern both decoded to Spring Hill Manufacturing, with a 1.9-liter and a 1.8-liter four. A 2003 Ion sedan starting 1G8AJ52F came back with the 2.2-liter L61 from Spring Hill too. Then the 1G8 cars spread out. A 2003 L200 starting 1G8JU54F decoded to Wilmington Assembly in Delaware, and so did the Sky: a 2008 pattern starting 1G8MB35B showed the 2.4-liter LE5 with a manual, and a 2007 pattern starting 1G8MG35X printed "Turbo Convertible" in the series field with the 2.0-liter LNF. A 2007 Aura XE starting 1G8ZS57N decoded to a 3.5-liter V6 from Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, Kansas.

5GZ, 3GS and W08: the trucks, vans and imports

The 5GZ group is the utility side. A 2004 Vue starting 5GZCZ33D decoded to a 2.2-liter four with front-wheel drive from Spring Hill. A 2009 Outlook XR-Touring starting 5GZEV33D came back with a 3.6-liter V6 and all-wheel drive. A 2006 Relay minivan starting 5GZDV03L decoded to a 3.5-liter V6 from Doraville, Georgia. A 2008 Vue XE starting 3GSCL33P came from Ramos Arizpe, Mexico with the 2.4-liter LE5, and a 2008 Astra starting W08AR671 listed Adam Opel AG and a plant in Antwerp, Belgium. Not every old Saturn decodes cleanly, though. A 2009 Vue pattern we tried printed a 3.6-liter V6 and Spring Hill but left the model field blank, with a note that some characters could not be matched to GM's submission.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant

Position 9 is the check digit in 49 CFR 565.15. Typos usually fail and clones usually pass. Position 10 is the year: X was 1999, 2 was 2002, 3 was 2003, 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 Saturn shows why you never read it alone. On our 2004 Vue pattern, S meant Spring Hill. On the 3GS 2008 Vue pattern, S meant Ramos Arizpe. Same letter, different country. Match the dash plate, the door jamb and the title before you argue trim.

Recalls GM still handles on Saturn VINs

GM files and fixes Saturn recalls through its other brands' dealers. NHTSA recall 14V-047, the ignition switch recall, added 2003-2007 Ion and 2007 Sky cars in February 2014, then 2008-2010 Sky cars that may have received the bad switch as a service part. GM tells owners to carry only the ignition key until it is fixed. 14V-490 covers about 202,155 2002-2004 Vues where the key can come out when the ignition is not off. 14V-118 covers 2008-2010 Outlooks, filed alongside the Enclave, Acadia and Traverse, for seat side air bag wiring that can keep the side bags and pretensioners from deploying. Our Saturn recall check by VIN covers the rest, and the GM ignition switch guide explains the switch fix.

After the decode: history, and what it costs

None of a decode shows salvage brands, odometer rollbacks, flood titles or insurance claims. Those come from DMV, insurer, auction and shop records, which CARFAX describes as the basis of its reports. We have seen cheap Saturns sold with a "clean title, trust me" text and nothing else. Pull your own report. 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
• ABC News: GM to shut down Saturn (2009)
• 49 CFR 565.15 VIN requirements
• NHTSA: recall 14V-047 (ignition switch)
• NHTSA: recall 14V-490 (Vue key removal)
• NHTSA: recall 14V-118 (Outlook side air bags)
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports