Suzuki VIN Decoder: JS2 SX4 and JS3 Grand Vitara Codes

A U.S.-market Suzuki car or SUV VIN usually starts with JS2 on passenger cars such as the SX4 or JS3 on multipurpose vehicles such as the Grand Vitara. Positions 4-8 carry model and engine clues, 9 is the check digit, 10 is the model year, and 11 is the plant. Sagara and Iwata showed up on the leftover cars we decoded. Decode it on vPIC, then run recalls and a history report before you buy an orphaned used Suzuki.

We ran Suzuki patterns through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder in mid October 2026 because just about every Suzuki car left on a U.S. lot is a 2013-or-older leftover, and because motorcycle WMIs can confuse a quick glance. vPIC maps JS2 to Suzuki Motor of America passenger cars and JS3 to multipurpose vehicles. New to the 17 positions? Start with how to decode a VIN. For open campaigns after the decode, use our Suzuki recall check by VIN.

Positions 1-3: JS2 cars, JS3 SUVs

A 2011 SX4 crossover pattern starting JS2YB5A3 decoded as a five-door hatch with all-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter four. A 2011 Kizashi SE pattern starting JS2RE9A3 returned Sagara, Japan, a sedan body, front-wheel drive and a 2.4-liter. A Grand Vitara pattern starting JS3TE217 pointed at Iwata, Japan, as an SUV/MPV with a 2.4-liter Limited-class trim note. So if a seller waves a motorcycle-style story at a Grand Vitara, the WMI already disagrees. JSA shows up on motorcycles in the same Suzuki filing family, which is why you decode before you trust a pasted listing VIN.

Positions 4-8: SX4, Grand Vitara, Kizashi and the engine field

The middle block encodes model family, body, restraints and engine. On our runs, displacement often filled in cleanly: 2.0 on SX4 patterns, 2.4 on Kizashi and some Grand Vitara trims. Consumer Reports notes the last Suzuki cars sold here were the 2013 Kizashi and SX4, and that Suzuki motorcycles and other products are still sold in the U.S. Honestly, that orphan status is why parts and recall remedies can take longer than on a brand with a full dealer map. A blank model field means you verify the door jamb yourself.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant

Position 9 is the check digit under 49 CFR 565.15. Position 10 is the model year (B was 2011 in our samples). Position 11 is the plant. Sagara showed on the Kizashi sample and Iwata on Grand Vitara patterns. Match the windshield plate to the door jamb and the title before you argue about AWD badges that may have been swapped.

Recalls that follow Suzuki VINs

Always run the full VIN. Campaigns keep arriving long after a brand leaves the market. NHTSA recall 13V-405 covers certain 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles whose front passenger occupant classification sensor mat may fail from repeated flexing so the air bag may not deploy as designed. 19V-187 covers certain 2006-2013 Grand Vitara and 2010-2013 Kizashi vehicles with leather seats whose passenger seat cushion can shrink and confuse the occupant sensor. Look, an open air bag sensor campaign on a cheap used SUV is not a coupon problem. Our NHTSA recall check by VIN guide explains incomplete versus completed status.

NBC News reported in November 2012 that American Suzuki Motor filed for Chapter 11 and said it would stop selling cars in the U.S. while still handling warranties and helping dealers become parts-and-service shops. That history is why you call a Suzuki service provider before you assume a free repair is a short drive away.

After the decode: history, and what it costs

None of a VIN decode shows salvage brands, odometer jumps, flood wash or auction damage. Those come from the feeds CARFAX describes. Pull your own copy. 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, 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. A seller PDF with no VIN printed on it is worth nothing on an orphaned brand.

Sources

• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• 49 CFR 565.15 VIN requirements
• NHTSA: recall 13V-405 (occupant sensor)
• NHTSA: recall 19V-187 (seat cushion)
• NBC News: American Suzuki bankruptcy
• Consumer Reports: Suzuki
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports