The beginning of General Motors was unlike any other automobile brand in the early 1900s. William C Durant founded the GM brand in 1908 as a holding company for Buick. Within ten years, Durant added Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, and the GMC Truck brands. He lost control of the company in 1910, established Chevrolet in 1911, and returned to General Motors in 1916 to lead the burgeoning automotive behemoth. In 1920, Durant retired from the company.
GM VIN Decoder
GM owners and prospective buyers can access a wealth of information on any brand using the GoodCar VIN Decoder. VIN decoders can uncover a fundamental profile on any GM car, truck, and SUV.
NHTSA requires each motor vehicle produced in the United States to have a vehicle identification number, which encodes unique information about a specific vehicle. In 1981, every General Motors brand started using the 17-digit VIN code mandated by the NHTSA.
Prospective buyers, business owners, fleet managers, and GM owners use the information provided by a VIN to make sound business and personal decisions. General Motors is now part of the DataOne Network, the world’s largest dealer of direct VIN services. DataOne enhances GM VIN data to better suit its retail customers across the brand’s many nameplates.
Deciphering an GM VIN
Understanding the General Motors VIN is crucial for many reasons, such as needed repairs, recalls, and registrations. Dealership personnel and mechanics rely on an accurate VIN to order the right parts and to make sure timely service is kept up to date.
Enter the 17-digit code, found on either the dashboard or doorpost, into the GoodCar VIN Check service, and the application will provide comprehensive insights into your GM’s unique history.
The first three positions of any VIN are termed the World’s Manufacture Identifier.
- 1
- F
- T
- 8
- W
- 3
- D
- T
- 8
- 5
- 5
- c
- 3
- 8
- 8
- 9
- 9
GM VIN Locations
The 17-digit code on a General Motors vehicle can be found in a few places, including the two required locations. The first NHTSA location is on the lower side of the driver’s dashboard. Look through the windshield to view the characters. The second NHTSA location is either stamped or engraved and placed on a plaque on the driver’s side doorpost.
Depending on the GM nameplates and models, the VIN may be stamped in several different locations. The VIN is often stamped or engraved on the engine block and the vehicle’s firewall.
Popular GM Models
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
No other model has undergone as many transformations, upgrades, and recreations as the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. The current Vette is a 670 hp, eight-speed automatic beast. Chevrolet's newest model has been embedded with every electronic upgrade and security feature, including a 14-speaker Bose sound system and a stunning performance package.
Hummer H2
One of the most recognizable models in the world is the Hummer H2. Unfortunately, in 2009, the Hummer fell victim to the times during GM’s bankruptcy proceedings. The SUV was big and thirsty for gasoline. No matter, the Hummer H2 was the dream vehicle of every off-roader. The Hummer had a very short shelf life from 2002 to 2009, but it made a big impact on the future of off-roaders by way of wheel stance, balance, and impressive, good looks.
Cadillac
Cadillac is one of those brands that has made market survival an art form. For decades, Cadillac has been in direct conflict with market trends with its huge gas-guzzling highway ships. However, the brand has adapted to the market and produced some of the finest models on the road, including the luxury Escalade SUV and CT Series.
The GM VIN
First-generation GM VIN codes, as early as 1954, were five—or six-digit “piece numbers” with an added assembly digit. Their “Vehicle Information Kits” contain thousands of illustrations and individual listings. Before the 1950s, the closest thing to a VIN code was a production serial number stamped on the frame or engine block.
There is sparse VIN information on vehicles built before 1954. The format and use of the VIN were not standardized for any American-made vehicle, and if there was a VIN tag, it was usually attached to a removable part. The term vehicle identification number started to normalize around 1968. In 1966, GM settled on a 13-digit code and standardized the code across its many brands by 1972.
GoodCar GM VIN Checks
The GoodCar VIN Lookup tool provides vital information on a General Motors car or truck. GoodCar provides the VIN check service that automatically decodes a host of information, such as model, engine type, and year.
Odometer fraud is a fast-growing automotive crime that most prospective buyers overlook. GoodCar records the VIN each time your GM vehicle is serviced, sold, or involved in an accident. Prospective buyers must compare odometer readings from each event to uncover any potential fraud.
It is essential to know the title condition of your General Motors vehicle. For example, if the car has a salvage title, it has been in a significant accident, and the insurance company has deemed the vehicle a total loss. Other title conditions may be rebuilt, water-damaged, or a bonded title.
The GoodCar service also provides ownership data from the first purchase to the current owner. Prospective purchasers must never buy any used vehicle without using the GoodCar VIN Check service. Our service will provide every piece of vital data tied to your GM car or truck.
Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)
General Motors is a behemoth in the automotive landscape, with four core brands and dozens of models. The GoodCar Recall Lookup feature is handy for every vehicle history report.
General Motors provides brand recall information through their GM Account, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, and Saab. Any new or used buyer should create an account through the GM Recall and Warranty Center. Every GM TSB and Recall Notice will be included in your GoodCar Vehicle History Report.
Bulletin No: 13-08-116-001l affects all GM cars or trucks with aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices that may cause issues with 2024 and earlier GM passenger cars and trucks. It also applies to any of these models that may be exported from North America. The bulletin has been revised to include all 2024 models.
May 6, 2024: Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Escalade SUVs are finding their batteries are prematurely dying, and the rear tailgates are randomly opening. The issue is related to a faulty part and software. The company has issued the TSB 24-NA-039 bulletin.
Recalls
- Nearly every global brand has been affected by the Takata Airbag, and General Motors is no different. From 2014 to 2017, GM recalled over one million vehicles, including Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet. NHTSA estimated that nearly 67 million vehicles were recalled due to the faulty Takata Airbag.
- The largest GM recall, and one of the biggest in automotive history, happened nearly 50 years ago. In 1971, General Motors announced over 6.7 million cars and trucks were being recalled due to faulty engine mounts. Initially, GM denied any problems; however, due to public pressure, they agreed to the recall.
- 2020 to 2022 Bolt EVs and EUVs are being recalled to upgrade to a new Advanced Diagnostic Software package. The software maintains an eighty percent charge on the vehicle’s battery, preventing low and high spikes. If no anomalies are detected after 6200 miles, the software returns the battery to its 100% charge.
Since 2004, General Motors has issued more recalls on its various brands than any other automobile manufacturer. As of July 2023, GM has issued 2127 recalls.