Since 1981, every motor vehicle includes a unique 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) issued by the manufacturer. States use VINs for title, registration and insurance information. For your Dodge Dakota, decoding the VIN identifies several specifications.
The First Three Digits
The first three characters of a Dakota VIN identify the vehicle's country of origin, manufacturer and type. A "1" in the first position indicates a truck made in the United States, "B" or "D" in the second position indicates "Dodge" and "7" in the third means "truck." All Dakotas will have these three digits.
Gross Weight and Body Style
An "F" in the fourth position mean a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,001 to 5,000 lbs., "G" means "5,001 to 6,000 lbs. and "H" means or 6,001 to 7,000 lbs. In the fifth position, "G" means four-wheel drive and "L" means two-wheel drive.
Series and Body Type
In the sixth position, "1" means a standard trim package and "2" means a "Sport/SLT" trim package. A "2" in the seventh position denotes a two-door cab, and a "3" means a four-door cab.
Engine Size, Year and Plant
A wide range of characters in positions eight, 10 and 11 identify the engine type, year and manufacturing plant. The ninth character serves as a check digit to prevent fraud.
Free Decoding
Use the three links in the References section to help decode your VIN. At Anglefire, compare the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and 11th characters with the listed items. At The Unofficial DMV Guide and Decode This, copy the 17-character VIN into spaces provided and click "Search" or "Decode" to receive a basic description of your Dakota.
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