How to tell if a Honda is US or Japan built?
Determining whether a Honda vehicle was built in the United States or Japan can be done by examining the vehicle identification number (VIN) and other identifying marks. The VIN, along with the vehicle's origin, can provide clear indications of where the car was manufactured.
Identifying the Honda's Country of Origin
The first step in determining if a Honda is US or Japan built is to locate the VIN. The VIN is a unique 17-character code that identifies the vehicle and provides information about its origin, among other details. The VIN is typically found on the driver's side dashboard, the driver's side door jamb, or the engine block.
- The first character of the VIN indicates the country of origin. For Hondas, a "1" or "4" signifies the vehicle was built in the United States, while a "J" indicates it was built in Japan.
- Additionally, the plant code, which is the 11th character of the VIN, can provide further clues. For US-built Hondas, the plant code will be a letter, while Japan-built Hondas will have a number in this position.
Beyond the VIN, there are other indicators that can help identify the origin of a Honda:
- The vehicle's country of origin may be printed on the driver's side door jamb sticker or the certification label.
- The engine and transmission specifications can also provide clues, as US-built Hondas may have different engine and transmission options compared to Japan-built models.
- The vehicle's overall build quality and attention to detail can sometimes indicate its country of origin, as manufacturing processes and standards may differ between the US and Japan.
By closely examining the VIN, door jamb stickers, and other identifying features, you can determine with a high degree of accuracy whether a Honda was built in the United States or Japan.
How do I know if my car was built in Japan?
– If the VIN starts with the letter J, it points to the vehicle being assembled in Japan. Also known as the birthplace of Toyota and home to numerous assembly plants.
Which Hondas are assembled in Japan?
Japan
- Sayama began operations in 1964 building the Honda L700, and currently builds the Honda Stepwgn, Honda Odyssey (international), Honda Jade, Honda Legend, Honda Accord, Honda Freed, Honda CR-V, and the Honda Fit.
- Ogawa is an engine plant that provides for the Yorii Automobile plant.
How do you tell if a Honda is US or Japan built?
It requires minimal deciphering, but the vehicle identification number, or VIN, indicates the car's production location. The first character in the VIN is part of a standardized 3-digit world manufacturer identifier or WMI. Generally, the first number or letter of the VIN signifies the vehicle's country of manufacture.
How can I tell where my Honda was manufactured?
This is a two-step process: Step 1: Go to https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/ and enter the full VIN into NHTSA's VIN decoder, then click Decode VIN. Step 2: Refer to the field at the bottom of the page result, which expressly lists the build plant and country for the searched vehicle.
