Tesla Model Y VIN Decoder — Decode Any Model Y by Gigafactory, Trim & Recall Status.
CarCheckerVIN's free Model Y VIN decoder queries NMVTIS, NHTSA, and Tesla VIN-format records to decode any 17-character Tesla Model Y VIN by Gigafactory, build year, and trim. As an NMVTIS-approved data provider, CarCheckerVIN returns the same VIN decode logic Tesla service centers use, so you can confirm which of the four Model Y plants — Fremont in California, Austin in Texas, Shanghai in China, or Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany — produced the car. The decoder reads the WMI to identify the Gigafactory, the 10th character for the model year, the VDS for the trim, and surfaces any open NHTSA recall campaigns including the Autopilot remediation (23V-838) and the 2023 power-steering action that affected certain Model Y vehicles. Enter a 17-character Model Y VIN below — Long Range, Performance, Standard Range, or the 2025 Juniper refresh — and the decode runs in seconds with no account.
Free Tesla Model Y VIN Decoder — Decode Any 17-Character VIN
Enter a Model Y VIN to decode the Gigafactory (Fremont, Austin, Shanghai, or Berlin), model year, trim, and surface any open NHTSA safety recalls attached to the VIN.
Free · No sign-up · Instant decode
Quick Answer
- How do I decode a Tesla Model Y VIN?
- CarCheckerVIN's free Tesla Model Y VIN decoder queries NMVTIS, NHTSA, and Tesla VIN-format records to return the Gigafactory (Fremont, Austin, Shanghai, or Berlin), model year, and open recalls from any 17-character Model Y VIN in seconds.
- Where is the Tesla Model Y VIN located?
- The Model Y VIN is printed at the lower driver-side corner of the windshield, on the driver-door jamb sticker, inside the MyTesla app under the Vehicle tab, and on the Tesla title document. Any one is enough to run a free decode.
- What WMIs does the Tesla Model Y use?
- Model Y VINs use four WMIs:
5YJ(Fremont, pre-2022),7SAY(Austin Gigafactory Texas, post-2022),LRW(Shanghai), andXP7(Berlin-Brandenburg). The first three characters identify the plant.
How to Decode a Tesla Model Y VIN
Decoding a Model Y VIN is a three-step job. You provide the 17-character VIN; we read the WMI for the plant, position-10 for the year, the VDS for the trim, then query NMVTIS for title brands and NHTSA for any open recall campaigns. Because Tesla builds Model Y at four Gigafactories — more than any other Tesla model — the plant decode is especially important.
Enter the Model Y VIN
Paste the 17-character VIN from the windshield, door jamb, MyTesla app, or title. The decoder validates that it is exactly 17 characters and excludes the letters I, O, and Q per FMVSS 565 before running.
We decode + query the records
Your Model Y VIN decode reads the WMI (5YJ Fremont, 7SAY Austin, LRW Shanghai, XP7 Berlin), the model-year character at position 10, the trim and drivetrain inside the VDS, then hits NMVTIS for title brands and the NHTSA recall feed for any open Tesla Model Y actions.
Read the Model Y decode
You see the decoded Gigafactory, model year, trim (Long Range, Performance, Standard Range, Juniper), drivetrain (RWD or AWD), title-brand summary, and any open NHTSA recalls — including OTA-delivered Autopilot remediation and any model-specific actions still attached to the VIN.
What a Tesla Model Y VIN Reveals
A Model Y VIN decode encodes plant, model year, trim, drivetrain, and ties to recall records the previous owner may never have resolved. Because Model Y ships from four different Gigafactories, the plant decode often clarifies the spec — Berlin builds are EU-spec, Shanghai builds are global export, Fremont and Austin builds are North American market.
Gigafactory of origin
The WMI (positions 1-3) names the plant. 5YJ means Fremont (pre-2022 Model Y), 7SAY means Gigafactory Texas (Austin, post-2022), LRW means Gigafactory Shanghai, and XP7 means Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The plant tells you the spec and the market the car was built for.
Model year (10th char)
Position 10 encodes the model year per FMVSS 565: L=2020 (first Model Y), M=2021, N=2022, P=2023, R=2024, S=2025, T=2026. The 'Juniper' refresh — Model Y's mid-cycle update — shipped on 2025 (S) and later VINs.
Trim & equipment
The VDS (positions 4-8) encodes the trim line: Long Range, Performance, Standard Range, or the 2025 Juniper refresh. Combined with the build year you can confirm a listing is pre-refresh or post-Juniper.
Drivetrain config
The decoder returns the drive configuration — Rear-Wheel Drive (single motor, Standard Range), All-Wheel Drive (dual motor, Long Range and Juniper), or the Performance variant — plus the battery pack the VIN was built with.
Open recall status
The Model Y decode hits the NHTSA recall feed. Open actions stay attached to the VIN until completed — including the Autopilot remediation (23V-838) affecting ~2 million vehicles and the 2023 power-steering PCB campaign on certain Model Y builds. Most Tesla recalls are remedied by free over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Title brand history
NMVTIS supplies the title-brand chain across all 50 state DMVs. Salvage, flood, junk, rebuilt, and lemon-law buyback brands surface here — the brands that survive title washing across state lines.
Decoding the WMI for Tesla Model Y — Four Plants
Model Y is the only Tesla model produced at all four Gigafactories. The first three characters of the VIN identify the plant, and each plant typically serves a different regional market: Fremont and Austin for North America, Shanghai for China and global export, Berlin for the EU.
5YJGigafactory California (Fremont, CA) — United States. Tesla's original assembly plant, opened 2010 in the former NUMMI facility.7SAYGigafactory Texas (Austin, TX) — United States. Tesla's flagship plant since 2022; primary Cybertruck production.LRWGigafactory Shanghai — China. Largest Tesla plant by volume; primarily serves China + EU + APAC export markets.XP7Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg — Germany. Tesla's first European plant; opened March 2022 in Grünheide.
If a Model Y VIN starts with anything other than 5YJ, 7SAY, LRW, or XP7, it is not a Model Y. Pay attention to the plant: a Berlin-built Model Y on a US title raises questions, since Berlin builds primarily serve the EU market.
Year Codes (10th Character) for Tesla Model Y
Position 10 of the VIN encodes the model year per FMVSS 565. The Model Y launched in March 2020, so only codes from L (2020) onward apply.
L2020M2021N2022P2023R2024S2025T2026V2027W2028X2029Y2030The cycle skips I, O, Q, U, Z, and 0 to prevent visual confusion. The Model Y 'Juniper' refresh ships on 2025 (S) and 2026 (T) VINs.
Decode This Specific Model Y VIN Right Now
You already have a Model Y in mind. Run the VIN against NMVTIS, the NHTSA recall feed, and Tesla's four-plant WMI map — free, in seconds.
Where to Find Your Tesla Model Y VIN
Every Model Y prints the VIN in at least four places, and any one is enough to run a free decode. Tesla even gives you a digital path through the MyTesla app, which is unique among automakers.
The fastest is the lower driver-side corner of the windshield — look through the glass from outside the Model Y. The driver-side door jamb sticker is the second easiest and is federally required on every Model Y sold in the US. Open the MyTesla app, tap your Model Y under the Vehicle tab, scroll down, and the full 17-character VIN appears alongside the trim. The Tesla title document prints the VIN as well.
If the VIN on the dash does not match the VIN on the title or the MyTesla app entry, stop. That mismatch is a strong signal that the Model Y has had its identity altered — a salvage rebuild, a clone, or worse — exactly the kind of thing this free decoder is designed to surface.
Four places the Model Y VIN lives
- Lower driver-side windshield (visible from outside)
- Driver-side door jamb sticker (federal requirement)
- MyTesla app → Vehicle tab → scroll down
- Tesla title document
Found the Model Y VIN? Drop it into the decoder above to run a free decode against NMVTIS, NHTSA, and Tesla's four-plant WMI map in seconds.
Notable Recall Campaigns Affecting Tesla Model Y
Several large NHTSA recall campaigns affect Tesla Model Y specifically or as part of a multi-model action. Most are remedied through free over-the-air (OTA) software updates that download directly to the car, but a few require a service-center visit. A Model Y VIN decode tells you exactly which campaigns are still open against the VIN.
Autopilot remediation (Dec 2023) · NHTSA 23V-838
~2 million. Software remediation to add Autopilot driver-engagement controls. Delivered as an over-the-air (OTA) software update; no dealer visit required.
Touchscreen display visibility (Feb 2024) · NHTSA 24V-051
~2.2 million. Font size on the rearview camera image and warning lights was too small to meet FMVSS 101 / 111 standards. OTA software update remedy.
Power steering assist loss (Jan 2024) · NHTSA 24V-051 (separate)
~334,000 (Model 3 & Y). Power steering assist could fail at low speed on certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to printed circuit board faults.
Buying a used Model Y? Pair this Model Y VIN decoder with a focused Tesla recall check and a full Tesla VIN history check for a complete picture before you put money down. Open recalls follow the VIN — the next owner pays nothing for the remedy.
Tesla CPO vs a Free Model Y VIN History Check
Tesla's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program is dealer-direct: Model Y inventory inspected at Tesla service centers, sold with a limited warranty, and listed on Tesla.com. It's a fair program — but CPO listings carry a price premium, and the inspection does not replace a VIN-level history decode. CPO confirms current condition; this page confirms what the open NMVTIS and NHTSA records say about that specific Model Y.
A free Model Y VIN decode catches the things the dealer inspection isn't designed to surface: a flood brand from a state that re-titled clean, a prior salvage history, or an open NHTSA recall the previous owner ignored. For a CPO purchase, run the decode as confirmation. For a private-party Model Y, run the decode first, then consider a full VIN history report and an independent inspection. If anything looks off, a salvage title check can confirm exactly which brand the state applied and when.
Either way, double-check the VIN itself across the windshield, the door jamb, the MyTesla app, and the title. If one digit is off across those sources, the Model Y may not be what the paperwork says.
Tesla Model Y pre-purchase VIN checklist
- Confirm the VIN matches across windshield, door jamb, MyTesla app, and title
- Run a free Model Y VIN decode for title brands and salvage records
- Check the NHTSA recall feed for any open Tesla Model Y actions
- Match the decoded trim to the listing (Long Range vs Performance vs Standard Range vs Juniper)
- Verify the Gigafactory from the WMI — Berlin-built Model Y on a US title raises questions
- Order a full VIN history report if the decode raises any flag
Run the Model Y decoder first — paste the VIN here:
Related Tesla Checks That Build On Your Model Y Decode
A Model Y VIN decode is the entry point. These focused checks dig into specific records when something looks off — or when you want to be extra thorough before buying any used Tesla.
Always check the VIN before you buy
Our free report reveals accidents, title brands, odometer rollback, theft records, and open recalls in seconds.
Tesla Model Y VIN Decoder — Frequently Asked Questions
The questions buyers ask most when decoding a Tesla Model Y VIN for the first time.
How do I decode a Tesla Model Y VIN?+
To decode a Tesla Model Y VIN, find the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number on the lower driver-side corner of the windshield, the driver-side door jamb sticker, the MyTesla app under the Vehicle tab, or the Tesla title document. Enter it into the free Model Y VIN decoder on this page. The tool validates that the string is exactly 17 characters and excludes the letters I, O, and Q per FMVSS 565, then reads the WMI (5YJ Fremont, 7SAY Austin, LRW Shanghai, XP7 Berlin), the model-year character at position 10, the trim inside the VDS, queries NMVTIS for title-brand history, and the NHTSA recall feed for open campaigns. The decode returns in seconds with no account, credit card, or sign-up required.
Where is the VIN on a Tesla Model Y?+
Every Tesla Model Y prints the VIN in at least four places. The easiest is the lower driver-side corner of the windshield — look through the glass from outside. The second is the driver-side door jamb sticker, federally required on every Model Y sold in the US. The MyTesla mobile app shows the full 17-character VIN when you tap your Model Y under the Vehicle tab and scroll down. The Tesla title document prints the VIN as well. If any of those sources disagree, do not buy the Model Y until you reconcile the mismatch — a VIN mismatch is the classic sign of a salvage rebuild or a clone.
What WMI does the Tesla Model Y use?+
Tesla Model Y uses four WMIs depending on the Gigafactory of origin. 5YJ identifies Gigafactory California (Fremont) for pre-2022 Model Y production. 7SAY identifies Gigafactory Texas (Austin), opened April 2022 and now the primary North American Model Y plant. LRW identifies Gigafactory Shanghai, opened December 2019 and Tesla's highest-volume plant by output. XP7 identifies Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany, opened March 2022 and Tesla's only EU plant. The free decoder on this page reads the first three characters of the VIN and labels the Gigafactory in the result.
What does a Tesla Model Y VIN reveal?+
A Model Y VIN encodes the country and plant of manufacture in positions 1-3 (the WMI), the broad vehicle attributes including body style and restraint system in positions 4-8 (the VDS), a check digit in position 9, the model year in position 10, plant detail in position 11, and the unique production sequence in positions 12-17. Decoded that returns the Gigafactory, model year, trim (Long Range, Performance, Standard Range, Juniper), drivetrain (RWD or AWD), and factory equipment. A full Model Y VIN decode adds NMVTIS title-brand history, state-by-state title trail, salvage and total-loss records, and any open NHTSA recall campaigns including the Autopilot remediation (campaign 23V-838).
Are Tesla recalls free?+
Yes. Under federal law (49 U.S.C. § 30120) all manufacturer safety-recall remedies are free for vehicles 15 model years old or newer, regardless of whether the current owner is the original purchaser. That covers every Tesla Model Y ever produced. The good news for Model Y owners is that an estimated 70%+ of Tesla recall remedies since 2020 are delivered as free over-the-air (OTA) software updates — the campaign downloads to the car overnight and you wake up to a fixed vehicle, no dealer visit required. The 2023 power-steering PCB action on certain Model Y vehicles is one of the hardware exceptions and requires a Tesla service-center visit, but the repair itself is free.
Which Gigafactory built my Tesla Model Y?+
Read the first three characters of the Model Y VIN. 5YJ means Gigafactory California (Fremont) — pre-2022 Model Y production. 7SAY means Gigafactory Texas (Austin), opened April 2022 and now the primary North American Model Y plant. LRW means Gigafactory Shanghai, opened December 2019. XP7 means Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, opened March 2022 and Tesla's only EU plant. The MyTesla app does not always surface the plant directly, but the VIN's WMI tells you instantly. North-American-market Model Y is overwhelmingly Fremont or Austin; EU-market Model Y is overwhelmingly Berlin or Shanghai.
How do I check Tesla Model Y history by VIN?+
Run the Model Y VIN through the free decoder on this page and it queries three independent sources in seconds: NMVTIS for the full title-brand chain (salvage, flood, junk, rebuilt, lemon-law buyback, odometer-rollback brands across all 50 state DMVs), the NHTSA recall feed for any open Tesla Model Y campaigns including the Autopilot remediation (23V-838) and the 2023 power-steering PCB action, and Tesla VIN-format records for the Gigafactory, model year, and trim. For deeper accident and damage history, pair the decode with a dedicated accident history check — minor body work paid out of pocket may never appear in NMVTIS, which is why a hands-on inspection by a trusted mechanic is the best partner to any used-Tesla purchase.
Ready to Decode a Tesla Model Y VIN?
Enter any 17-character Model Y VIN to run a free decode against NMVTIS, the NHTSA recall feed, and Tesla's four-plant WMI map. No account required.
Related VIN Checks
More tools to verify any vehicle's history