Decode Your VIN

Enter your vehicle's VIN code to discover all technical specifications. The VIN consists of 17 alphanumeric characters.

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN Decoder: Free Lookup

Want to decode your Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN? You’re in the right place, and it’s completely free. Just type the 17-character vehicle identification number from your CLA-Class into the box above and you’ll get the make, model variant, year, engine family, transmission, trim level, factory options and assembly-plant data in seconds. No sign-up, no email needed.

About the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

The CLA-Class is Mercedes-Benz's four-door coupe interpretation of the A-Class platform. It was produced from 2013 to present, and you’ll find it as a Four-door coupe, Shooting Brake. Assembly happened at: Kecskemét (Hungary) and Rastatt (Germany).

The CLA-Class VIN encodes everything from chassis code and engine family through to factory options, production plant and model year.

A few things worth knowing about the CLA-Class

The original CLA (C117, 2013) was the first sub-$30,000 Mercedes-Benz sold in the United States, a deliberate strategy to lower the brand's entry point and attract younger buyers. The CLA45 AMG is one of the most powerful four-cylinder production cars ever, with 421 hp from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.

How to decode a Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN

Every Mercedes-Benz VIN built since 1981 follows the ISO 3779 standard. That gives you 17 alphanumeric characters split into three blocks: the World Manufacturer Identifier (positions 1 to 3), the Vehicle Descriptor Section (positions 4 to 9) and the Vehicle Identifier Section (positions 10 to 17). Here’s what each chunk tells you about your CLA-Class.

Positions 1 to 3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

WDD and W1K prefixes appear; export markets sometimes show WDC.

Positions 4 to 8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

C117 and C118 chassis codes live in VDS positions 4 to 8.

Position 9: Check Digit

The check digit comes from a weighted sum of the other 16 characters. Think of it as a self-validating control. If you mistype any single character on your CLA-Class VIN, the check digit won’t match and the VIN is flagged as invalid.

Position 10: Model Year

Position 10 tells you the model year using a rolling alphanumeric scheme. A quick Mercedes-Benz cheat sheet: S = 1995, Y = 2000, 5 = 2005, A = 2010, F = 2015, L = 2020, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.

Position 11: Assembly Plant

Position 11 commonly 'J' (Rastatt, Germany) or 'F' (Kecskemét, Hungary).

Positions 12 to 17: Production Sequence Number

The final six digits are the unique serial number stamped on your specific CLA-Class as it rolled off the assembly line.

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class engine codes

Over the years the CLA-Class has been offered with the following engine families: M260, M270, M282 turbo gasoline; OM608 diesel; AMG M260 in CLA45. Mercedes-Benz engine codes follow a tight naming convention. The letter ‘M‘ denotes a petrol/gasoline engine (think M256, M177, M139), while ‘OM‘ (Oel-Motor) flags a diesel (OM651, OM654, OM656 and so on). Want to know exactly which engine sits under your CLA-Class? Decode the VIN above. VDS positions 4 to 8 will give you the exact engine variant.

CLA-Class VIN quick reference

Here’s the at-a-glance reference for decoding any Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN:

Production years: 2013 to present
Body styles: Four-door coupe, Shooting Brake
Primary assembly: Kecskemét (Hungary) and Rastatt (Germany)
WMI prefix: WDD and W1K prefixes appear; export markets sometimes show WDC.
Chassis identifier (VDS): C117 and C118 chassis codes live in VDS positions 4 to 8.
Plant code (position 11): Position 11 commonly 'J' (Rastatt, Germany) or 'F' (Kecskemét, Hungary).
Engine families: M260, M270, M282 turbo gasoline; OM608 diesel; AMG M260 in CLA45
Trim levels offered: CLA180, CLA200, CLA220, CLA250, CLA35 AMG, CLA45 AMG

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class trim levels and variants

Across its run the CLA-Class has shown up in these trim levels: CLA180, CLA200, CLA220, CLA250, CLA35 AMG, CLA45 AMG. Every trim leaves a fingerprint inside the VIN’s VDS section. Decoding your VIN doesn’t just confirm the trim level. It also surfaces the original factory option packages (AMG Line, Premium, Driver Assistance, Burmester audio, the lot), and that’s the stuff that really matters when you’re checking resale value.

Recall and safety information for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Open and historic recalls on the CLA-Class are tracked by NHTSA in the USA, by the European Commission’s RAPEX system in the EU, and by individual national transport authorities elsewhere. Once you’ve decoded your CLA-Class VIN above, copy the 17 characters into any of these databases to check for outstanding safety actions. On modern Mercedes-Benz cars the usual suspects are airbag inflators, fuel-system seals, electric power steering and occupant-classification software.

Why use VinDecoderPlus for your CLA-Class?

You’ll get a free instant decode of any Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN with VinDecoderPlus. No sign-up, no email, no credit card. The data comes from NHTSA’s vPIC database (the official US government VIN registry) and is cross-referenced with manufacturer specifications. If you want to dig deeper into ownership records, accident reports, title brands or odometer history, you can upgrade to a full vehicle history report directly from the results page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your CLA-Class’s windshield, driver-side door jamb, or vehicle title into the VinDecoderPlus tool above. Because the CLA-Class was produced from 2013 to present as a four-door coupe, shooting brake, the decoder returns model-year-appropriate data, including the engine variant from the M260 family. The information comes straight from NHTSA’s vPIC database and Mercedes-Benz build records.

Where is the VIN located on a Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

On a CLA-Class you’ll find the VIN in four places. First, on the lower-left corner of the windshield, where it’s visible from outside the car. Second, on a sticker inside the driver’s-side door jamb. Third, stamped into the engine firewall or chassis rail (this is typical for four-door coupe bodies). And fourth, printed on the vehicle title, registration and insurance card. On the CLA-Class, the door-jamb sticker is also where you’ll see the original tire and load specification.

What engines were offered in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class has been offered with these engine families: M260, M270, M282 turbo gasoline; OM608 diesel; AMG M260 in CLA45. The specific engine installed in your particular CLA-Class is encoded in VDS positions 4 to 8 of the VIN. Looking for the AMG-tuned variant? Check VDS positions 6 and 7. Those positions flag AMG-spec models.

Where was the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class built?

The CLA-Class is mainly assembled at: Kecskemét (Hungary) and Rastatt (Germany). Position 11 commonly ‘J’ (Rastatt, Germany) or ‘F’ (Kecskemét, Hungary). Why does it matter where your car was built? Parts compatibility. European-spec and North-American-spec CLA-Class variants sometimes differ in lighting, emissions equipment and OBD-II reporting standards, even when they share the same chassis code.

How can I check open recalls on my Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

Once you’ve decoded your CLA-Class VIN above, copy the 17 characters into the NHTSA recall database (USA), the EU RAPEX system, or the Mercedes-Benz owner portal. Since the CLA-Class was produced from 2013 to present, you may also bump into historic technical service bulletins (TSBs). Those aren’t safety recalls, but they do give you useful maintenance guidance for your specific chassis code.

What trim levels are available for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?

Across its run, the CLA-Class has been offered in: CLA180, CLA200, CLA220, CLA250, CLA35 AMG, CLA45 AMG. Each trim leaves its fingerprint inside the VIN’s VDS section. The original CLA (C117, 2013) was the first sub-$30,000 Mercedes-Benz sold in the United States, a deliberate strategy to lower the brand’s entry point and attract younger buyers.

Is the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN decoder really free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus is a completely free decoder for every Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN. No sign-up, no credit card, no usage limit. If you want the deeper stuff (ownership records, accident history, title brand) for the CLA-Class, full vehicle history reports are available as an optional paid upgrade from the results page.

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Looking for a different Mercedes-Benz model? Browse our full Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder hub, or jump straight into one of the most popular Mercedes model decoders below:

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Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class VIN Decoder