Mazda CX-5 VIN Decoder

Decode any Mazda CX-5 VIN free in under three seconds. Type the 17-character vehicle identification number into the decoder above and pull the generation, model year, engine, trim, drivetrain, plant of origin, and open NHTSA recalls. No account, no credit card, no email gate.

This page is the dedicated Mazda CX-5 hub. Below you’ll find the generation-by-generation chassis codes the CX-5 actually carries in its VIN, the plant that has built nearly every one sold in the US, a position-by-position breakdown verified against real decoded VINs (not a generic template), and the spots on the car where the VIN is stamped.

About the Mazda CX-5

The CX-5 launched for model year 2013 as Mazda’s first vehicle built on the SKYACTIV platform, the lightweight chassis and engine architecture that now underpins most of the lineup. It quickly became Mazda’s top-selling model worldwide and has stayed there ever since. Three generations have been sold in the US so far:

Generation	US model years	Chassis code (VIN pos. 4-5)	Engines	Built at
1st gen	2013-2016	KE	2.0L SKYACTIV-G (2013+); 2.5L SKYACTIV-G added 2014	Hiroshima, Japan
2nd gen	2017-2025	KF	2.0L and 2.5L SKYACTIV-G; 2.5L turbo SKYACTIV-G (2019+); 2.2L SKYACTIV-D diesel (2019 only, Signature trim)	Hiroshima, Japan
3rd gen	2026-present	KM	2.5L SKYACTIV-G at launch; mild-hybrid and US-market hybrid variants following for 2027	Hiroshima, Japan

The chassis code sits right inside the VIN at positions 4 and 5, and it’s the fastest way to tell generations apart. A 2014 Grand Touring carries KE in that spot; a 2021 Carbon Edition carries KF; a 2026 model carries KM. We confirmed this directly by decoding real VINs from each generation through NHTSA’s vPIC database, not by copying a spec sheet.

One correction worth flagging: several dealer blogs describe the redesign as a “2025” CX-5. Decoded VIN data says otherwise. Two genuine 2025 model year VINs we checked (JM3KFBDY5S0549349 and JM3KFBEMXS0763409) both still carry the older KF chassis code. The all-new model, revealed by Mazda in July 2025, is a 2026 model year vehicle carrying the KM code, and it’s the one currently at dealers as of this writing.

Mazda CX-5 WMI codes (positions 1 to 3)

The first three characters form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned by SAE on behalf of ISO. Every genuine US-market CX-5 VIN we decoded, across all three generations from 2013 through 2026, carried the same WMI:

WMI	Country	Manufacturer	Vehicle type on file with NHTSA
JM3	Japan	Mazda Motor Corporation	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)

Two things worth clearing up, since both come up in searches about where the CX-5 is built:
Mexico. Mazda operates a plant in Salamanca, Guanajuato, and NHTSA has WMI codes on file for it (3MZ, 3MY, 3MD, 3MV). But a real Mexico-built Mazda VIN we decoded came back as a CX-30, not a CX-5. Salamanca builds the Mazda3 and CX-30 for North America; we found no genuine CX-5 VIN carrying a Mexico WMI. Treat any claim that the CX-5 is Mexico-built with skepticism unless you can point to an actual decoded VIN.
Alabama. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville has its own WMIs (7MU, 7MM). A real VIN starting 7MM that we decoded came back as a CX-50, Mazda’s similarly-named but differently-platformed US-built crossover. The CX-5 has never been assembled at Huntsville. If you’re cross-shopping a used CX-50 and CX-5, the WMI settles which one you’re actually looking at.
If your CX-5’s VIN doesn’t start with JM3, decode it in full with the tool at the top of this page before assuming anything about the car.

How to read a Mazda CX-5 VIN, position by position

Every CX-5 built since 2013 uses the 17-character ISO 3779 format shared across the industry. Here’s what each block means, verified against real decoded VINs rather than assumed.

Positions 1 to 3: World Manufacturer Identifier

See the table above. J marks the country of assembly (Japan), M identifies Mazda, and 3 marks the vehicle class (MPV/SUV). This is the country where the factory sits, not where the brand is headquartered, which is also Japan in Mazda’s case, so it doesn’t add extra confusion here the way it might on a brand with import plants.

Positions 4 to 8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

Positions 4 and 5 are the reliable part of this block: they hold the chassis code (KE, KF, or KM), confirmed directly from decoded VINs across all three generations as shown above.

Positions 6 through 8 are less clean, and we’d rather say so than publish a table that looks authoritative but isn’t. When we decoded matched pairs of VINs (a non-turbo Grand Touring and a dealer-advertised “Turbo Signature,” for example), NHTSA’s database returned the same character at position 8 for both, and its TurboOrSupercharger field came back blank for a car independently confirmed to be turbocharged. In practice, positions 6-8 mix body, restraint, and trim-package data that Mazda hasn’t published as a simple lookup, and NHTSA’s data doesn’t reliably resolve engine or turbo status from those characters alone. One exception: the 2019 SKYACTIV-D diesel Signature decoded cleanly, with position 8 reading 2 and correctly returning a 2.2L diesel engine, distinct from every gas VIN we checked.

The practical takeaway: trust the full decode above (which pulls from NHTSA’s database of manufacturer-submitted specs) over any manual table for engine and trim. It will tell you displacement and fuel type reliably; for exact trim package and options, cross-reference the VIN against Mazda’s build sheet or a window sticker lookup.

Position 9: Check digit

The 9th character is a computed value, not descriptive data. It’s derived from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting formula and modulo-11 math defined in the ISO/SAE standard. Change any single character elsewhere in the VIN and the check digit no longer matches, which is why a mistyped VIN gets rejected by state DMVs, insurance systems, and NHTSA’s own recall lookup rather than silently returning the wrong car.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to model year on a repeating 30-year cycle. For the CX-5, which has been in continuous production every year since its 2013 launch, here’s the complete, gap-free mapping:

Char	Year	Char	Year
D	2013	M	2021
E	2014	N	2022
F	2015	P	2023
G	2016	R	2024
H	2017	S	2025
J	2018	T	2026
K	2019
L	2020

I, O, and Q are skipped industry-wide because they’re too easily misread as 1 and 0. We confirmed this exact sequence by decoding genuine CX-5 VINs from 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2026, and every one matched the character shown here. The CX-5 nameplate is only 13 years old, so the 30-year cycle hasn’t wrapped yet, and there’s no ambiguity to resolve the way there is on a longer-running nameplate.

Position 11: Assembly plant

A single character identifies the specific factory. Every genuine CX-5 VIN we decoded, spanning all three generations and every US trim level from base Sport through Signature, carried the same character here:

Char	Plant
0	Hiroshima, Japan (Mazda Motor Corporation)

Mazda also assembles CX-5s for certain non-US markets at plants in China, Malaysia, and Vietnam under local partnership arrangements, but those cars carry different national WMI codes outside the JM3 structure covered here and fall outside the scope of a US-focused decoder. Every US-spec CX-5 VIN we found, regardless of model year, pointed to Hiroshima.

Positions 12 to 17: Serial number

The final six digits are the sequential production number assigned as your specific CX-5 came down the line. Combined with the 11 characters before it, this makes every CX-5 VIN globally unique, even between two cars with an identical generation, year, and trim.

Where to find the VIN on a Mazda CX-5

Four spots on the car, plus the paperwork:

• Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, visible from outside through the glass
• Driver’s-side door jamb sticker (open the door and look at the B-pillar)
• Engine bay, stamped on a plate near the firewall
• Vehicle title, registration, insurance card, and the MyMazda owner app

The windshield and door jamb are the fastest to check on a used-car lot, since both are federally required to match. If you’re worried about a cloned or re-tagged VIN, the windshield and door-jamb numbers should match each other and match what the seller’s paperwork shows; a mismatch is a red flag worth walking away from.

Check Mazda CX-5 recalls and safety information

The CX-5 has been through several NHTSA recall campaigns. Two of the better-known ones: a 2019 recall covering certain 2018-2019 CX-5s for a powertrain control module software error that could cause engine stall, and a 2022 notification covering 2018-2019 CX-5s (plus several other Mazda models from the same window) for a low-pressure fuel pump impeller that could crack and fail.

To check your specific car:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the exact model year and trim
2. Enter the 17-character VIN at Mazda’s owner recall lookup or NHTSA’s recall database
3. If a campaign is open, schedule the repair at any authorized Mazda dealer

Recall repairs are free regardless of the car’s age, mileage, or how many owners it’s had.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode a Mazda CX-5 VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from the windshield, door jamb, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include generation, model year, engine displacement and fuel type, drivetrain, assembly plant, and any open NHTSA recalls. No sign-up required.

Where is the VIN on a Mazda CX-5?

The two easiest spots are the lower driver’s-side corner of the windshield, readable from outside the car, and the door jamb sticker on the driver’s side B-pillar. Both are required by federal labeling rules and should match. A stamped plate in the engine bay carries the same number as a harder-to-alter backup.

What does a Mazda CX-5 VIN starting with JM3 mean?

JM3 is the World Manufacturer Identifier for Mazda Motor Corporation vehicles built in Japan and classified as multipurpose passenger vehicles. Every genuine US-market CX-5 we decoded across all three generations carried this WMI. It doesn’t tell you which specific Japanese plant built the car, but Hiroshima is the plant every CX-5 VIN we checked pointed back to.

Is the Mazda CX-5 built in Mexico or Alabama?

Not based on any VIN we could find. Mazda’s Salamanca, Mexico plant builds the Mazda3 and CX-30, and a real Mexico-built Mazda VIN we decoded confirmed a CX-30, not a CX-5. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama builds the CX-50, a different (though similarly named) model; a real Huntsville-built VIN we decoded confirmed a CX-50. If someone tells you their CX-5 was “built in America,” ask to see the VIN.

How do I tell the generation of my CX-5 from the VIN?

Look at positions 4 and 5. KE is the first generation (2013-2016). KF is the second generation (2017-2025). KM is the third generation (2026-present). Position 10 then confirms the exact model year within that generation.

Did the Mazda CX-5 ever come with a diesel engine in the US?

Yes, briefly. Mazda offered the 2.2L SKYACTIV-D diesel on the CX-5 Signature trim for the 2019 model year only. We confirmed this by decoding a genuine 2019 diesel Signature VIN, which correctly returned a 2.2L displacement and diesel fuel type. Mazda quietly discontinued the US diesel program after that single model year and confirmed the decision publicly in January 2021, citing weak demand relative to its price.

Is this Mazda CX-5 VIN decoder really free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Mazda CX-5 VIN free with no sign-up. The basic decode covers everything the factory reported to NHTSA. A full vehicle history report (accidents, odometer history, prior owners, salvage or flood titles) is available as a paid upgrade if you need to go deeper than what the VIN itself encodes.

Decode any Mazda CX-5 VIN free

Type your 17-character CX-5 VIN into the decoder at the top of this page for an instant, verified breakdown. To go deeper into VIN structure generally, or to check the history behind a specific car:

• Mazda VIN decoder hub for the brand-wide guide
• How to read a VIN number for the general ISO/SAE standard
• What every character in a VIN means for a position-by-position reference
• Classic car VIN decoder if you’re researching an older Mazda outside this 17-character format
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report for what a decode covers and what it doesn’t
• How to check if a car is stolen by VIN for verifying a used CX-5 before you buy