Kenworth VIN Decoder

Decode any Kenworth VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your truck into the decoder above and get the model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and recall status instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.

This page is the Kenworth VIN hub: Kenworth-specific WMI codes, the brand’s assembly plants, a position-by-position guide to reading a Kenworth VIN, where to find the VIN on the truck itself, and how to check recalls for the W900, T680, T880, and other Kenworth models.

About Kenworth

Kenworth traces its roots to 1916, when Gerlinger Motors moved from Portland to Tacoma, Washington. After a 1917 bankruptcy, Seattle businessman Edgar K. Worthington and Captain Frederick Kent bought the firm and renamed it Gersix Motor Company. In January 1923, Worthington and Harry W. Kent (Frederick’s son) reincorporated the business in Seattle as Kenworth Motor Truck Corporation, a name built from pieces of the founders’ surnames, Kent and Worthington.

PACCAR acquired Kenworth in 1945, and the brand has operated as a PACCAR subsidiary ever since, alongside sister brands Peterbilt and DAF. Kenworth is widely regarded as one of the premium, driver-favorite names in Class 8 trucking, known for the long-nose W900 conventional, the aerodynamic T680, and the vocational T880. Final assembly for the North American market is split between Renton, Washington, and Chillicothe, Ohio, a 622,000-square-foot plant about 50 miles south of Columbus. Kenworth Mexicana has assembled trucks for the Mexican, Central American, and South American markets at a plant in Mexicali, Baja California, since 1959.

Kenworth WMI codes (positions 1-3)

The first three characters of your VIN, the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), identify the manufacturer, country, and vehicle type. Here are the WMIs assigned to Kenworth, per NHTSA’s vPIC database:

If your VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine Kenworth. The vast majority of US-market trucks on the road carry 1XK (complete) or 1NK (incomplete, second-stage cab and chassis). An “incomplete vehicle” WMI means the truck left the factory as a bare cab and chassis, to be finished by a second-stage manufacturer for vocational or specialty applications.

How to read a Kenworth VIN: position by position

Every Kenworth VIN built since the early 1980s follows the ISO 3779 17-character standard. The 17 characters split into three blocks:

Here is what each position means specifically on a Kenworth.

Position 4: Chassis configuration

As with other Class 8 trucks, a Kenworth VIN dedicates a character to axle and chassis configuration rather than body style, since fleet buyers spec a truck by drivetrain layout first. Position 4 distinguishes a day cab from a sleeper-equipped conventional and identifies straight-truck versus truck-tractor setups.

Positions 5-6: Model and GVWR class

These characters jointly identify the model line and GVWR class. This is where a decoder distinguishes the W900 (Kenworth’s classic long-hood conventional), the T680 and T680 Next Gen (the aerodynamic long-haul flagship), the T880 (vocational and heavy-haul), and the medium-duty T270/T370 line. GVWR class rides on the same characters, so the same model can carry different codes depending on axle rating and specification.

Positions 7-8: Engine, fuel, and brakes

Positions 7-8 identify the engine family, fuel type, and brake system (air or air-over-hydraulic). Kenworth trucks are most commonly specified with the PACCAR MX-13 and MX-11 engines, though Cummins X15 and X12 options are also available depending on model and model year.

Position 9: Check digit

The check digit is the most important single character in any VIN. It’s calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. If even one character of a Kenworth VIN is mistyped, the check digit won’t match, and any compliant decoder, DMV, or fleet-management system will flag it as invalid.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to a model year on a repeating cycle used across the North American VIN standard, including Kenworth. Skim the chart below to translate yours:

The letters I, O, and Q are never used in any VIN, including Kenworth, because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.

Position 11: Assembly plant

The single character at position 11 identifies the specific factory that built the truck. Kenworth’s North American final assembly runs through two plants: Renton, Washington, and Chillicothe, Ohio. Kenworth Mexicana’s Mexicali, Baja California plant handles assembly for Mexican and Latin American markets. The exact letter-to-plant mapping varies by production era and series, so decode the full VIN with the tool above for a plant-specific confirmation.

Positions 12-17: Serial number

The final six characters are the production sequence number assigned to your truck as it rolled off the line, making every Kenworth VIN globally unique.

Where to find the VIN on a Kenworth

Kenworth trucks are heavy commercial vehicles, and federal VIN-placement rules treat them differently from cars. Under 49 CFR 565.15, the windshield-visibility requirement applies only to vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less. Every Kenworth Class 8 truck, and most of its medium-duty models, are built well above that threshold, so there’s no windshield VIN plate to look for. Instead, look here:

• The certification/compliance label on the driver’s side door frame or hinge pillar, visible when the door is open. It lists the VIN, GVWR, GAWR, and date of manufacture
• The VIN stamped into the top flange of the left frame rail, typically over or near the front axle
• The vehicle’s title, registration, and dealer service records

The 17-character VIN standard covered here applies to Kenworth trucks built from the early 1980s onward. Kenworth dates to 1923, so older and vintage trucks carry a shorter, Kenworth-specific chassis number instead. For those, use our classic car VIN decoder guide.

Check Kenworth recalls and safety information

Kenworth recalls, like all US motor vehicle recalls, are tracked by NHTSA. Fleet owners should also know FMCSA’s separate role in roadside inspection and maintenance compliance. The fastest way to check a specific Kenworth:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model, model year, and GVWR class
2. Look it up on Kenworth’s official recalls page or NHTSA’s recall database; NHTSA holds recall authority, while FMCSA governs how carriers maintain and inspect vehicles in service
3. Contact your nearest Kenworth dealer for the free recall repair

Recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of vehicle age, mileage, or ownership history.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Kenworth VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your Kenworth’s door-frame certification label, frame rail stamp, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and open recalls. No registration is required.

Where is the VIN on my Kenworth?

Unlike a car, a Kenworth’s VIN isn’t required to be visible through the windshield; that rule only applies under 10,000 lbs GVWR. Check the certification label on the driver’s door frame or hinge pillar, and the VIN stamped into the left frame rail near the front axle.

Is the Kenworth VIN decoder free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Kenworth VIN free, with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports, including title records, accident history, and odometer history, are available as an optional paid upgrade.

What does the VIN tell me about my Kenworth?

A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration: model (W900, T680, T880, and others), chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine and brake type, model year, assembly plant, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain. For those, you need a paid vehicle history report.

Is Kenworth related to Peterbilt or DAF?

Yes. Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF are all owned by PACCAR, which has held Kenworth since 1945. The three brands are built and marketed separately, with distinct model lines and VIN WMI codes, but they share PACCAR engineering resources including the MX-13 and MX-11 engines.

Can a Kenworth VIN be faked?

The 17 characters can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible: one changed character breaks the math. The VIN is also independently stamped into the frame rail, so a cloned door label won’t match the frame. If you suspect a cloned VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.

Decode any Kenworth VIN free

Type your 17-character Kenworth VIN into the decoder at the top of this page and get a full breakdown instantly. To learn more about VIN structure in general, see our guides:

• How to read a VIN number
• What every character in a VIN means
• Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981)
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report