Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class VIN Decoder: Free Lookup

Want to decode your Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class VIN? You’re in the right place, and it’s completely free. Just type the 17-character vehicle identification number from your GLK-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 GLK-Class

The GLK-Class was Mercedes-Benz's first compact SUV, produced from 2008 to 2015 before being renamed GLC. It was produced from 2008 to 2015, and you’ll find it as a Compact SUV. Assembly happened at: Bremen, Germany.

As an SUV, the GLK-Class VIN also tells you about drivetrain configuration (including 4MATIC all-wheel drive) and option packages such as the Off-Road Engineering Package.

A few things worth knowing about the GLK-Class

The GLK-Class (2008 to 2015) was Mercedes-Benz's first compact SUV and was sold globally, including in the United States, where the GLK350 was a strong sales success. The GLK was replaced by the GLC in 2015 as part of Mercedes-Benz's SUV-range renaming.

How to decode a Mercedes-Benz GLK-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 GLK-Class.

Positions 1 to 3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

WDC is the dominant WMI for North American GLKs; WDD on European market cars.

Positions 4 to 8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

X204 chassis code is encoded 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 GLK-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 is 'A' (Bremen, Germany).

Positions 12 to 17: Production Sequence Number

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

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class engine codes

Over the years the GLK-Class has been offered with the following engine families: M272 V6, M276 V6, OM651 diesel four-cylinder, OM642 V6 diesel. 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 GLK-Class? Decode the VIN above. VDS positions 4 to 8 will give you the exact engine variant.

GLK-Class VIN quick reference

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

• Production years: 2008 to 2015
• Body styles: Compact SUV
• Primary assembly: Bremen, Germany
• WMI prefix: WDC is the dominant WMI for North American GLKs; WDD on European market cars.
• Chassis identifier (VDS): X204 chassis code is encoded in VDS positions 4 to 8.
• Plant code (position 11): Position 11 is 'A' (Bremen, Germany).
• Engine families: M272 V6, M276 V6, OM651 diesel four-cylinder, OM642 V6 diesel
• Trim levels offered: GLK250 BlueTEC, GLK300, GLK350

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class trim levels and variants

Across its run the GLK-Class has shown up in these trim levels: GLK250 BlueTEC, GLK300, GLK350. 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 GLK-Class

Open and historic recalls on the GLK-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 GLK-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 GLK-Class?

You’ll get a free instant decode of any Mercedes-Benz GLK-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 GLK-Class VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your GLK-Class’s windshield, driver-side door jamb, or vehicle title into the VinDecoderPlus tool above. Because the GLK-Class was produced from 2008 to 2015 as a compact suv, the decoder returns model-year-appropriate data, including the engine variant from the M272 V6 family. The information comes straight from NHTSA’s vPIC database and Mercedes-Benz build records.

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

On a GLK-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 compact suv bodies). And fourth, printed on the vehicle title, registration and insurance card. On the GLK-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 GLK-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class has been offered with these engine families: M272 V6, M276 V6, OM651 diesel four-cylinder, OM642 V6 diesel. The specific engine installed in your particular GLK-Class is encoded in VDS positions 4 to 8 of the VIN. You can confirm the exact displacement, output and aspiration once you decode the VIN above.

Where was the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class built?

The GLK-Class is mainly assembled at: Bremen, Germany. Position 11 is ‘A’ (Bremen, Germany). Why does it matter where your car was built? Parts compatibility. European-spec and North-American-spec GLK-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 GLK-Class?

Once you’ve decoded your GLK-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 GLK-Class was produced from 2008 to 2015, 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 GLK-Class?

Across its run, the GLK-Class has been offered in: GLK250 BlueTEC, GLK300, GLK350. Each trim leaves its fingerprint inside the VIN’s VDS section. The GLK-Class (2008 to 2015) was Mercedes-Benz’s first compact SUV and was sold globally, including in the United States, where the GLK350 was a strong sales success.

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

Yes. VinDecoderPlus is a completely free decoder for every Mercedes-Benz GLK-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 GLK-Class, full vehicle history reports are available as an optional paid upgrade from the results page.

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Ready to decode? Type your 17-character Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class VIN into the decoder above and get your results instantly. Or head to our free VIN decoder homepage to decode any other vehicle.