2011 + Owners, Heads Up On Your VIN

[Xenos]

As some of you may know they have recently started assembling the Corolla at a brand new plant in Mississippi. That is in fact a big part of the reason why I bought mine. I live in the south so I wanted to support jobs in the south and more importantly to me I didn't want to support UAW jobs because I don't like the UAW. But that's another thread entirely. So I have a 2011 Corolla that was made in the south and a 2011 Tacoma in which the V6 engine was made right here in my home town of Huntsville, AL. They are both excellent vehicles, well made and I coouldn't be more happy with my purchases. At any rate, I have run across an issue that some of you fellow 2011 and newer Corolla owners may want to be aware of.

The 2nd digit on your VIN may be a "Y". For years now the 2nd digit has been a "T" for Toyota on nearly all Toyotas. Some also had a "C". But newer Corollas made at the Mississippi plant will have a "Y" instead. Why is this important? Well because your insurance company might tell you that you can't have "Y" as a 2nd digit. Mine did and I'm insured with State Farm, not exactly a small time insurane provider. But they had not yet come across a Toyota with a "Y" as the 2nd digit on the VIN. I actually had to go down to my agents office and have them get a picture of the VIN so they could send it up to State Farm corporate and show them that it actually does have a "Y". So just a heads up. And if by chance you should also find yourself having to snap a picture of your VIN for your insurance provider I suggest using the VIN that is located on the trunk lid. It seems to be the easiest to get a shot of. The one under the windshield will get glare of course and there are two inside the drivers door but they are pretty small and difficult to get a good picture of. Anyway, just though I would give you fellow 2011 and newer owners a heads up on this.

[Jeff Lange]

I'm pretty sure 2012 is the first model year for TMMMS production.

No Toyotas in Canada/USA ever had a C for the second digit, almost all are T, except for Corollas made at NUMMI (these have an N) and now apparently the Corollas made at TMMMS have a Y for some reason?

I haven't seen any WMI's with a Y yet, but I don't really expect to, typically speaking all Corollas sold in Canada are made in Canada at TMMC, so yeah.

What is your WMI/VDS/Plant Code? (First 8 characters of VIN and 11 character) I'm curious.

Jeff

[Xenos]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lange

I'm pretty sure 2012 is the first model year for TMMMS production.

No Toyotas in Canada/USA ever had a C for the second digit, almost all are T, except for Corollas made at NUMMI (these have an N) and now apparently the Corollas made at TMMMS have a Y for some reason?

I haven't seen any WMI's with a Y yet, but I don't really expect to, typically speaking all Corollas sold in Canada are made in Canada at TMMC, so yeah.

What is your WMI/VDS/Plant Code? (First 8 characters of VIN and 11 character) I'm curious.

Jeff

It's a 2011 Corolla, I've still got the window sticker and all. I can't put the digits out right now because I'm not at home and not near my car. But its for sure a 2011. As for the second digit being a C that is what the service manager I spoke to told me. He said that nearly all Toyotas had a T but some had a C and now the Y has come along. I've never personally seen one with a C so I couldn't verify that. But I've seen a Y, lol.

[Dimaoala]

Hmmm that's weird

[Jeff Lange]

Originally Posted by Xenos

It's a 2011 Corolla, I've still got the window sticker and all. I can't put the digits out right now because I'm not at home and not near my car. But its for sure a 2011. As for the second digit being a C that is what the service manager I spoke to told me. He said that nearly all Toyotas had a T but some had a C and now the Y has come along. I've never personally seen one with a C so I couldn't verify that. But I've seen a Y, lol.

Like I said, I haven't seen any TMMMS Corollas up here in Canada, I was just going by what the 2012 NCF book stated (TMMMS added). It wasn't necessarily right at the 2012 changeover though, so it looks like you've probably got one of the early TMMMS production cars.

I can confirm there have been no C's used in North America for VIN's. Only T, N, and now supposedly Y.

Not that it matters that much anyway, but it is a curiosity for sure.

Jeff

[Xenos]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lange

Like I said, I haven't seen any TMMMS Corollas up here in Canada, I was just going by what the 2012 NCF book stated (TMMMS added). It wasn't necessarily right at the 2012 changeover though, so it looks like you've probably got one of the early TMMMS production cars.

I can confirm there have been no C's used in North America for VIN's. Only T, N, and now supposedly Y.

Not that it matters that much anyway, but it is a curiosity for sure.

Jeff

I've never seen a C either. My guess is that I got a late production 2011 that they could have technically called a 2012 if they wanted to and it was only the production date that precluded that. I've seen the 2012's and there is no difference that I can see between them and my 2011. However I do know that the 2012 LE will come standard with Blue Logic and ambient noise adjustment on the stereo and mine has neither. Further convincing me that it really is a 2011 and not a mislabeled 2012. But as you say, it's just a neat curiosity. The Y 2nd digit has arrived thanks to the Mississippi plant. It's a curious bit of Corolla trivia and maybe an issue for your insurance company but that's about it.