Cadillac VIN Decoder, VIN Number Lookup and Build Sheet
Looking up a Cadillac VIN starts with the 17 characters on the windshield. Enter them in our free Cadillac VIN decoder for the model, engine, year, plant, recalls and owner complaints.
For the build sheet and options by VIN, the answer is usually already in the car. The RPO sticker in the glove box lists every factory option, and our Cadillac RPO code decoder translates it for you.
Try It Yourself. Copy/Paste This Cadillac VIN Into Our Decoder Below: 1GYKNFRS9KZ024680
VIN Decoder & Build Sheet
Check VIN identity, factory spec, recalls, complaints, and ownership risks before you buy.
Pre Purchase VIN Check
Fuel Economy, Emissions & Running Cost
EPA fuel economy for the vehicle year and model profile.
Additional Vehicle Specs
Supplementary spec matching for output such as power, transmission, size, and weight.
Recalls, Complaints & Mechanical Failures
Model level safety and complaint data for the decoded year, make, and model.
Vehicle Ownership Insights
Platform specific reliability patterns, critical engine platform audits, and pre purchase inspection guidance.
Likely Factory Option Profile
Probability model for common package combinations around this production era.
The free scan verifies identity and surfaces early risk signals. The paid report goes deeper into what those signals mean for ownership, repairs, and buying confidence.
Unlock Full VIN ReportHow to Decode a Cadillac VIN Number
Cadillac builds its VINs on the General Motors system, and that's useful. Character 8 tells you the engine, which matters a lot on a brand that has offered everything from a 2.0 turbo four to a supercharged 6.2 V8. Here's a 2019 XT5 broken down character by character.
1GYKNFRS9KZ024680: 2019 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury AWD, 3.6 V6, Spring Hill, Tennessee
- 1GY
- US built Cadillac SUV. Cadillac sedans built in the US start 1G6 instead.
- KNFR
- Model line, trim series, body and restraint system. NF here points to an AWD Premium Luxury XT5.
- S
- Engine. On this XT5, S is the 3.6 V6. A 2.0 turbo XT5 shows a different letter.
- 9
- Check digit. It's worked out from the other 16 characters, so a single wrong character makes the VIN fail.
- K
- Model year 2019.
- Z
- Spring Hill, Tennessee, where the XT5 and XT6 are built.
- 024680
- Production serial for this one vehicle.
Cadillac VIN prefixes and plant letters
| Code | Position | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1G6 | 1 to 3 | Cadillac car built in the US: CTS, ATS, CT4, CT5, CT6, XTS, DTS, STS |
| 1GY | 1 to 3 | Cadillac SUV built in the US: Escalade, XT4, XT5, XT6, Lyriq |
| 3GY | 1 to 3 | Cadillac SUV built in Mexico, including the 2010 to 2016 SRX |
| 0 | 11 | Lansing Grand River, Michigan: CTS, ATS, CT4 and CT5 |
| R | 11 | Arlington, Texas: Escalade |
| Z | 11 | Spring Hill, Tennessee: XT5, XT6 and Lyriq |
Model year letter, character 10
- 72007
- 82008
- 92009
- A2010
- B2011
- C2012
- D2013
- E2014
- F2015
- G2016
- H2017
- J2018
- K2019
- L2020
- M2021
- N2022
- P2023
- R2024
- S2025
- T2026
Cadillac's Old and New Model Names
Cadillac switched to CT names for sedans and XT names for SUVs, and that trips up a lot of used car searches. If you're comparing a CTS against a CT5, or an SRX against an XT5, this is the family tree.
| Older name | Years | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|
| CTS and CTS V | 2003 to 2019 | CT5 and CT5 V, from 2020 |
| ATS and ATS V | 2013 to 2019 | CT4 and CT4 V, from 2020 |
| SRX | 2004 to 2016 | XT5, from 2017 |
| XTS and DTS | 2006 to 2019 | No direct replacement |
| STS | 2005 to 2011 | CT6 from 2016, then nothing after 2020 |
| Escalade | 1999 on | Still Escalade, plus the electric Escalade IQ |
The XT4 and XT6 are new nameplates with no older equivalent. The Lyriq is Cadillac's first mainstream EV.
Where Is the VIN Number on a Cadillac?
Look through the windshield at the bottom corner on the driver side, then check the certification sticker on the driver door frame. Both should match the title. On an Escalade, the same VIN also appears on the frame.
While you're inside, open the glove box. Most Cadillacs carry a GM Service Parts Identification sticker there, and it's the most useful thing in the car for anyone checking options. It repeats the VIN and lists every RPO option code the vehicle was built with, plus the paint code.
On some newer Cadillacs the glove box label is gone or shortened. In that case the dealer's build record is the way to get the full option list.
Cadillac Build Sheet and Options by VIN
A VIN decoder, ours included, can't list a Cadillac's options. The 17 characters only carry the model, engine, year and plant.
The options are recorded in three places. Any one of them gives you a working build sheet.
RPO label
The glove box sticker lists every factory option as a three character code. Enter them in the decoder below and you have the build sheet in plain English.
Window sticker
Names the trim, packages and options with their original prices. Ask a Cadillac dealer to reprint it from the VIN if the original is gone.
GM build record
The complete factory record held by GM, tied to the VIN. A Cadillac or GM dealer can look it up. This is the final word if anything conflicts.
Some websites sell Cadillac build sheets by VIN. They pull from the same GM data, with mixed results, so check anything you're paying extra for against the dealer record.
Cadillac RPO Code Decoder
Enter the option codes from the glove box sticker or the dealer record. The decoder sorts them into powertrain, chassis, comfort, tech and safety so you can see what the car really has.
Separate codes with spaces, commas or new lines.
Codes not in our list
Find one code
Look up an RPO code or search by feature.
Start typing to search the Cadillac code list.
Click a code to copy it. Cadillac shares RPO codes with Chevrolet, GMC and Buick, so a few labels can differ by model year.
Escalade VINs: Generation, Length and Engine
The Escalade is the Cadillac most people decode, and three things in the VIN and on the label matter most: which generation it is, if it's the long ESV, and which 6.2 V8 is under the hood.
Third generation
6.2 V8 with a 6 speed automatic. Shares its body on frame platform with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon of the same years, plus a hybrid version from 2009.
Fourth generation
Direct injected 6.2 V8 with a 6 speed automatic at launch, an 8 speed from 2016 and a 10 speed from 2018. Magnetic ride became standard. Check for torque converter shudder on the 8 speed.
Fifth generation
Independent rear suspension, the curved OLED dash, a diesel option and the 682 hp Escalade V. The L87 6.2 V8 in these trucks is under a major engine recall.
On 2021 to 2024 Escalades with the 6.2 V8, run the full VIN through NHTSA before you buy. GM recalled the L87 engine for crankshaft and connecting rod problems that can cause engine failure, so you want proof the inspection or engine replacement was done. Our Cadillac Escalade VIN decoder covers the Escalade in more depth.
Trims, V Series and Blackwing: Proving What You're Buying
The price gap between Cadillac trims is big and the visual gap is small. V badges, wheels and mesh grilles are all easy to buy, so check the paperwork and the engine, not the bodywork.
Standard trims
Trim names shift by model and year, and Platinum carries the biggest premium. Confirm the trim on the window sticker or the dealer build record, then check the glove box codes for the equipment you're paying for.
Performance models
The engine settles it. Every real V has its own engine code, shown in the table below. A 2.0 turbo or a regular 3.6 means it isn't a V, whatever the badges say.
| Model | Years | Engine it must have |
|---|---|---|
| CTS V | 2009 to 2014 | LSA 6.2 supercharged V8 |
| CTS V | 2016 to 2019 | LT4 6.2 supercharged V8 |
| ATS V | 2016 to 2019 | LF4 3.6 twin turbo V6 |
| CT4 V | 2020 on | L3B 2.7 turbo four |
| CT4 V Blackwing | 2022 on | LF4 3.6 twin turbo V6 |
| CT5 V | 2020 on | LGY 3.0 twin turbo V6 |
| CT5 V Blackwing | 2022 on | LT4 6.2 supercharged V8 |
| Escalade V | 2023 on | LT4 6.2 supercharged V8 |
The engine RPO code is on the glove box label, and VIN character 8 should point to the same engine.
Known Cadillac Problems to Check by Engine and Era
Once the VIN gives you the engine and year, these are the issues worth asking about.
| Affects | The issue | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Northstar V8, DTS, STS and early SRX | Head gasket failure and oil leaks | Coolant loss, overheating history, white exhaust smoke. Ask for head gasket records. |
| LLT 3.6 V6, about 2008 to 2011 | Timing chain stretch | Check engine light with cam correlation codes. Ask if the chains were replaced. |
| CUE infotainment, about 2013 to 2019 | Touchscreen cracks, bubbling or stops responding | Tap every corner of the screen. Replacement screens are common and not cheap at a dealer. |
| 8 speed automatic, about 2015 to 2019 | Shudder at steady low speeds | Cruise lightly at 25 to 45 mph. GM addressed it with a fluid change, so look for that in the records. |
| Magnetic ride control | Leaking shocks, ride warnings | Look for wet shock bodies and suspension messages. Each shock is pricey. |
| L87 6.2 V8, 2021 to 2024 Escalade | Recalled for crankshaft and connecting rod defects | Run the VIN through NHTSA and get proof the recall work was completed. |
Cadillac RPO Codes by System
The codes the decoder recognizes, grouped the way you'd look for them. Cadillac uses GM's shared RPO system, so many of these appear on Chevrolets, GMCs and Buicks too.
Powertrain
- LTG 2.0 turbo four, ATS, CTS and XT5
- LSY 2.0 turbo four, XT4, CT4, CT5 and later XT5 and XT6
- LLT 3.6 V6, early CTS and SRX
- LFX 3.6 V6, CTS, SRX and XTS
- LGX 3.6 V6, later CTS, CT6, XT5 and XT6
- LF4 3.6 twin turbo V6, ATS V and CT4 V Blackwing
- LGY 3.0 twin turbo V6, CT6 and CT5
- LSA 6.2 supercharged V8, 2009 to 2014 CTS V
- LT4 6.2 supercharged V8, 2016 on CTS V, CT5 V Blackwing and Escalade V
- L3B 2.7 turbo four, CT4 V
- L94 6.2 V8, 2015 to 2020 Escalade
- L87 6.2 V8, 2021 on Escalade
Engine code and VIN character 8 should agree. If they don't, find out why.
Suspension, towing and cooling
- F55 Magnetic Ride Control
- V92 Trailering package
- V08 Heavy duty cooling
- K05 Engine block heater
- KW7 170 amp alternator
Seats, roof and convenience
- KA1 Heated front seats
- KI3 Heated steering wheel
- A45 Memory package
- AG1 Power driver seat
- AG2 Power passenger seat
- AQ9 Front bucket seats
- CF5 Power sunroof
- C3U Power sunroof, larger panel
- ATH Keyless open and start
- BTV Remote start
- CE1 Rain sensing wipers
- DD8 Auto dimming rearview mirror
- CJ2 Dual zone automatic climate control
Audio, connectivity and charging
- UQS Bose premium sound
- UQA Bose sound system
- K4C Wireless phone charging
- VV4 4G LTE WiFi hotspot
- UE1 OnStar
- UG1 Universal home remote
Driver assistance and safety
- UKC Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert
- UFG Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- UHX Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- UEU Forward Collision Alert
- UE4 Following distance indicator
- UVC Rear camera
- UD7 Rear park assist
- TQ5 IntelliBeam automatic high beams
- UTJ Theft deterrent system
- AJ7 Front and side impact airbags
Night Vision, Super Cruise and the camera mirror are confirmed most reliably on the window sticker or dealer record.
Emissions
- FE9 Federal emissions
- YF5 California emissions
The paint code is on the same glove box sticker, shown as WA followed by a number.
Cadillac VIN Lookup FAQs
Can I look up Cadillac options by VIN?
A Cadillac dealer can, from GM's build record. On your own, the faster route is the RPO sticker in the glove box. Enter those codes in our decoder for the full options list.
How do I get a Cadillac build sheet?
Three ways: decode the RPO codes from the glove box sticker, ask a dealer to reprint the window sticker, or ask for the GM build record by VIN.
Where is the VIN number on a Cadillac?
Bottom of the windshield on the driver side and on the driver door frame sticker. It's also on the glove box RPO label, the title and the registration.
Which VIN character shows the Cadillac engine?
Character 8. On a 2019 XT5, S is the 3.6 V6. The engine RPO code on the glove box sticker, like LGX, should match it.
What does 1G6 or 1GY mean on a Cadillac VIN?
1G6 is a US built Cadillac car. 1GY is a US built Cadillac SUV such as the Escalade or XT5. 3GY is an SUV built in Mexico.
What replaced the Cadillac CTS?
The CT5, from the 2020 model year. The ATS was replaced by the CT4 and the SRX by the XT5.
How do I know if a Cadillac is a real V Series?
Check the engine code against the model. The 2009 to 2014 CTS V uses the LSA supercharged V8, and later CTS V and CT5 V Blackwing use the LT4. ATS V and CT4 V Blackwing use the LF4 twin turbo V6.
What is RPO F55 on a Cadillac?
Magnetic Ride Control, GM's adaptive suspension. It's standard on many Escalades and V models and optional on others.
Is my Escalade part of the 6.2 engine recall?
2021 to 2024 Escalades with the L87 6.2 V8 can be. Enter the full VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup or ask a Cadillac dealer.
Can I get a Cadillac window sticker by VIN?
Most Cadillac dealers can reprint one from the VIN. Some paid websites offer it too.
Dale Ogden
Dale has spent more than 20 years in vehicle valuations, forecasting and asset management. He was a Forecast Manager at CAP HPI, the UK's leading vehicle valuation authority and a counterpart to Kelley Blue Book.
He helped pioneer early electric vehicle depreciation models adopted by major manufacturers, and his residual value forecasts cover more than 10,000 vehicles. Today his data led insights help buyers, enthusiasts and automotive professionals around the world.
How Much Is Your Cadillac's Spec Worth?
Magnetic ride, Super Cruise, Bose, Platinum trim, a V badge that's real. These are the options that move a used Cadillac's price. Check what yours add today.
Value my Cadillac optionsFree option valuations, no signup.
Escalade and Other GM Decoders
Cadillac's VIN and RPO system is shared across GM, so these guides overlap with this one.
Cadillac Escalade VIN Decoder
Every Escalade generation, the ESV and the 6.2 V8s.
Decode an EscaladeChevrolet VIN Decoder
Tahoe, Suburban and GM's widest RPO list.
See ChevroletGMC VIN Decoder
Yukon, Yukon XL and Denali builds.
See GMCBuick VIN Decoder
Enclave, Encore and the glove box RPO label.
See Buick
Unlock accurate valuations for your car’s features in seconds – find out what your options are worth today and in the future.
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