AssemblyAlertassemblyalert.com · United States

VIN decode · Tax years 2025–2028

US final assembly · UNITED STATES

Was it assembled in the US?

The car-loan interest deduction needs US final assembly and original use that starts with the taxpayer. Paste the VIN. This page scores plant country and a model-year / new-vehicle signal — not whether any loan is deductible.

The free report also lists extra vPIC specs plus public NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and complaint themes. It does not include accident, wreck, title, or salvage history.

Don't get caught with your pants down. Check that VIN first.

Demo US plant

Point at the dash plate or door sticker. Door sill vertical? Rotate in the scanner, or turn the phone. Scan and upload run on this device — the photo is not sent to AssemblyAlert. Glare and dirty stickers can miss; you can still type the VIN.

Looks like a VIN. Decode reads PlantCountry from NHTSA vPIC.

17 / 17

US assembly passes · year/new-vehicle signal does not

PlantCountry is UNITED STATES (USA), so the US-assembly test passes. The year/new-vehicle signal does not: used vehicles do not qualify. This is not a determination that any loan is deductible.

Separate data checks

Plant-country and year are data checks. Other IRS gates remain. This page does not say the loan is deductible or that you qualify.

VIN

1GNFK16Z25J204792

Plant country

UNITED STATES (USA)

Plant

JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN · GM Truck Group

Make / model / year

2005 CHEVROLET Suburban

Series / trim

1500 (1/2 Ton)

Body class

Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

Drive type

4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Fuel

Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)

Engine

5.3L · 8-cyl · L59

Doors

—

Transmission

—

GVWR class

Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg)

Manufacturer

GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Open recalls

7 campaigns for this MY / make / model

Campaigns are published for this model year / make / model. Completion on this VIN can lag or be missing — confirm with a dealer and safercar.gov.

  • 05V103000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

    ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING. IF THE RETAINER IS MISSING, THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER AND INSTALL ONE IF IT IS MISSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER BEGAN CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

  • 06E043000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

    CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES L…

    Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

  • 05V055000POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR

    CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING C…

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

  • 06V289000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.

  • 04V376000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

    ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.3L (RPO L59) V8 ENGINES, THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE RETAINER SCREWS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE RETAINER SCREWS. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON JULY 30, 2004, WITH A FOLLOWUP OWNER LETTER BEGAN AUGUST 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. NO…

  • 05V163000SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

    ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE U…

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, G…

+1 more on NHTSA’s public recall file.

Sample certificate · not a record

Unlock the AssemblyAlert window sticker — $4.00

Generic preview only. Pay to mint this VIN’s vehicle spec sheet — richer fields, recall PDF, serial, and a verify page. Terms · Refunds

Window sticker style

Vehicle Spec Sheet

Assembly Alert · Sample — not issued

Serial

AA-0000-SAMPLE

Sample — not issued

Generic preview of the Assembly Alert vehicle spec sheet. It is not tied to your VIN and is not a record.

Vehicle identification number

1HG••••••••••4352

2003 Example Sedan

US-assembly test

Sample

Generic preview — not this VIN’s verdict.

Year / new-vehicle

Sample

Year / new-vehicle is a separate data check.

Open recalls

2

SAMPLE01, SAMPLE02

Manufacturer-reported specs

Plant city
Example Plant
Plant state
OH
Plant country
UNITED STATES
GVWR class
Class 1C (example)
Body class
Sedan (example)
Drive type
FWD (example)
Fuel
Gasoline
Engine
3.0L · 6-cyl
Doors
4
Series / trim
EX (example)
Transmission
Automatic
Safety ratings
Sample rating line — not a real NHTSA score.
Complaints (MY/make/model)
12 · AIR BAGS (example)
Support
publisher@noticenearby.com

Sample QR

Title & salvage history

Title & salvage history — coming / paid add-on. Not in this report.

This free check does not include accident, wreck, title, or salvage history (NMVTIS).

Not tax advice. Not affiliated with the IRS or NHTSA. Plant-country and year are data checks. Does not certify that any loan is deductible. Manufacturer-reported Part 565 data plus public NHTSA recall, rating, and complaint feeds.

Record seal SAMPLE

VOID UNLESS THIS SERIAL RESOLVES AT ASSEMBLYALERT.COM/V · NOT A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT

Unlock the AssemblyAlert window sticker — $4.00

The sample above is generic. Payment mints a unique serial for this VIN, a dated open-recall PDF, and a printable window-sticker style spec sheet. Not tax advice. Plant-country Pass is not a deduction. Terms · Refunds

VIN recall check · free

Don't get caught with an open recall.

Same VIN box. Open NHTSA campaigns lead the report. We list what is on file for the model year, make, and model — we do not close recalls.

Check open recalls

Milder cut. Watch the edgy set →

SFW · 60-second Pathé film

The First Digit

assemblyalert.com

Nigel from Accounts calls the gold import a bald eagle with cupholders. Margaret checks the plant. Germany. FAIL. The first digit is a rumour. Fully clothed. Captions on every shot.

Play The First Digit

More commercials · 18+

Don't get caught with your pants down.

The loop above is the milder cut. The 18+ gallery is the pants-down VIN set — posters first, age gate before any of those spots play. Not tax advice.

Built for America? window-sticker stillThe Best VIN Checker Ever boardroom stillHigashi Motors showroom stillWatch the 18+ set

Tax years 2025–2028

A plant-country record for filing season.

People file the One Big Beautiful Bill Act car-loan interest deduction for tax years 2025–2028, up to $10,000 of interest. AssemblyAlert does not decide if a loan is deductible.

A Form 1098-VLI and similar broker statements will show up for many filers around January 2027. This site is a dated NHTSA vPIC plant-country record you can keep for a preparer. It is not an IRS form.

US assembly pass or fail is PlantCountry === UNITED STATES (USA) only. Puerto Rico is not a pass. VIN first character 1, 4, or 5 is a screen, not the test — a BMW VIN that starts with 5 (5UX) can still be Germany.

The report shows separate checks. Assembly-check copy stays Passes the US-assembly test, Fails the US-assembly test, or Could not determine. Vehicle year is scored on its own. Plant-country Pass is not the deduction. Used vehicles do not qualify.

Decode stays free. The optional $4 card is a printable Assembly Alert vehicle spec sheet — window-sticker style fields, recall count, serial at /v/{serial}. It is a filing record for your folder, not a government certificate and not a deduction.

Not tax advice. Not affiliated with the IRS, NHTSA, or the Treasury. Not a government document.

Also on this site

Calculators, facts, and guides

The VIN box above scores US assembly and a model-year / new-vehicle signal. Recalls is the same decode with open NHTSA campaigns first. Español is a Spanish recall page. These pages do not bury the checker — they are extra tools and IRS-cited explainers. Lease payments do not qualify.

Safety

Open recalls

Tools

Car loan calculators

Cards

Fact cards

Reading

Guides

The homepage spot stays the milder loop. The First Digit is the SFW Pathé film. Commercials (18+) is the edgier set — crude VIN / OBBBA pants-down jokes, not porn.

How the test works

Plant country and vehicle year.

Paste a 17-character VIN. The free decode reads manufacturer-reported plant fields and ModelYear from NHTSA vPIC. Those are separate data checks for the OBBBA car-loan interest deduction, tax years 2025–2028.

  • First-character VIN myth

    1, 4, or 5 in position 1 is a WMI screen only — never the verdict. A BMW VIN that starts with 5 (5UX) can still be assembled in Germany.

  • PlantCountry is exact

    Pass only if NHTSA PlantCountry is exactly UNITED STATES (USA). Canada, Mexico, and Germany fail. Puerto Rico is not a pass. Empty is unknown.

  • GVWR class, not pounds

    Classes 1 and 2 (including 1A–1D and 2E–2H) pass the weight screen. Class 3 is uncertain — check the door jamb. Class 4 and above fail.

  • Vehicle year is a separate check

    Used vehicles do not qualify. Older VIN model years usually fail original-use even when the plant is in the United States. A current year is not proof you are the first owner. There is no IRS purchase-price / MSRP cap.

  • Not IRS. Not a deduction.

    AssemblyAlert is not affiliated with the IRS or NHTSA. This page never says your loan is deductible. Plant-country Pass is not the deduction.

How it works

Two VIN checks. The rest stays on you.

  1. 01

    Paste the 17-character VIN

    No I, O, or Q. Incomplete or starred VINs get no tax verdict.

  2. 02

    This page calls NHTSA vPIC first

    DecodeVinValues sets canonical make, model, and year. The free report then adds public NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and complaint themes. Title and salvage history is not included.

  3. 03

    PlantCountry and ModelYear

    US assembly passes only if PlantCountry is exactly UNITED STATES (USA). Model year is a separate new-vehicle signal. Used vehicles do not qualify. VIN year is not proof of first owner.

Other tests

The VIN does not finish these.

The VIN scores US final assembly and a model-year / new-vehicle signal. Plant-country Pass is not the deduction, and VIN year is not proof of first owner. The items below stay on you.

  • Original use with the taxpayer (used vehicles do not qualify)
  • VIN year is a signal — not proof you are the first owner
  • Loan originated after December 31, 2024
  • Personal use
  • MAGI phaseout starts at $100,000 single / $200,000 joint
  • Interest cap: up to $10,000 — no IRS purchase-price / MSRP cap
  • Tax years 2025–2028
  • Lease payments do not qualify (IRS)

FAQ

Common questions

Was my car assembled in the US?

Paste the 17-character VIN. This page reads PlantCountry from NHTSA vPIC. It passes only if that field is exactly UNITED STATES (USA). Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Puerto Rico fail. An empty plant country is unknown, not a pass.

How do I check US assembly for the car loan interest deduction?

Use this free VIN checker. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act car-loan interest deduction (tax years 2025–2028) requires final assembly in the United States and original use that starts with the taxpayer. AssemblyAlert scores PlantCountry and a VIN model-year / new-vehicle signal. It does not decide whether any loan is deductible.

Does VIN starting with 1 mean US built?

No. VIN position 1 is a WMI screen only. Characters 1, 4, and 5 are often assigned to the United States, but they are never the verdict. A BMW VIN starting with 5 (for example 5UX) can still be assembled in Germany.

Is this official IRS?

No. AssemblyAlert is not affiliated with the IRS, NHTSA, or the Treasury and is not a government document. This is not tax advice.

What is a 1098-VLI?

A Form 1098-VLI and similar broker statements will show up for many filers around January 2027. This site is a dated NHTSA vPIC plant-country record you can keep for a preparer. It is not an IRS form and does not decide if a loan is deductible.

Does a pass mean I qualify for the deduction?

No. Plant-country Pass is not the deduction. The report shows separate checks: US final assembly (PlantCountry) and a vehicle-year / new-vehicle signal from the VIN model year. Used vehicles do not qualify — original use must start with the taxpayer. Older model years usually fail that gate. A current model year is not proof you are the first owner. Other IRS gates remain: personal use, a loan after December 31, 2024, the VIN on the return, the $10,000 interest cap, and MAGI phaseout. There is no IRS purchase-price or MSRP cap. Leases do not qualify. Assembly-check copy stays Passes the US-assembly test, Fails the US-assembly test, or Could not determine. This site never says you qualify and never says a loan is deductible.

Does vehicle year matter for the deduction?

Yes as a signal, not as a substitute for original use. Used vehicles do not qualify. The VIN model year (NHTSA vPIC ModelYear) is a strong signal: model years through 2023 are usually already in service and fail that gate even when the plant is in the United States. A leftover new 2024 can still have original use start with you if the loan is after December 31, 2024. Model years 2025–2028 sit in the new-purchase window, but VIN year is not proof of first owner. Confirm title and sale documents.

Do auto leases qualify for the OBBBA car loan interest deduction?

No. The IRS Working Families Tax Cuts pages state that lease payments do not qualify. AssemblyAlert does not decide whether any loan is deductible. See the lease article and the lease-vs-buy calculator.

Does the free VIN check include accident or salvage history?

No. The free check does not include accident, wreck, title, or salvage history (NMVTIS). That is a coming paid add-on. After a vPIC decode the report lists extra specs plus public NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and complaint themes for the model year / make / model. Complaint totals are not proof of wrecks on this VIN. Recall completion on this VIN can lag.

What is the $4 vehicle spec sheet?

After a free decode you can unlock a printable Assembly Alert window-sticker style vehicle spec sheet for $4. It repeats the enriched fields, US-assembly Pass/Fail, the year signal, a recall count, a unique serial, and a dated timestamp. It is not an IRS qualification, not a Monroney label, and not tax advice. Plant-country Pass is not a deduction.

Disclaimer

Read this before you file.

  • AssemblyAlert is not tax advice and is not a determination that any loan is deductible.
  • AssemblyAlert is not affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
  • Decoded plant fields are manufacturer-reported Part 565 data as published by NHTSA vPIC. They can be blank or wrong.
  • The Monroney label and the Part 583 final-assembly point are also valid evidence.
  • The IRS has said taxpayers may rely on the NHTSA VIN Decoder plant of manufacture or the window-sticker final assembly point.
  • The IRS Working Families Tax Cuts pages state that lease payments do not qualify.
  • The free VIN check does not include accident, wreck, title, or salvage history (NMVTIS).
  • AssemblyAlert is owned by Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).