List of Mazda model codes explained
This list of Mazda model codes describes following model codes which have been used by Mazda since the 1980s.
Naming scheme
The company's model codes form the fourth and fifth characters of the VIN on post-1981 vehicles. The first character is a letter representing the model family, while the second is a sequential letter for subsequent models. For example, the Mazda N family used by the Mazda Miata started at NA and was updated in 1998 to NB and in 2006 to NC. The 2016 and newer MX-5s are designated ND.
Mazda generally starts car model codes at the letter "A", but van and truck variants often get different names, usually starting at "V".
Note: The US-built Mazda6 and Tribute do not use the Mazda model code in the VIN; in its place is an AutoAlliance code. Instead of the model code letter, position four in the VIN specifies the vehicle's safety systems, and position five specifies the marque, due to being built in a multi-brand facility.
Old VINs
Prior to 1981, Mazda used a different VIN format and model code naming scheme. The model families were given two characters, and the model a third, based on their names.
The following pre-1981 model groups are known:
The next digit of the VIN specified the engine:
- 0 - 10A/10B
- 2 - 12A/12B
- 3 - 13A/13B
Model codes
B codes (for compact front-wheel drive cars)| Code | Vehicles | Years | Description |
|---|
| BD | Mazda Familia / Mazda 323 / Mazda GLC | | This is the first showing of Mazda's SS (self-stabilizing) rear suspension. The two lower parallel links of the rear strut are designed to induce toe-in on the rear tire on the outer side of the curve (e.g. right turn - left rear tire). |
| BE | Ford Laser | | Rebadged version of BD. |
| BV | Mazda Familia / Mazda 323 (station wagon) | | BV was an updated version of the preceding FA4 generation, sold alongside the newer BD sedan and coupé. |
| BF | Mazda Familia / Mazda 323 / Mazda Étude[1] / Ford Laser (sedan, hatchback, cabriolet) | | The self stabilizing suspension was updated. Basis for Mercury Tracer and Ford/Mercury Capri. |
| BW | Mazda Familia / Mazda 323 / Ford Laser (station wagon) | | BW is a station wagon version of BF. |
| BG | | | Basis for the North American Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer. |
| BH | Mazda Familia / Ford Laser | | |
| BA | Mazda 323 / Mazda Protegé | |
| BJ | Mazda Familia / Mazda 323 / Mazda Protegé / Ford Laser Lidea[2] | | The BJ was updated with a lower moment of roll for improved steering, better chassis rigidity, and new engines and transmissions. |
| BK | | | Used the Ford C1 platform, which was jointly engineered by Mazda, Volvo and Ford.[3] |
| BL | Mazda3 / Mazda Axela | | BL is partially based on the Ford C1 platform, which was jointly engineered by Mazda, Volvo and Ford. |
| BM | Mazda3 / Mazda Axela | | BM rides on the new, clean-sheet SkyActiv chassis architecture. JDM Axela still use BM for facelift model. |
| BN | Mazda3 | | BN is the facelifted version of BM.[4] Not applicable for JDM Axela. |
| BY | Mazda Axela Hybrid | | BY is the hybrid version of BM and BN, exclusive to the Japanese market.[5] |
| BP | Mazda3 | | | |
F codes (for rotary wankel engine sports cars)| Code | Vehicles | Years | Description |
|---|
| FB | Mazda RX-7 / Mazda Savanna RX-7 | | The FB chassis was a new name for the SA2 used in the 1979–1980 RX-7 VIN. |
| FC | | | Also served as the basis for the Mazda MX-5's NA's platform. |
| FD | Mazda RX-7 / ɛ̃fini RX-7 | | |
| SE | Mazda RX-8 | | The SE's platform was the last platform used for a rotary engine-based vehicle. It also served as the basis for the Mazda MX-5 NC's platform. |
| FE | |
G codes (for mid-size front-wheel drive cars)| Code | style=width:20em | Vehicles | Years | Description |
|---|
| GC | Mazda Capella / Mazda 626 / Ford Telstar | | GC used Mazda's first front-wheel drive mid-size car platform. Available body styles were the two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and five-door hatchback. The Ford Telstar hatchback version was called the TX5: there was no Telstar version of the coupe. Production was in Japan, with local assembly in Australia (Telstar only), New Zealand, Taiwan and South Africa, where the model continued in production until 1993. |
| GD | Mazda Capella / Mazda 626 / Mazda MX-6 / Ford Telstar (sedan, liftback, coupé) | | The updated GD was introduced in 1987 in Japan and later elsewhere. It spawned a station wagon variant, the GV. Production in the United States started at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Basis for the Ford Probe. |
| GV | Mazda Capella / Mazda 626 / Ford Telstar (station wagon) | | The station wagon and van versions use a modified version of the GD's platform. |
| GE | Mazda 626 / Mazda Cronos / Mazda MX-6 / ɛ̃fini MS-6 / Autozam Clef / Ford Telstar | | The Japanese market Mazda Capella never used the GE's platform. Rather, a new model (the Mazda Cronos) was introduced alongside the Capella, while the Capella continued on an updated version of the GC's platform until 1993 and was then moved to a new platform for the CG from 1994 through 1997. Basis for Ford Probe, Kia Credos and Kia Carnival. As Ford and Mazda shared engineering technologies, the GE's platform is related to the Ford CDW27/CD162/CD132, used for the Ford Mondeo and Jaguar X-Type. |
| GF | Mazda Capella / Mazda 626 / Ford Telstar (sedan, liftback) | | The Capella and 626 were again reunited as the GF in 1997. An updated station wagon version, the GW, was finally introduced as well. See Ford CD2 platform. |
| GW | Mazda Capella / Mazda 626 / Ford Telstar (station wagon) | The station wagon and van versions use a modified version of the GF's platform. |
| GG | Mazda6 / Mazda Atenza (sedan, liftback) | | American-built Mazda6s use the "1YV" prefix on the VIN. See Ford CD3 platform.The rear multi-link suspension is remarkably similar to the "E type" found in the HC's platform. Although also similar to Ford's own design, Mazda engineers said this is a revival of the "E type" multi-link. Basis for Besturn B70. |
| GY | Mazda6 / Mazda Atenza (station wagon) | GY is a station wagon version of GG. |
| GH | Mazda6 / Mazda Atenza (sedan, liftback) | | Introduced in 2008, GH uses a retuned and revised version of the preceding GG chassis. See Ford CD3 platform. The code GH is also used for the first generation Mazda CX-5, though it primarily uses KE. |
| GZ | Mazda6 / Mazda Atenza (station wagon) | | GZ is a station wagon version of GH. |
| GJ | Mazda6 / Mazda Atenza | | Basis for the Hongqi H5. |
| GL | | GL is a refreshed version of GJ.[11] |
| GK | Mazda CX-4[12] | | | |
Vehicles !Years!! Description| JC | Eunos Cosmo | | The JC uses a totally new platform developed for 1990s and is unique to the JC Cosmo. Its closest cousin is the HD-929 from 1991 to 1995. It was a major update from the previous HB Cosmo's platform. | |
N codes (for front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports cars)| Code | Vehicles | Years | Description |
|---|
| NA | Mazda MX-5 / Eunos Roadster / Mazda Miata | | The NA utilized many components in-house, such as the 323/Familia/Protegé engine and 323 GTX differential (1.6L), RX-7 FC (non-turbo) differential (1.8L) and transmission, but the chassis was unique. |
| NB | Mazda MX-5 / Mazda Roadster / Mazda MX-5 Miata | | The NB was very close to the NA mechanically. Most changes were related to the vehicle systems, including electrical wiring and a new generation of the Mazda B engine. |
| NC | Mazda MX-5 / Mazda Roadster / Mazda MX-5 Miata | | The NC utilized a shortened version of the SE RX-8's platform. Many suspension and braking components are interchangeable with the RX-8, while some interior components are shared with the Mazda6, Mazda3 and CX-7. |
| ND | Mazda MX-5 / Mazda Roadster / Mazda MX-5 Miata | | ND uses a new platform for the fourth generation of the MX-5. |
| NF | Fiat 124 Spider / Abarth 124 Spider / Abarth 124 GT[13] | | NF uses a variant of the ND's platform for the 2016 Fiat 124 Spider. While the platform design is similar, the sheet metal and drivetrain are completely different, using the Fiat 1.4 MultiAir turbo 4 cylinder and an updated Mazda NC 6-speed manual transmission. |
| NFM |
| NE | Abarth 124 Spider | Abarth models were originally assigned NE in the VIN before switching to the NF code used by Fiat models.[14] | |
V codes (for compact crossovers)!!Vehicles!Years| VA | Mazda CX-50 | | |
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Products. 2021-11-06. 多摩興業株式会社 TAMA ENTERPRISES CO., LTD..
- Book: Automotive service parts and accessories - catalog 4 Japan. Denso.
- Web site: Rechtin, Mark. December 21, 2009. For Mazda and Ford, breaking up is hard to do. Automotive News. 2010-01-03.
- Web site: Chambers. Cliff. 2020-12-17. Buying Used: Mazda3 BM/BN-series (2013-18). 2021-10-29. Carsales.
- Web site: Mazda Axela 3gen (BM-BY) data and specifications catalogue. 2021-10-29. Automobile-Catalog.
- Web site: MAZDA 100TH ANNIVERSARY LEGENDARY MAZDAS - CAPELLA (6th) MAZDA. 6 October 2021. www2.mazda.com. en.
- http://www.sae.org/automag/globalvehicles/12-2002/ "Mazda2/Demio based on Fiesta"
- Web site: First Look: 2011 Mazda Mazda2 . McCausland, Evan . . December 2, 2009 . 2009-12-31 . 2010-06-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100614234413/http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0912_2011_mazda_mazda2/index.html . dead .
- Web site: Media.Ford.com: FORD USHERS IN GLOBAL SMALL CAR ERA WITH PRODUCTION LAUNCH OF NEW FORD FIESTA . 2011-06-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918022646/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28868 . 2008-09-18 .
- Web site: 2018-02-07. AUCN Vehicle Recall Records - Mazda2 (DJ hatch, DL sedan) - Group 4. 2021-10-29. Australian Car Network.
- Web site: Mazda 6. 2021-11-06. car.info.
- Web site: Mazda Parts Catalog CX-4 . 2023-08-02 . PartSouq.
- Book: Einbauanleitungen. 2017-01-17. Bilstein.
- Web site: ameridan. 2018-06-12. VIN # DECODER / VIN BUILD SHEETS / VIN WINDOW "MONRONEY" STICKERS / FIAT KEYEPER. 2021-11-28. 21st Century Fiat / Abarth 124 Spider. en. WordPress.
- Web site: Купить Сальник ступицы Mazda Bongo [AD2959I0] SS / SE / SR / SD / SK в Чите по цене: 300₽ — объявление от компании ""ОЛИМП" сеть магазинов и сто Чита-Краснокаменск" на Дроме]. 2021-11-06. baza.drom.ru. ru.
- Web site: MAZDA Parts - 100% OEM Compatible - Rubber, Steering, and Suspension Parts for MAZDA. 2021-11-29. Febest Auto Parts. en.
- Web site: Mazda stock and aftermarket wheel and tire sizes. Mazda bolt pattern.. 2021-10-29. TireWheelGuide.com.
- Web site: The History of Mazda Millenia. 7 October 2021. Cars-Directory.NET. en.
- Web site: Model choice for MAZDA spare parts. Auto Parts Pro.
- Web site: BALL JOINT, LOWER 4WD. 555 FORD – RANGER / MAZDA – B2200, B2500, B2600, B2900. * (UC#, UD#, UE#, UN#). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211106222830/https://www.carpartsdirect.asia/product/ball-joint-lower-sb1542-555-ford-mazda-ford-ranger-4wd-mazda-b2600/. 2021-11-06. 2021-11-06. Car Parts Direct Asia.
- Web site: Intake Manifold Gasket Set For Ford Raider (UV) 2.6 EFi (1991-1997) JC819. 2021-11-28. vetaprop.com.
- Book: Training Manual - Mazda BT-50 - NMT-009. Mazda Motor Europe GmbH. 2006. 7.
- Web site: FORD,TRADER,WG, 7/1989,to,1/2000, 2/4DR,TRUCK, FRONT,WINDSCREEN,RUBBER, NEW,(Wide,Cab). 2021-11-29. Auto Glass Warehouse. en.
- Web site: Buy Parts for: Mazda. 2021-11-29. Febest Auto Parts. en.
