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VIN confusion

5175 Views 23 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  melaniekheops, 
NEK
Just purchased a bZ4X XLE AWD. When I tried to add it to my insurance (Geico), the VIN shows it as a Subaru Solterra. I called Geico, and they said they can't fix it. I have an email out to the salesman.

The NHTSA VIN decoder shows it as a Subaru, but bumper.com shows it as a Toyota.

Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions on how to clear it up? Thanks!
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N
That‘s to be expected as the VIN number assignments for AWD bZ4X and Solterra overlap.

Somewhere I saw a letter from Toyota addressing the issue.

I’ll look deeper and see if I can turn it up.
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rfrancis073
n6nl said:
That‘s to be expected as the VIN number assignments for AWD bZ4X and Solterra overlap.

Somewhere I saw a letter from Toyota addressing the issue.

I’ll look deeper and see if I can turn it up.
Click to expand...
Toyota screwed up and basically gave enough of the same VIN for the BZ4x to the Solterra that it causes lookup issues. In June, they changed the 7th letter of the BZ4x AWD VIN from B to C. They later issued some sort of document for the old level VINs proving they were legit Toyota BZ4x units.

The BZ4x that was allocated to me in port was one of the first to have the C in the VIN. Was built June 14th.

FWD models are not effected as the Solterr only comes in the AWD variant.
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N
rfrancis073 said:
FWD models are not effected as the Solterr only comes in the AWD variant.
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FWD Solterra exist, but as far as I know, are not sold outside of the Japanese domestic market.
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ElectricAvenue
NEK said:
Just purchased a bZ4X XLE AWD. When I tried to add it to my insurance (Geico), the VIN shows it as a Subaru Solterra. I called Geico, and they said they can't fix it. I have an email out to the salesman.

The NHTSA VIN decoder shows it as a Subaru, but bumper.com shows it as a Toyota.

Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions on how to clear it up? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum @NEK, sorry to hear abour the confusion with your bZ's VIN. I think the best bet is for you to reach out to Toyota so you can to get that document @rfrancis073 is referring to. Are you able to get the insurance or do you have to straighten this out first?
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NEK
ElectricAvenue said:
Welcome to the forum @NEK, sorry to hear abour the confusion with your bZ's VIN. I think the best bet is for you to reach out to Toyota so you can to get that document @rfrancis073 is referring to. Are you able to get the insurance or do you have to straighten this out first?
Click to expand...
Thanks!

Not sure - didn't have time to deal with it today, but Monday I'll call Geico again and ask to speak to a higher tier customer support. The person with whom I spoke didn't totally understand the problem. I did add the vehicle to my policy, but it shows as a Subaru. Hopefully they'll still cover me if I'm unlucky enough to need their services before I get it sorted out.

The dealership got back to me, and said they were going directly to Toyota to try and get it corrected.
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Motch6
NEK said:
Thanks!

Not sure - didn't have time to deal with it today, but Monday I'll call Geico again and ask to speak to a higher tier customer support. The person with whom I spoke didn't totally understand the problem. I did add the vehicle to my policy, but it shows as a Subaru. Hopefully they'll still cover me if I'm unlucky enough to need their services before I get it sorted out.

The dealership got back to me, and said they were going directly to Toyota to try and get it corrected.
Click to expand...
I received this letter back on November 9th.

First the letter basically states that they want to assure me that my VIN is a genuine Toyota product, manufactured at Toyota's Motomachi Plant in Japan and is unique to my vehicle. It then goes on to show my how the Unique set of 17 alphanumeric characters identify aspects of my car.

What will Toyota do?
Any authorized Toyota dealer will place a label in your vehicle stating that your 2023 Toyota bZ4X is a genuine Toyota product FREE OF CHARGE to you.

What should you do?
... Should you encounter a situation where your vehcile is mis-identified by an entity that attempts to decode your vehicle's VIN using the first eight Digits, this letter amy serve as proof that your vehicle is a 2023 Toyota bZ4X and that the VIN: ..... is unique to your vehicle. We recommend keeping this letter in your vehicle for future reference, as needed. The installed label will also contain a QR code which will link to an explanation letter which you may hand to any third-party if you cannot locate this letter.

If your dealership can't answer all your questions (which they are supposed to be able to do), then Toyota Brand Engagement Center is where you need to go: 1-800-331-4331

If you would like to update your vehicle ownership or contact information, please visit Welcome to Toyota Owners You'll need your full VIN number.
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G-K
NEK said:
Thanks! Not sure - didn't have time to deal with it today, but Monday I'll call Geico again and ask to speak to a higher tier customer support. The person with whom I spoke didn't totally understand the problem. I did add the vehicle to my policy, but it shows as a Subaru. Hopefully they'll still cover me if I'm unlucky enough to need their services before I get it sorted out. The dealership got back to me, and said they were going directly to Toyota to try and get it corrected.
Click to expand...
Were you able to get this VIN issue corrected by your dealership?
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NEK
G-K said:
Were you able to get this VIN issue corrected by your dealership?
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Not yet. Work got busy pre-holidays, then I got a visit from COVID, then big storm, then holidays. I need a vacation from my "vacation" :)
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G-K
NEK said:
Not yet. Work got busy pre-holidays, then I got a visit from COVID, then big storm, then holidays. I need a vacation from my "vacation" :)
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Thanks for the response. Seems like you've been really busy! Hope you get your real vacation soon! :)

I called Toyota BEC and I was told to show the PDF file/letter that Motch6 posted above if in case a VIN issue comes up. I asked if Toyota is doing something to permanently fix the issue in their system and if there's an ETA for the fix but I didn't get a clear answer, instead to use the letter if needed, again.
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N
There’s no ”fix”.

The pattern for assigning bZ4X AWD and Solterra AWD (yes, there are FWD Solterras, but not in the US) was the same for the first few months of production.

There’s no way to tell one from another, simply by the VIN, without using a list of which range of VINs happened to be which vehicle.

Around 01 June 2022, the bZ4X AWD started to be assigned a different pattern than the Solterra AWD, and thus those can be easily identified. I believe this was done in order to be able to distinguish the two vehicles.

VIN position 7 & 8
AA - bZ4X FWD and Solterra ET-SS FWD
BA - pre 1 Jun 2022 bZ4X AWD and (to-date observed) Solterra AWD
CA - post 1 Jun 2022 bZ4X AWD

Search in the Solterra Forum for additional discussion.
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N
See

VIN Structure for Solterra
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G-K
n6nl said:
There’s no ”fix”.

The pattern for assigning bZ4X AWD and Solterra AWD (yes, there are FWD Solterras, but not in the US) was the same for the first few months of production.

There’s no way to tell one from another, simply by the VIN, without using a list of which range of VINs happened to be which vehicle.

Around 01 June 2022, the bZ4X AWD started to be assigned a different pattern than the Solterra AWD, and thus those can be easily identified. I believe this was done in order to be able to distinguish the two vehicles.

VIN position 7 & 8
AA - bZ4X FWD and Solterra ET-SS FWD
BA - pre 1 Jun 2022 bZ4X AWD and (to-date observed) Solterra AWD
CA - post 1 Jun 2022 bZ4X AWD

Search in the Solterra Forum for additional discussion.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. That's a bummer that there's no fix. I was expecting it would be something that they can override in their system manually.

One issue I can see is if we try to input the VIN # to get the estimated value of the car online from Carmax or KBB for example, then it would show incorrect vehicle details... I understand we can provide the pdf to insurance companies, etc. but just to simply get an estimate online would not work.
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NEK
Follow-up: Good news is, as long as the VIN on your bZ4X matches the one on your insurance with Geico, they'll cover you even though it pops up as a Subaru. Bad news is, I found out because I crashed my car :/

(100% not my fault. The other driver was ahead of me, in the right lane. I was in the left. He turned LEFT, right across my path, to do a U-Turn.)

Now I wait for parts, which might take a while because it's a new model.
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Motch6
NEK said:
Follow-up: Good news is, as long as the VIN on your bZ4X matches the one on your insurance with Geico, they'll cover you even though it pops up as a Subaru. Bad news is, I found out because I crashed my car :/

(100% not my fault. The other driver was ahead of me, in the right lane. I was in the left. He turned LEFT, right across my path, to do a U-Turn.)

Now I wait for parts, which might take a while because it's a new model.
Click to expand...

@NEK where are you located?

Reason i ask is because i had a minor issue, two days after picking up my car in California and had to order some parts... All my parts, but one, came next day (still in California before i take off), one part took about 3-days. It seams, at least for California, that they have a good amount of parts right here in state somewhere.
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NEK
Motch6 said:
@NEK where are you located?

Reason i ask is because i had a minor issue, two days after picking up my car in California and had to order some parts... All my parts, but one, came next day (still in California before i take off), one part took about 3-days. It seams, at least for California, that they have a good amount of parts right here in state somewhere.
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I'm in northern Vermont. I think the issue is only partly due to my location. The other problem is the number of parts required. There are more than 80 items listed to be ordered. I smooshed the front right side pretty thoroughly (hood, headlight, quarter panel, some items under the hood, scratched the door, etc.).
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rshaw82366
G-K said:
Thanks for the response. Seems like you've been really busy! Hope you get your real vacation soon! :) I called Toyota BEC and I was told to show the PDF file/letter that Motch6 posted above if in case a VIN issue comes up. I asked if Toyota is doing something to permanently fix the issue in their system and if there's an ETA for the fix but I didn't get a clear answer, instead to use the letter if needed, again.
Click to expand...
I'm trying to help a friend with this problem . Uber won't let him register his car with their company because it shows up a Subaru. I called Toyota 800 number and despite all my Internet research, she said this problem does not exist, and there is no such a letter or they would've known about it. Unbelievable, does anyone have a contact # to get this letter ?
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a2b
@Motch6 would you be able to share the letter from Toyota in this thread for anybody that hasn't received it yet? (i.e. @rshaw82366)
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B.Wilkins_85
I'm about ready to order some Subaru badges, plop them on front and rear, and call it a day.

Even the NHTSA says my car is a Subaru, and the DMV can't seem to process my registration. I honestly don't care if it's a Subaru or a Toyota, I just don't want to deal with the constant confusion with third parties who need my vehicle's VIN for informational purposes.

Kudos to anyone who can get me the relevant part numbers from Subaru...
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M
Erie Insurance thinks my Solterra is a bZ4X!
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