What Is The Product Identification Plate? Where Can I Find It And What Does It Tell Me?

2011-01-24 - Kevin Rutledge

Volvo uses the Product Identification (ID) Plate, also sometimes called the Build Plate, to store various information about how a car was equipped from the factory.

Typically, the Product ID plate will contain such information such as Exterior Color Code and Interior Code. Depending on the Model Year, it may also contain numbers that indicate what suspension and/or steering components are on the car.

In many cases, numbers off of the Product ID Plate may be needed to determine what replacement parts are needed for your Volvo. These numbers are sort of like a VIN number in that digits in certain positions represent different options.

Product ID Plate Location

On earlier FWD and AWD models, the Product Indentification Plate was under the hood on the Left (Driver's) side of the engine bay. On later models it is usually located in the front door opening of the right (passenger) rear door (on the "B" pillar".)

Product ID Plate Definitions 1998-2000 model years (S70, V70, C70)

16 = Market Code
17 = Interior Trim Code
18 = Exterior Paint Code
19 = Special Vehicle number (Taxi, Police, etc.)
20 = Front Suspension Spring & Strut Code
21 = Front Anti-sway Bar Code
22 = Rear Suspension Shock Code
23 = Rear Suspension Spring Code
24 = Rear Suspension Anti-Sway Bar Code
25 = Suspension Bump Stop Code
26 = Steering Rack Code

Product ID Plate Definitions up to 2001 to mid-2002 model year (S60, S80, V70, XC70)

16 = Market Code
17 = Interior Code
18 = Exterior Paint Code
19 = Special Vehicle number (Taxi, Police, etc.)
20 = Front Suspension Spring & Strut Code
21 = Front Anti-sway Bar Code
22 = Rear Suspension Spring & Shock Code
23 = Rear Anti-Sway Bar Code
24 = Front Suspension Bump Stop Code
25 = Rear Suspension Bump Stop Code
26 = Steering Rack Code (not relevant to all models)

Product ID Plate Definitions for mid-2002 model year and later

13 = Model Year
14 = Factory Code (represents the factory where the car was built)
15 = Chassis Number
16 = Market Code (USA, Canada, etc.)
17 = Interior Code
18 = Exterior Paint Code
19 = Special Vehicle Number (Taxi, Police, etc.)
20 = Front Suspension Spring Code
21 = Front Suspension Strut Code
22 = Front Anti-Sway Bar Code
23 = Rear Suspension Spring Code
24 = Rear Suspension Shock Code
25 = Rear Anti-Sway Bar Code
26 = Front Suspension Bump Stop Code
27 = Rear Suspension Bump Stop Code