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Machinetrail

Komatsu Serial Number Lookup & PIN Decoder

Last updated · 9 min read

Bertram Sargla
Founder, Machinetrail

Quick answer

Komatsu serial numbers come in two formats: a model+serial format (PC200-8 #312456) on older equipment, and a 17-character ISO PIN on modern export-market builds. The model prefix (PC, D, WA, GD, HM) identifies the family; the number after it is the size / weight class; the dash-number (-7, -8, -10, -11) is the generation; the trailing digits are the build sequence. Paste either format into the Machinetrail lookup for a free decode plus recall, theft, registry, and Komtrax-aware history cross-check.

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The two Komatsu serial formats explained

Unlike automotive VINs, which converged on a single 17-character ISO 3779 standard decades ago, heavy-equipment OEMs ran their own serial conventions for years and only added an ISO PIN once their export markets required it. Komatsu is a textbook example: every machine still carries its traditional model+serial designation on the chassis plate, but export-market machines built since approximately 2003 also carry a 17-character ISO PIN on the emissions / export plate.

Traditional Komatsu format

PC200-8 #312456

  • PC — family code (hydraulic crawler excavator)
  • 200 — size class (≈ 20 tonnes operating weight)
  • -8 — generation / dash-number
  • 312456 — sequential build serial

Used on every Komatsu, Japan-domestic and export, from the 1970s to today. Still present on the chassis plate even on current-production machines.

17-character ISO PIN

KMTPC215P12345678

  • 17 characters following ISO 3779
  • KMT — Komatsu World Manufacturer Identifier
  • Positions 4–8 encode model family + configuration
  • Position 9 = check digit, 10 = year letter, 11 = plant, 12–17 = sequence

Stamped on the EPA / EU emissions plate on machines exported to US, EU, and most regulated markets from approximately 2003 onward.

Both identifiers refer to the same machine. Either can be used for a Machinetrail lookup; if you have both, supply both and the system reconciles them.

Komatsu model-prefix table (family codes)

The two- or three-letter prefix at the start of a Komatsu model number identifies the equipment family. The numeric portion that follows loosely encodes operating weight or class.

PrefixFamilyExamplesNotes
PCHydraulic excavator (crawler)PC200-8, PC360LC-11, PC490LC-11By far the highest-volume Komatsu line. Number after PC = approximate operating weight in metric tonnes (PC200 ≈ 20 t, PC360 ≈ 36 t, PC490 ≈ 49 t). LC suffix = long-carriage undercarriage.
PWWheeled hydraulic excavatorPW148-11, PW180-11Same numeric weight convention as PC, but mounted on rubber tires for road travel. Common in European utility / municipal use.
DCrawler dozerD51EX-24, D65PX-18, D85PX-18, D155AX-8, D375A-8Numeric size class roughly tracks horsepower / weight class. Suffix letters: A = standard, EX/PX = LGP/wide-track, AX = automated grade-control variants.
WAWheel loaderWA320-8, WA380-8, WA470-8, WA500-8, WA600-8Numeric value tracks bucket / tonnage class. WA320 ≈ 3 m³ bucket, WA500 ≈ 5 m³, WA900-class are mining loaders.
GDMotor graderGD555-5, GD655-5, GD675-5, GD755-5First two digits = approximate horsepower class. -5 / -6 generation suffix common on current production.
HMArticulated dump truckHM300-5, HM400-5Numeric value = nominal payload in short tons (HM300 ≈ 30 t, HM400 ≈ 40 t).
HDRigid-frame mining dump truckHD605-8, HD785-8, HD1500-8Mining-class haulers. Numeric value loosely tracks payload in short tons. HD1500 and HD605 are off-highway-only.
BRMobile crusher / screener (BR-series)BR380JG-3, BR580JG-1Self-propelled jaw / impact crushers. Used in aggregate, demolition, and recycling.
PC-LC / PC-HDExcavator variant suffixesPC360LC-11, PC490HD-11LC = long-carriage (longer / wider undercarriage for stability). HD = heavy-duty (reinforced boom and arm for demolition or heavy quarry use).

Dash-number generation chart (-6, -7, -8, -10, -11)

The dash-number after the model is the generation / series indicator. Two machines with the same model number but different dash-numbers (PC200-7 vs PC200-8) are separate generations with different engines, hydraulics, cabs, and emissions tiers. The dash-number is the single most useful data point for parts sourcing and resale value on a Komatsu.

DashSeriesApprox. yearsNotes
-6Late dash-6 generation1998 – 2003 (PC excavator family)Pre-Tier 3 emissions. PC200-6 and PC400-6 are the high-volume members of this generation in EU / North America.
-7Dash-7 generation2002 – 2007 (PC family); slightly later on dozersTier 3 / Stage IIIA emissions. Komtrax telematics began appearing as factory-fit on selected -7 builds late in the run.
-8Dash-8 generation2007 – 2013 (PC family); WA wheel loaders run -8 into the late 2010sKomtrax becomes standard equipment across construction lines from approximately 2008. Tier 4 Interim / Stage IIIB on later -8 builds.
-10Dash-10 generation2013 – 2017 (PC family)Tier 4 Final / Stage IV emissions. Hybrid HB-prefix variants (HB215LC-2 / -3) sold alongside.
-11Dash-11 generation2017 – present (PC family); current productionStage V emissions in EU. Komtrax Step 5 telematics standard. Intelligent Machine Control (iMC 2.0) optional on selected models.

Dash-number adoption schedules vary by family. Wheel loaders (WA-series) and dozers (D-series) often run a dash-number for several more years than excavators because their development cycles are longer. The years above reflect the most common PC-series excavator timeline.

Where to find the serial number on a Komatsu

  1. Excavators (PC / PW family).The factory PIN / serial plate is riveted to the right-hand side of the cab on the lower frame, typically just behind the front idler or beneath the operator's window. The serial is also stamped directly into the chassis frame casting on the right-hand side — always cross-check the riveted plate against the engraved frame number.
  2. Dozers (D family).The plate is on the front frame casting, typically on the operator's left side near the radiator support. On larger dozers (D155, D275, D375) it may also appear on the inside of the cab door pillar.
  3. Wheel loaders (WA family). The plate is on the front frame, on the right-hand side of the articulation joint. On WA600 and larger, also stamped into the rear chassis frame.
  4. Motor graders (GD family) and ADTs (HM family). Plate on the cab pillar; chassis-stamped serial typically on the front frame near the front axle.
  5. Engine serial (separate).Stamped on the engine block, typically on the left side near the injection pump. This identifies the engine, not the chassis. On a re-engined machine it will not match the factory chassis serial — that's normal but should appear in the maintenance history.
  6. Emissions / export plate. The 17-character ISO PIN is typically only on the EPA / EU emissions plate, riveted near the engine bay or behind the cab. Domestic-Japan-market machines and pre-2003 exports may not carry this plate at all.

A mismatch between the riveted plate and the chassis-engraved serial is a primary stolen-equipment signal. Restamped frames, ground-down stamping, or plates that don't match the surrounding paint condition all warrant a cross-registry lookup before purchase.

Komtrax history pull — the gold-standard rollback proof

Komatsu's Komtrax telematics system is the single most valuable history source available on any modern Komatsu. Standard equipment on construction-line machines from approximately 2008, Komtrax transmits running hours, fault codes, location, fuel consumption, and operator-event logs back to Komatsu independently of the dashboard hour-meter. Komtrax is free for the registered owner for the life of the machine on enrolled units.

Because Komtrax records hours independently of the dash, it cannot be rolled back by tampering with the cluster. On a used Komatsu built since 2008, the workflow is:

  1. Ask the seller to print the Komtrax health report from MyKomatsu (or to authorize a transfer of Komtrax ownership at the dealer).
  2. Compare the Komtrax hours figure against the dashboard reading and against the dealer-stamped service records.
  3. Any gap of more than ~50 hours between Komtrax and the dash is a rollback signal worth investigating.
  4. If the seller refuses or claims Komtrax was “never enrolled,” that is itself a soft signal — Komtrax is enrolled by the delivering dealer at handover and stays enrolled by default.

Machinetrail's standard report flags whether a given Komatsu PIN is in the dash-number window where Komtrax should be present, and surfaces the Komtrax-enrollment-likelihood signal in the free preview.

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Free preview: structure check + recall count + top issues + Komtrax-window flag. €19.99 for the full standard report.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the serial number located on a Komatsu excavator?
Three places to check on a Komatsu hydraulic excavator. (1) The factory PIN / serial plate is riveted to the right-hand side of the cab on the lower frame, typically just behind the front idler or beneath the operator's window. (2) The serial is also stamped directly into the chassis frame casting on the right-hand side — always cross-check the plate against the engraved number; a mismatch is a primary stolen-equipment signal. (3) The engine serial is separate, stamped on the engine block (usually on the left side near the injection pump). On Komatsu dozers, loaders, and graders the plate is most commonly on the front frame casting rather than the cab.
What does the dash-number on a Komatsu model mean (PC200-8 vs PC200-7)?
The dash-number is the generation / series indicator. PC200-7 and PC200-8 are both 20-tonne hydraulic excavators, but they're separate generations with different engines, hydraulics, cabs, and emissions tiers. Approximate year ranges: -6 = 1998–2003 (pre-Tier 3), -7 = 2002–2007 (Tier 3 / Stage IIIA), -8 = 2007–2013 (Tier 4 Interim / Stage IIIB; Komtrax becomes standard ~2008), -10 = 2013–2017 (Tier 4 Final / Stage IV), -11 = 2017–present (Stage V). The dash-number alone is the single most useful piece of data for valuing or sourcing parts for a Komatsu machine.
Do Komatsu machines have a 17-character VIN like cars?
Yes — on machinery exported to the US, EU, and most regulated markets since approximately 2003, Komatsu issues a 17-character ISO 3779 PIN alongside the traditional model+serial designation. The 17-character PIN appears on the EPA / EU emissions plate and on the export-spec chassis plate. Both identifiers refer to the same machine and either can be used for a Machinetrail lookup. Domestic-Japan-market machines and pre-2003 export machines typically only carry the model + serial format (e.g. PC200-7 #245678).
What does PC, D, WA, GD or HM mean at the start of a Komatsu model number?
Komatsu prefixes the model name with a family code: PC = hydraulic crawler excavator, PW = wheeled hydraulic excavator, D = crawler dozer, WA = wheel loader, GD = motor grader, HM = articulated dump truck, HD = rigid-frame mining dump truck, BR = mobile crusher. The numeric portion that follows the prefix loosely encodes operating weight or class — PC200 is a 20-tonne excavator, WA500 is a ~5 m³ bucket loader, HM400 is a 40-ton ADT. The final dash-number (e.g. -8, -11) is the generation.
What is Komtrax and can I use it to verify hours on a used Komatsu?
Komtrax is Komatsu's factory-fit telematics system, standard equipment on construction-line machines from approximately 2008. It transmits running hours, fault codes, location, fuel consumption, and operator-event logs back to Komatsu. Komtrax is free for the registered owner for the life of the machine on enrolled units. Because Komtrax records hours independently of the dashboard hour-meter, it is the single best rollback-fraud check available on any modern Komatsu. Before buying a used Komatsu built since 2008, ask the seller to print the Komtrax health report from MyKomatsu — and compare the Komtrax hours figure against the dash and the service records.
How do I check if a used Komatsu has been stolen or has open recalls?
Cross-check the serial / PIN against multiple registries. The National Equipment Register (NER.net) covers US-reported theft. TER-Europe and the Plant And Agricultural National Intelligence Unit cover UK / EU. Machinetrail queries 14 European registries plus a 1.7M-record stolen-equipment dataset and 4,700+ EU machinery recalls (EU Safety Gate, Bundesnetzagentur, RDW, Traficom and others) in a single lookup. Komatsu itself does not operate a public stolen-equipment database, but authorized dealers can sometimes verify status through the Komatsu dealer-channel system.
How is Machinetrail different from Vincario or NER for Komatsu?
Vincario offers a free 17-character VIN/PIN structural decoder, but it has no Komatsu-specific data — no Komtrax cross-check, no dash-number generation context, no recall coverage on heavy machinery, and no stolen-equipment database. NER (the National Equipment Register) is the long-standing US theft registry — strong US coverage, but US-only and pricing is geared at insurer / fleet customers ($49.95+ per check). Machinetrail covers 196,798 canonical machines, queries 14 European registries plus stolen-equipment and recall data in one €19.99 standard report, and includes the Komatsu-specific dash-number, plant, and Komtrax-based hour-validation context that the structural decoders miss.
My Komatsu serial is short and doesn't have 17 characters — is something wrong?
No — that's the traditional Komatsu format and it's still used today on the chassis plate even when a 17-character PIN is also present. The traditional format is model + dash-number + a 5-to-6-digit serial sequence (for example PC200-8 #312456 or D65PX-18 #87654). The 17-character ISO PIN is typically only stamped on the export-market emissions plate. Both formats refer to the same machine and either is valid for a Machinetrail lookup; if you have both, supply both and the lookup will reconcile them.