In multiple places, I see the year 1992 or 1991 written. So what year is my XJ so I can get the correct parts for it? Are '91 and '92 basically the same? My DMV paper says that the year first sold was 1991, and the model year is 1992, so does this mean that I should get 1992 parts?

see if it has a oval brass plate on the firewall, that has a date stamp which is when it was made in the factory (at least in my 3 x '96 XJ)

If not, you also type the VIN into Chryslers system and it will spit out all the relevant data for that VINS original spec

What's the 10th number of the VIN?

The 1991 you're seeing is likely on the door jamb. That's the production date.

The one that matters is on your title/registration. Sounds like that's 1992. Sometimes changes are made mid year so some parts may be production date dependent. It's good to know both.

Remember, new year model cars can be sold in the prior year. I have cars that were first sold in the year before the model year. I got a 1986 that was sold in 1985. It is an 86 model, produced in 85. I had a 1970 car that was produced in 1969.
Come this December, 2022 you will be able to buy 2023 model cars.

Model year is not same as calender year!

The 10th character is N.

That would be a 1992 model.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/vindecoder.php

dont like to be argumentative, but I disagree with this (for the purpose of purchasing parts), this date can be very misleading, can state the wrong year altogether

The date Chrysler made it is what is important for Parts.

The VIN number is what the Parts Manual uses to show when a Part was changed

No argument taken. Since the VIN is on the registration/title, the VIN code and year should match. If not, that's a different issue. In CA the registration also has a Date First Sold field. This can be the year prior.

Knowing the build date is important since some parts may change mid model year. But you wouldn't specify '90 parts for a '91 just because it may have been manufactured in '90.