How to decode a Ford Aerostar VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford Aerostar VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences of characters assigned to automakers, specifying the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For the Ford Aerostar, produced between the years 1986 to 1989 and 1991 to 1997, the designated WMI is 1FM. This WMI establishes that the vehicles were manufactured by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, and identifies them as multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV). This system allows for precise identification and tracing of vehicles, providing essential details about their manufacture and specifications through a standardized global coding system.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford Aerostar
WMI: 1FM
- Model Years Covered: 1986-1989, 1991-1997
- Example VIN: 1FMCA11U9GZB56900
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
WMI: 1FT
- Model Years Covered: 1995-1997
- Example VIN: 1FTDA14U8SZA17015
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Aerostar VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a Ford Aerostar:
| Known VDS for a Ford Aerostar | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA11U | DA31X | DA11U | DA31U | DA41X | CA31U | DA21X | DA14U |
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Ford Aerostar VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the Ford Aerostar VIN — Year Code
11th Character in the Ford Aerostar VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Aerostar Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z | Hazelwood (St. Louis) | Missouri | United States | 1FMCA11U9GZB56900 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Aerostar
The final 6 characters in a Ford Aerostar’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Ford Aerostar’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford Aerostar is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look for the VIN on the lower corner of the dashboard, on the driver’s side of your Ford Aerostar. This is easily visible through the windshield from outside the vehicle.
- The door jamb on the driver’s side is another common place where the VIN can be found. For the Ford Aerostar, check for a sticker or plate when the door is open.
- Examine the engine block, as the VIN is sometimes stamped directly onto the Ford Aerostar’s engine parts, offering a permanent identifier.
- Review your Ford Aerostar’s vehicle registration documents. The VIN will be listed along with other important vehicle details.
- Inspect the rear wheel well. Try looking above the tire. In some Ford Aerostar models, the VIN might be located in this unusual but accessible place.
What info can a Ford Aerostar VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, potentially indicating the year of manufacture, as seen in the case of the 1996 Ford Aerostar.
- Vehicle Specifications: Information encoded within the VIN for vehicles like the Ford Aerostar can include details about the engine type, displacement (e.g., 4.0L or 241 cubic inches), and fuel type (Gasoline).
- Drive Type and Body Class: The VIN may reveal the drive type, such as 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, and the body class, for example, Minivan, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and capability.
- Safety Features: The presence and location of safety features, like front airbags in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger), can be identified, indicating the vehicle’s safety considerations.
- Engine Performance: Insights into the engine’s horsepower, ranging from 152 to 160 hp for this specific model, can highlight the vehicle’s power and performance capacity.
- Manufacturing Information: Details including the plant city (Hazelwood, Missouri) and country (United States) where the vehicle was manufactured provide insight into its production origin.
- Additional Features: Other specifics like the brake system type (Hydraulic), seat belt type (Manual), and the engine’s fuel injection type (Electronic Fuel Injection) can be discovered, offering a fuller picture of the vehicle’s technical specifications and features.
Don’t have your Ford Aerostar’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Aerostar
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Minivan |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Displacement (CC) | 3949.282424 |
| Displacement (CI) | 241 |
| Displacement (L) | 4.0 |
| Doors | 3 |
| Drive Type | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 152.00 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 160 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Model | Aerostar |
| Model Year | 1996 |
| Other Engine Info | Fuel Injection Type: Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Plant City | Hazelwood (St. Louis) |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Missouri |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | XLT |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FMDA41X*TZ |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Sample_VIN | 1FMDA41X2TZA76428 |
Decode a Ford VIN
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today