How to decode a 2011 Ford Taurus VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2011 Ford Taurus VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are the initial characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), uniquely identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle. For the 2011 Ford Taurus, the WMI “1FA” signifies vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This code is crucial for accurately identifying the make, and often the model, of a vehicle, providing important information for registration, warranty claims, and vehicle history reports. The WMI is an integral part of the automotive industry’s standardized 17-character VIN system, ensuring that each vehicle has a unique identifier that reveals key details about its manufacturing origin. This system is used internationally to facilitate consistent vehicle identification and tracking.

List of WMI Codes for a 2011 Ford Taurus

WMI: 1FA

Model Years Covered: 1987-2019
Example VIN: 1FAHP2KT0BG100987
Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Dearborn
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2011 Ford Taurus 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 2011 Ford Taurus:

Known VDS for a 2011 Ford Taurus
HP2KT	HP2FW	HP2EW	HP2DW	HP2JW	HP2HW

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 2011 Ford Taurus 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 2011 Ford Taurus VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
B	2011

11th Character in the 2011 Ford Taurus VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2011 Ford Taurus Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G	Chicago	Illinois	United States		1FAHP2KT0BG100987

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2011 Ford Taurus

The final 6 characters in a 2011 Ford Taurus’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 2011 Ford Taurus’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2011 Ford Taurus is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Taurus, usually near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield.
Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your 2011 Ford Taurus where the door hinges when open. There should be a sticker or plate with the VIN.
Examine the firewall of the vehicle’s engine bay, as there is sometimes a VIN plate attached there in the Ford Taurus.
Check any official documentation related to your Ford Taurus, such as the title, registration, or insurance papers, where the VIN is often listed.

What info can a 2011 Ford Taurus VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as being the year 2011, providing insight into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Make and Model: The VIN specifies the make as Ford and the model as Taurus, demonstrating the detailed information a VIN provides for vehicle identification.
Engine Specifications: The engine of the Ford Taurus is characterized by a 3.5 liter (213.58 cubic inches) displacement, V-shaped configuration, and an output of 365 horsepower, indicating the engine’s capacity and design with a degree of certainty.
Fuel Type and Efficiency: The primary fuel type is gasoline, with Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI) technology, suggesting the vehicle’s fuel delivery system and potential efficiency, to some extent.
Safety Features: The VIN indicates the presence of front airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger) and side airbags for both the 1st and 2nd rows, suggesting the vehicle’s emphasis on passenger safety.
Drive Type and Body Class: The vehicle is equipped with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and classified as a Sedan/Saloon, providing information about the vehicle’s drivetrain and body style, within a certain range of probability.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN reveals that the vehicle was manufactured in Chicago, Illinois, United States, potentially hinting at the geographic location of the vehicle’s production and its build quality or design influences.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2011 Ford Taurus

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3500.0
Displacement (CI)	213.58310433156
Displacement (L)	3.5
Doors	4
Drive Type	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Engine Brake (hp) From	263
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 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Taurus
Model Year	2011
Other Engine Info	4V
Plant City	Chicago
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Illinois
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	SE
Side Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Vehicle Descriptor	1FAHP2DW*BG
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1FAHP2DW0BG101841