Free 1997 Mercury Mountaineer VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designated to identify the vehicle’s manufacturer, vehicle type, and country of manufacturing. In the context of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, the WMI “4M2” precisely indicates that this multipurpose passenger vehicle was produced by Ford Motor Company. With its manufacturing base in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, this specific WMI underscores the vehicle’s origins and categorization. This code is integral to vehicle identification, providing crucial information about the car’s manufacturer and type, thereby helping in the facilitation of vehicle registration, insurance, and recalls processes. Overall, the WMI serves as a foundational component in the global system for identifying motor vehicles.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer

WMI: 4M2

• Model Years Covered: 1997-2010
• Example VIN: 4M2DU55P0VUJ13126
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer 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 1997 Mercury Mountaineer:

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 1997 Mercury Mountaineer 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 1997 Mercury Mountaineer VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Mercury Mountaineer Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, showing it to be a 1997 Ford Mountaineer, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Size: The VIN specifies that the vehicle is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 4 doors, offering insights into the body type and size, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s design and functionality.
• Engine Specifications: Detailed engine information, such as a 5.0L V-Shaped engine configuration with an output of 211 horsepower, is encoded, covering aspects like displacement in CC, CI, and liters, as well as the number of cylinders, providing valuable information about the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
• Drive Type and Brake System: The data specifies a 4x2 drive type and a hydraulic brake system, offering a glimpse into the vehicle’s drivetrain and safety features and providing insights into the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
• Fuel Type and Efficiency: The VIN mentions the primary fuel type as gasoline, coupled with a mention of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), hinting at the vehicle’s fuel system and efficiency considerations, providing useful information about fuel usage and potential environmental impact.
• Safety Features: It includes details about front airbag locations for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger), and manual seatbelt type, highlighting key safety features available, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety capabilities.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN provides manufacturing location details as Louisville, Kentucky, United States, emphasizing the importance of knowing where a vehicle was produced, which can provide insights into the vehicle’s origin and potentially its build quality.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer