Free Mercury Tracer VIN Decoder

How to decode a Mercury Tracer VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Mercury Tracer VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-character code assigned to a vehicle manufacturer that reveals specific information about the vehicle, including its country of origin, the manufacturer, and the type of vehicle. For instance, the Mercury Tracer has been associated with WMIs like 3MA and 3ME for units manufactured in Mexico by the Ford Motor Company, showcasing its classification as a passenger car with production years ranging from 1989 through 1999. Similarly, the 1ME WMI denotes Mercury Tracers produced by Ford in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan, during the same model years, also classified as passenger cars. These identifiers not only assist in tracking automotive compliance and registration but also offer insights into the vehicle’s heritage and manufacturing location. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI is crucial for both consumers and professionals in the automotive industry for identification, regulatory, and historical research purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a Mercury Tracer

WMI: 3MA

• Model Years Covered: 1989, 1991-1995
• Example VIN: 3MABM1351KR612172
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company, Mexico
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Rioverde
• State or Province: S.L.P.
• Country: Mexico

WMI: 3ME

• Model Years Covered: 1997-1999
• Example VIN: 3MELM15P4VR604377
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company, Mexico
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Rioverde
• State or Province: S.L.P.
• Country: Mexico

WMI: 1ME

• Model Years Covered: 1997-1999
• Example VIN: 1MELM10P4VW631888
• 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 Mercury Tracer 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 Mercury Tracer:

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 Mercury Tracer 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 Mercury Tracer VIN — Year Code

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

Known Mercury Tracer Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Mercury Tracer

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

What info can a Mercury Tracer VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the model year of the vehicle, indicating it as a 1997 Tracer, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: The VIN specifies the body class, identifying the vehicle as a Wagon with 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s size and utility.
• Engine Type: Details about the engine, including its manufacturer (Ford), configuration (In-Line), displacement (2.0L or 121CI), and the number of cylinders (4), are encoded within the VIN, providing information about the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
• Fuel Efficiency and Type: Information on the primary fuel type, such as Gasoline, along with specific engine characteristics like Split Port Induction and Electronic Fuel Injection, can be deduced from the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s expected fuel efficiency and performance.
• Safety Features: The VIN can typically provide details on the presence of safety features, including front airbag locations (1st Row for Driver and Passenger) and the type of seat belts (Manual 3-point belts for all outboard positions), indicating the vehicle’s emphasis on passenger safety.
• Plant Information: The VIN offers details about the manufacturing location, including the plant city (Hermosillo), country (Mexico), and state (Sonora), highlighting the vehicle’s production origins.
• Trim and Series: Specific trim (Trio) and series (LS) information encoded in the VIN can offer additional details about the vehicle’s features and level of finish, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and options.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Mercury Tracer