- What you'll get from Ford VIN check?
- Ford Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Ford VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Ford
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Ford VIN.
- 10th Character in the Ford VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Ford VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Ford Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford
- How to find a Ford's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford
What you’ll get from Ford VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2018, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Engine Type and Horsepower: A VIN can specify the engine type, such as the 3.5L GTDI V-shaped engine with 365 horsepower for the Explorer, indicating the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
- Safety Features: Advanced safety systems, such as adaptive cruise control and front airbag locations, may be encoded in the VIN, illustrating the vehicle’s commitment to occupant safety.
- Fuel Efficiency: The type of fuel a vehicle primarily uses, such as gasoline for the Explorer, can impact its running costs and environmental footprint, providing crucial information for eco-conscious drivers.
- Drive Type and Transmission: Insights into the drive type, like the Explorer’s 4-wheel drive, and transmission style, such as the 6-speed automatic transmission, can offer information about the vehicle’s handling and efficiency under various conditions.
- Body Class and Seating Capacity: The VIN can detail the body class and capacity, showing the Explorer being categorized as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with seating for up to 7 passengers, highlighting its suitability for families or group travel.
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Features such as blind spot warning and lane keeping assistance standard on the Explorer underscore the vehicle’s advanced technologies to improve driving safety and convenience.
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Ford Vehicle History Risk Factors
Ford’s used vehicle market is enormous — the F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in America — which means the range of vehicle condition is equally wide. A Bumper VIN check on a used Ford addresses several high-frequency issues.
1.0L and 1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion (2013–2018 Escape, Fusion, Focus). Ford’s smaller EcoBoost engines in this generation had a well-documented defect where coolant could leak into the engine, causing overheating and, in some cases, engine fires. NHTSA investigated this issue extensively. A service record showing repeated coolant top-offs or a replaced head gasket is a significant red flag on these models.
6R80 transmission issues on F-150 (2011–2016). Ford’s six-speed automatic in this generation of F-150 generated substantial owner complaints and TSBs related to shuddering, hard shifts, and converter clutch failure. High-mileage examples from this era warrant close inspection of transmission service records.
Rust and frame integrity on pre-2015 F-150s. Earlier aluminum-free F-150s are susceptible to frame and cab corner rust in northern states. Check ownership registration history — a truck that’s spent its life in the Rust Belt will have a different condition profile than one from the Southwest.
Salvage frequency on high-demand models. F-150s, Mustangs, and Explorers appear disproportionately in salvage and rebuilt title databases because of their volume and resale value. Title washing — where a salvage-titled vehicle is re-registered in a lenient state to obtain a clean title — is a real risk on popular Ford trucks and SUVs.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Ford VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford VIN
World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are a crucial part of a vehicle’s unique 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), constituting the first three characters that identify the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and type. For example, the WMI ‘1FT’ indicates trucks manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. Similarly, ‘3FA’ is used for passenger cars made by Ford in Mexico, while ‘2FA’ marks passenger cars by Ford in Canada. Ford’s global footprint is further evidenced by WMIs like ‘MAJ’ for multipurpose vehicles made in India and ‘NM0’ for trucks from Turkey. These codes provide vital information for tracking, registration, and recalling vehicles worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford
| WMI | Manufacturer Name | Vehicle Type | City | State or Province | Country | Model Years Covered | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FT | Ford Motor Company | Truck | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 1981-2024 | 1FTYY92P5WVA36403 |
| 1FM | Ford Motor Company | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 1981-2024 | 1FMCA11U9GZB56900 |
| KNJ | Kia Motors (Ford Imports) | Passenger Car | Seoul | Gyeonggi | South Korea | 1988-1995, 1997 | KNJLT05H6R6143917 |
| 3FM | Ford Motor Company, Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Rioverde | S.L.P. | Mexico | 2021-2024 | 3FMCR9F90MRA00398 |
| 1FA | Ford Motor Company | Passenger Car | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 1981-2024 | 1FADP5AU0DL500407 |
| 9BF | Ford Motor Company Brasil Ltda. | Truck | Sao Bernardo Do Campo | Sao Paulo | Brazil | 1987-1988 | 9BFPH70P3HDM00755 |
| 3FA | Ford Motor Company, Mexico | Passenger Car | Rioverde | S.L.P. | Mexico | 1991-2020 | 3FALP663XSM138860 |
| 2FA | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | Passenger Car | Oakville | Ontario | Canada | 1983-2011, 2017-2022 | 2FABP73F1HX118638 |
| MAJ | Ford India Ltd. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Chengalpattu - 603 204 | Tennessee | India | 2018-2022 | MAJ6P1VE2JC157518 |
| 2FM | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Oakville | Ontario | Canada | 1995-2024 | 2FMDK39C07BA21350 |
| 1F1 | Ford Motor Company | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 2004-2005, 2007-2009 | 1F1NU40S04EA00164 |
| 2FT | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | Truck | Oakville | Ontario | Canada | 1981-2007 | 2FTCF10DXBCA35807 |
| 3FT | Ford Motor Company, Mexico | Truck | Rioverde | S.L.P. | Mexico | 1997, 2000-2004, 2022-2024 | 3FTRF17W9YMA42858 |
| WF0 | Ford Werke AG | Passenger Car | Koeln-Niehl | Germany | 2016-2018 | WF0DP3TH0G4112717 | |
| 1ZV | Auto Alliance International, USA | Passenger Car | Wasington | DC | United States | 1989-1997, 2005-2014 | 1ZVHT80N055150895 |
| NM0 | Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.S., Turkey | Truck | Istanbul | Turkey | 2010-2023 | NM0KS6BN6AT000080 |
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Ford’s Vehicle Descriptor Section follows a consistent encoding structure across its F-Series, Explorer, Mustang, and Escape lineups, though the specific codes vary considerably by platform generation. For F-150s, the VDS encodes cab configuration, bed length, and engine type — all critical details when evaluating a used truck, since a VIN that decodes to a base 3.3L V6 is a very different vehicle than one with the 5.0L Coyote V8 or the 3.5L EcoBoost. The engine character in the VDS is particularly important on Ford’s turbocharged EcoBoost models, where buyers frequently need to verify the specific engine variant for maintenance planning and insurance purposes.
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 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 VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 |
| P | 2023 |
| N | 2022 |
| M | 2021 |
| L | 2020 |
| K | 2019 |
| J | 2018 |
| H | 2017 |
| G | 2016 |
| F | 2015 |
| E | 2014 |
| D | 2013 |
| C | 2012 |
| B | 2011 |
| A | 2010 |
| 9 | 2009 |
| 8 | 2008 |
| 7 | 2007 |
| 6 | 2006 |
| 5 | 2005 |
| 4 | 2004 |
| 3 | 2003 |
| 2 | 2002 |
| 1 | 2001 |
| Y | 2000 |
| X | 1999 |
| W | 1998 |
| V | 1997 |
| T | 1996 |
| S | 1995 |
| R | 1994 |
| P | 1993 |
| N | 1992 |
| M | 1991 |
| L | 1990 |
| K | 1989 |
| J | 1988 |
| H | 1987 |
| G | 1986 |
| F | 1985 |
| E | 1984 |
| D | 1983 |
| C | 1982 |
| B | 1981 |
11th Character in the Ford VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valencia | Spain | Valencia Assembly Plant | NM0LS7F70E1134008 | |
| 4 | Escobedo | Mexico | Navistar/Ford Jv | 1FMDU70E024C80858 | |
| 5 | Flat Rock | Michigan | United States | Auto Alliance International | 1FTNX21F825D53902 |
| 6 | Kyung Ki-Do | South Korea | Mazda-Kia | KNJLT05H6R6143917 | |
| A | Atlanta | Georgia | United States | 2FTRX18W21A825400 | |
| B | Oakville | Ontario | Canada | 2FMDK39C07BA21350 | |
| C | Chennai | India | Ford India Ltd | MAJ6P1VE2JC157518 | |
| D | Ipiranga | Brazil | 9BFPH70P3HDM00755 | ||
| E | Jefferson County | Kentucky | United States | Kentucky Truck | 1FMCU0E71BEM23689 |
| F | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 1FMNU40S5YFD92092 | |
| G | Chicago | Illinois | United States | 1FMHK7F80BGA00881 | |
| H | Lorain | Ohio | United States | 1FTDE04E9CHA50538 | |
| K | Kansas City | Missouri | United States | 1FMEE5DP0NKX58808 | |
| L | Detroit | Michigan | United States | 1FMEU15G5BLA31652 | |
| M | Cuautitlan | State Of Mexico | Mexico | 3FALP663XSM138860 | |
| N | Chicago | Illinois | United States | Chicago Sho Center | 1FM5K7FW0MNA00833 |
| P | St. Paul | Minnesota | United States | 1FTCF10E5BPA45054 | |
| R | Hermosillo | Sonora | Mexico | 3FMCR9F90MRA00398 | |
| T | Edison | New Jersey | United States | 1FAPP2097JT164114 | |
| U | Louisville | Kentucky | United States | 1FMCU14S0EUC18745 | |
| V | Jefferson County | Kentucky | United States | Kentucky Truck | 1FTYY92P5WVA36403 |
| W | Wayne | Michigan | United States | 1FABP05H6EW269682 | |
| X | Talbotville | Ontario | Canada | 2FABP73F1HX118638 | |
| Y | Wixom | Michigan | United States | 1FAFP3635YYW72146 | |
| Z | Hazelwood (St. Louis) | Missouri | United States | 1FMCA11U9GZB56900 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford
The final 6 characters in a Ford’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Decode a Ford VIN
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Ford’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford, where the VIN can usually be seen through the windshield.
- Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side; a Ford VIN is often placed on a label or sticker where the door closes.
- Examine the engine block of your Ford, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
- Review your Ford’s vehicle registration documents, insurance card, or title, where the VIN is always listed.
- Inspect the rear wheel well above the tire. In some Ford models, the VIN can be found in this location.
- Peek under the spare tire in the trunk or cargo area of your Ford, as the VIN might also be located there.
Don’t have your Ford’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Safety System Note | Front 180-degree camera: Standard; Forward, Reverse and Side Sensing Systems: Standard; Cross-traffic Alert: Standard; Brake Support: Standard; My Key Tech, Hill Start Assist |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Standard |
| Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) | Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 53940 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Standard |
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Standard |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 3500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 213.58310433156 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.5 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 365 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Model | 3.5L GTDI |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | Passenger Seat Only |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Standard |
| Model | Explorer |
| Model Year | 2018 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 3 |
| Number of Seats | 7 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Parking Assist | Standard |
| Plant City | Chicago |
| Plant Company Name | Chicago assembly |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Illinois |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Series | Platinum |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd and 3rd Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Top Speed (MPH) | 122 |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 6 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Turbo | Yes |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FM5K8HT*JG |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 112.8 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 20 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 20 |
| Sample VIN | 1FM5K8HT0JGA02106 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Ford?
On most Ford vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Ford's history for free?
Enter the Ford’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Ford VIN numbers start with?
Ford VIN's start with 1FT, 1FM, 1FA, and 1F1 for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company in United States, KNJ for vehicles manufactured by Kia Motors (Ford Imports) in South Korea, 3FM, 3FA, and 3FT for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Mexico in Mexico, 9BF for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company Brasil Ltda. in Brazil, 2FA, 2FM, and 2FT for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. in Canada, MAJ for vehicles manufactured by Ford India Ltd. in India, WF0 for vehicles manufactured by Ford Werke AG in Germany, 1ZV for vehicles manufactured by Auto Alliance International, USA in United States, NM0 for vehicles manufactured by Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.S., Turkey in Turkey. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Ford.
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