- What you'll get from Ford Mustang VIN check?
- Ford Mustang Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Ford Mustang VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Ford Mustang
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Mustang VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Ford Mustang VIN.
- 10th Character in the Ford Mustang VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Ford Mustang VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Ford Mustang Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Mustang
- How to find a Ford Mustang's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Mustang
What you’ll get from Ford Mustang VIN check?
- Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle. It may also specify the make, offering information about the manufacturer.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: A VIN may provide the classification of the vehicle, offering specifics like it being a Passenger Car or an SUV, and indicating the body style, such as Coupe or Sedan.
- Engine Details: Engine specifics, including the configuration, displacement in liters, manufacturer, and the number of cylinders, are often encoded within a VIN, providing information about the vehicle’s power and performance potential.
- Safety Features: Information regarding safety systems installed as standard or optional, such as Blind Spot Mirrors, Adaptive Cruise Control, Anti-lock Braking System, and Front Air Bag locations, can be derived from the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety capabilities.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle, such as Gasoline or Electric, is frequently provided in the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s operational needs and environmental considerations.
- Production Information: Details on the manufacturing, like the Plant City, Plant Country, and even the specific company name, can be typically found in the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s origin and production history.
- Vehicle Performance: A VIN may reveal performance specifications like horsepower and other notable features that contribute to the vehicle’s driving dynamics and overall performance experience.
Ford Mustang 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 Mustang VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford Mustang VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial three-letter or digit sequence of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which uniquely identifies the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of origin. For the Ford Mustang, there are two notable WMIs: ‘1FA’ and ‘1ZV’. The ‘1FA’ WMI was used for Mustang models produced between 1981-2004 and from 2015-2024, indicating that these vehicles were manufactured by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. The ‘1ZV’ WMI, on the other hand, is associated with Mustangs built from 2005-2014 and indicates production by Auto Alliance International, USA, in Washington, DC, United States. These WMIs not only denote the geographical location of the manufacturing plant but also tie back to the specific manufacturer and timeframes within which the Mustang models were produced.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford Mustang
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1981-2004, 2015-2024
- Example VIN: 1FABP12D5BF174999
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
WMI: 1ZV
- Model Years Covered: 2005-2014
- Example VIN: 1ZVHT80N055150895
- Manufacturer Name: Auto Alliance International, USA
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Wasington
- State or Province: DC
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Mustang 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 Mustang 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 Mustang VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 Ford Mustang |
| P | 2023 Ford Mustang |
| N | 2022 Ford Mustang |
| M | 2021 Ford Mustang |
| L | 2020 Ford Mustang |
| K | 2019 Ford Mustang |
| J | 2018 Ford Mustang |
| H | 2017 Ford Mustang |
| G | 2016 Ford Mustang |
| F | 2015 Ford Mustang |
| E | 2014 Ford Mustang |
| D | 2013 Ford Mustang |
| C | 2012 Ford Mustang |
| B | 2011 Ford Mustang |
| A | 2010 Ford Mustang |
| 9 | 2009 Ford Mustang |
| 8 | 2008 Ford Mustang |
| 7 | 2007 Ford Mustang |
| 6 | 2006 Ford Mustang |
| 5 | 2005 Ford Mustang |
| 4 | 2004 Ford Mustang |
| 3 | 2003 Ford Mustang |
| 2 | 2002 Ford Mustang |
| 1 | 2001 Ford Mustang |
| Y | 2000 Ford Mustang |
| X | 1999 Ford Mustang |
| W | 1998 Ford Mustang |
| V | 1997 Ford Mustang |
| T | 1996 Ford Mustang |
| S | 1995 Ford Mustang |
| R | 1994 Ford Mustang |
| P | 1993 Ford Mustang |
| N | 1992 Ford Mustang |
| M | 1991 Ford Mustang |
| L | 1990 Ford Mustang |
| K | 1989 Ford Mustang |
| J | 1988 Ford Mustang |
| H | 1987 Ford Mustang |
| G | 1986 Ford Mustang |
| F | 1985 Ford Mustang |
| E | 1984 Ford Mustang |
| D | 1983 Ford Mustang |
| C | 1982 Ford Mustang |
| B | 1981 Ford Mustang |
11th Character in the Ford Mustang VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Mustang Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Flat Rock | Michigan | United States | Auto Alliance International | 1ZVHT80N055150895 |
| F | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 1FABP12D5BF174999 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Mustang
The final 6 characters in a Ford Mustang’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 Mustang’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford Mustang is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the lower-left corner of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel in your Ford Mustang. You can see the VIN through the windshield on a small metallic plate.
- Examine the driver’s side door jamb of your Ford Mustang. Often, the VIN can be found on a sticker or plaque where the door latches when closed.
- Check the Vehicle Registration documents for your Ford Mustang. The VIN is always recorded there for identification purposes.
- For older models of the Ford Mustang, inspect under the hood. The VIN might be stamped on the engine block or other components.
- Review your Ford Mustang’s insurance card or policy. Insurance documents require the VIN for identification and should list it clearly.
Don’t have your Ford Mustang’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Mustang
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Safety System Note | Blind Spot Mirrors: Standard |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Optional |
| Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) | Optional |
| 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 ($) | 35355 |
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Optional |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 5000 |
| Displacement (CI) | 305.1187204736 |
| Displacement (L) | 5 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 460 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Event Data Recorder (EDR) | Standard |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Optional |
| 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) |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Optional |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Optional |
| Model | Mustang |
| Model Year | 2019 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 4 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Engine Info | 4V |
| Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) | Optional |
| Plant City | Flatrock |
| Plant Company Name | FRAP |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Series | GT Coupe |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FA6P8CF*K5 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 107.10 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 18 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 18 |
| Sample VIN | 1FA6P8CF0K5100440 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Ford Mustang for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Ford Mustang?
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 Mustang's history for free?
Enter the Ford Mustang’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 Mustang VIN numbers start with?
Ford Mustang VIN's start with 1FA for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company in United States, 1ZV for vehicles manufactured by Auto Alliance International, USA in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Ford Mustang.
Decode a Ford VIN
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