- What you'll get from Ford Ranger VIN check?
- Ford Ranger Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Ford Ranger VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Ford Ranger
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Ranger VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Ford Ranger VIN.
- 10th Character in the Ford Ranger VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Ford Ranger VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Ford Ranger Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Ranger
- How to find a Ford Ranger's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Ranger
What you’ll get from Ford Ranger VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year 2023, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: The vehicle is classified as a pickup truck with various cab options available, offering a wide range of utility and passenger needs.
- Engine Type: It features a 2.3L In-Line 4-cylinder engine, marked by Ford with the model TIVCT, indicating specifics like engine configuration, displacement, and manufacturer.
- Safety Features: Equipped with standard safety technologies including Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and airbags located at both the 1st and 2nd rows, possibly enhancing passenger safety.
- Drive Type and Transmission: This Ford Ranger comes with a 4WD drivetrain and a 10-speed automatic transmission, outlining its capabilities for various driving conditions and efficiency.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is gasoline, which aligns with its engine specifications and performance capabilities.
- Manufacturing Details: The vehicle was assembled in Wayne, Michigan, United States, by the plant company MICHIGAN ASY, possibly adding context to its production location and influencing factors like design and build quality.
Ford Ranger 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 Ranger VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford Ranger VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes uniquely identify the manufacturer of any vehicle on a global scale, providing key details about where and by whom a vehicle was made. The WMI for Ford Ranger trucks, designated as 1FT, specifies that Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, is the manufacturer. These three characters, found at the beginning of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), cover Ford Ranger models manufactured during the years 1983-2011 and the more recent models from 2019-2024. Specifically, vehicles bearing the 1FT WMI are classified as trucks, underlining Ford’s longstanding presence in the production of durable and dependable vehicles in the automotive industry. This coding system is crucial for accurate vehicle identification, facilitating recall implementations, registrations, and ownership tracking globally.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford Ranger
WMI: 1FT
- Model Years Covered: 1983-2011, 2019-2024
- Example VIN: 1FTCR11S1DUC59975
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Ranger 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 Ranger 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 Ranger VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 Ford Ranger |
| P | 2023 Ford Ranger |
| N | 2022 Ford Ranger |
| M | 2021 Ford Ranger |
| L | 2020 Ford Ranger |
| K | 2019 Ford Ranger |
| B | 2011 Ford Ranger |
| A | 2010 Ford Ranger |
| 9 | 2009 Ford Ranger |
| 8 | 2008 Ford Ranger |
| 7 | 2007 Ford Ranger |
| 6 | 2006 Ford Ranger |
| 5 | 2005 Ford Ranger |
| 4 | 2004 Ford Ranger |
| 3 | 2003 Ford Ranger |
| 2 | 2002 Ford Ranger |
| 1 | 2001 Ford Ranger |
| Y | 2000 Ford Ranger |
| X | 1999 Ford Ranger |
| W | 1998 Ford Ranger |
| V | 1997 Ford Ranger |
| T | 1996 Ford Ranger |
| S | 1995 Ford Ranger |
| R | 1994 Ford Ranger |
| P | 1993 Ford Ranger |
| N | 1992 Ford Ranger |
| M | 1991 Ford Ranger |
| L | 1990 Ford Ranger |
| K | 1989 Ford Ranger |
| J | 1988 Ford Ranger |
| H | 1987 Ford Ranger |
| G | 1986 Ford Ranger |
| F | 1985 Ford Ranger |
| E | 1984 Ford Ranger |
| D | 1983 Ford Ranger |
11th Character in the Ford Ranger VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Ranger Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | Kansas City: Claycomo | Missouri | United States | 1FTER4FH0MK766592 | |
| L | Wayne | Michigan | United States | Michigan Assembly | 1FTER1EH0KLA00257 |
| P | St. Paul | Minnesota | United States | 1FTCR14T2GPA39767 | |
| T | Edison | New Jersey | United States | 1FTCR10U1MTA07491 | |
| U | Louisville | Kentucky | United States | 1FTCR11S1DUC59975 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Ranger
The final 6 characters in a Ford Ranger’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 Ranger’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford Ranger is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Review the dashboard on the driver’s side of the Ford Ranger; the VIN can generally be seen through the windshield on a metal or plastic identification plate.
- Inspect the door frame or door pillar on the driver’s side of the Ford Ranger. The VIN is commonly found on a label or sticker where the door latches.
- Look at the engine block. For a Ford Ranger, the VIN is sometimes stamped on the engine itself, providing vehicle identification details.
- Examine the vehicle registration documents or insurance paperwork. The VIN of your Ford Ranger will be clearly listed on these documents, offering an easy way to locate it without physically inspecting the vehicle.
Don’t have your Ford Ranger’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Ranger
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Body Class | Pickup |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Cab Type | Extra/Super/Quad/Double/King/Extended |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 2300.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 140.35461141788 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.3 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 270 |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) |
| Model | Ranger |
| Model Year | 2020 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 4 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Engine Info | TIVCT 4V |
| Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) | Standard |
| Plant City | Wayne |
| Plant Company Name | Michigan assembly |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 10 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FTER1EH*LL |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 126.80 |
| Sample VIN | 1FTER1EH0LLA00664 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Ford Ranger 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 Ranger?
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 Ranger's history for free?
Enter the Ford Ranger’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 Ranger VIN numbers start with?
Ford Ranger VIN's start with 1FT for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company 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 Ranger.
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