- What you'll get from Ford Aspire VIN check?
- Ford Aspire Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Ford Aspire VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Ford Aspire
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Aspire VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Ford Aspire VIN.
- 10th Character in the Ford Aspire VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Ford Aspire VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Ford Aspire Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Aspire
- How to find a Ford Aspire's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Aspire
What you’ll get from Ford Aspire VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the Mazda Aspire’s model year as 1994, providing insights into the vehicle’s age and potential historical value.
- Engine Specifications: The Mazda Aspire features an in-line engine configuration with a displacement of 1.3 liters (81 cubic inches), powered by gasoline. It produces a base horsepower of 63, indicating its performance capability.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN details the Mazda Aspire as a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback with 4 doors, providing insights into its design, functionality, and roominess.
- Safety Features: According to the VIN, the Mazda Aspire is equipped with front airbags for both driver and passenger in the first row, and manual 3-point seat belts in all outboard positions, demonstrating its commitment to occupant safety.
- Fuel Type: The VIN indicates that the Mazda Aspire runs on gasoline, offering users information on fuel demands and possibly its efficiency and environmental impact.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN indicates that this Mazda Aspire was manufactured in Kyung Ki-Do, South Korea, by the plant company Mazda-kia, giving insight into its production origin and potentially quality standards.
- Vehicle Type and Series: The VIN denotes the Mazda Aspire as a passenger car within the ‘Base’ series under the trim ‘L Plus’, providing categorization that helps in understanding the general features, level of luxury, or performance orientation of the vehicle.
Ford Aspire 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 Aspire VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford Aspire VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter codes assigned to every manufacturer of vehicles globally. They form the first part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which helps in identifying the specific make, model, and location of manufacture of a vehicle. For instance, in the case of the Ford Aspire, which was produced by Kia Motors for Ford, the WMI is KNJ. This vehicle was manufactured in the years 1994-1995 and 1997, specifically in the city of Seoul, Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The WMI is critical in ensuring the traceability and identification of vehicles for registration, insurance, and safety purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford Aspire
WMI: KNJ
- Model Years Covered: 1994-1995, 1997
- Example VIN: KNJLT05H6R6143917
- Manufacturer Name: Kia Motors (Ford Imports)
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Seoul
- State or Province: Gyeonggi
- Country: South Korea
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Aspire 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 Aspire 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 Aspire VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 Ford Aspire |
| S | 1995 Ford Aspire |
| R | 1994 Ford Aspire |
11th Character in the Ford Aspire VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Aspire Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Kyung Ki-Do | South Korea | Mazda-Kia | KNJLT05H6R6143917 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Aspire
The final 6 characters in a Ford Aspire’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 Aspire’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford Aspire is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look for your Ford Aspire’s VIN on the dashboard on the driver’s side, which is often visible through the windshield.
- Check the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Ford Aspire for a label or sticker where the door closes, as the VIN might be located there.
- Open the hood of your Ford Aspire and inspect the front of the engine block. VINs are sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
- Examine the rear wheel well of your Ford Aspire. Try looking directly above the tire; there can be a VIN sticker placed in this area.
- Look at the trunk of your Ford Aspire beneath the spare tire. The VIN might be found on a sticker in this compartment.
Don’t have your Ford Aspire’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Aspire
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Displacement (CC) | 1327.352184 |
| Displacement (CI) | 81 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.3 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 63 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Mazda |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| 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) |
| Model | Aspire |
| Model Year | 1994 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belts: 3-point belts in all outboard positions. |
| Plant City | Kyung Ki-Do |
| Plant Company Name | Mazda-kia |
| Plant Country | South Korea |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | Base |
| Trim | L Plus |
| Vehicle Descriptor | KNJLT05H*R6 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | KNJLT05H6R6143917 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Ford Aspire 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 Aspire?
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 Aspire's history for free?
Enter the Ford Aspire’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 Aspire VIN numbers start with?
Ford Aspire VIN's start with KNJ for vehicles manufactured by Kia Motors (Ford Imports) in South Korea. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Ford Aspire.
Decode a Ford VIN
Look up a Ford Aspire by license plate:
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