Free Ford Escort VIN Decoder

Explore the details of your robust Ford Escort using our free VIN decoder. Unlock its history and features by entering your VIN in the box below.

Free Ford Escort VIN Decoder

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What you’ll get from Ford Escort VIN check?

  • Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating the year 1998 and providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
  • Body Class and Doors: A VIN might indicate the body class as a Coupe with 2 doors, offering insight into the vehicle’s size, style, and overall design suitability for potential buyers or users’ needs.
  • Engine Specifications: The VIN information possibly points to a 2.0L displacement, 130 horsepower, an In-Line engine configuration, and it being a product of Ford, providing potentially crucial engine details such as size, power, type, and manufacturer.
  • Fuel Type: The primary fuel type could be Gasoline, which may indicate the vehicle’s environmental impact, fuel efficiency, and potentially the cost of operation to the owner.
  • Safety Features: The presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger, alongside manual seat belts and 3-point belts in all outboard positions, might highlight the vehicle’s equipped safety measures.
  • Plant Details: Manufacturing specifics such as the plant city of Hermosillo in Sonora, Mexico, could give insight into the vehicle’s origin, potentially affecting perceptions of build quality, and can be a point of interest for enthusiasts or regional buyers.
  • Vehicle Type and Series: Identifying the vehicle as a Passenger Car, possibly the Ford Escort ZX2 Sport trim, offers a comprehensive outlook on the vehicle’s purpose, market positioning, and variant, which can be crucial for identification, valuation, and comparison purposes.
Ford Escort VIN Decoder

Ford Escort 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 Escort VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Ford Escort VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is an integral part of the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the manufacturer, the vehicle type, and the country of the manufacturer. For example, Ford Escorts manufactured between 1984 and 1999 in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, were assigned the WMI 1FA, indicating they are passenger cars produced by Ford Motor Company in the United States. Similarly, Ford Escorts made from 1991 to 2002 in Rioverde, S.L.P., Mexico, carry the WMI 3FA, highlighting their production in Mexico by Ford Motor Company as passenger vehicles. These identifiers not only trace the vehicle’s manufacturing origin but also provide specific insights into the vehicle type and the exact plant where it was produced. This system of identification aids in tracking recalls, registrations, and the historical records of the vehicle.

List of WMI Codes for a Ford Escort

WMI: 1FA

  • Model Years Covered: 1984, 1986, 1988-1999
  • Example VIN: 1FABP05H6EW269682
  • Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
  • City: Dearborn
  • State or Province: Michigan
  • Country: United States

WMI: 3FA

  • Model Years Covered: 1991-2002
  • Example VIN: 3FAPP10J3MR164279
  • Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company, Mexico
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
  • City: Rioverde
  • State or Province: S.L.P.
  • Country: Mexico

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Escort 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 Escort 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 Escort VIN — Year Code

Year Code Year
2 2002 Ford Escort
1 2001 Ford Escort
Y 2000 Ford Escort
X 1999 Ford Escort
W 1998 Ford Escort
V 1997 Ford Escort
T 1996 Ford Escort
S 1995 Ford Escort
R 1994 Ford Escort
P 1993 Ford Escort
N 1992 Ford Escort
M 1991 Ford Escort
L 1990 Ford Escort
K 1989 Ford Escort
J 1988 Ford Escort
G 1986 Ford Escort
E 1984 Ford Escort

11th Character in the Ford Escort VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Ford Escort Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code Plant City Plant State Plant Country Plant Company Name Example VIN
R Hermosillo State Of Mexico Mexico 3FAPP10J3MR164279
T Edison New Jersey United States 1FAPP2097JT164114
W Wayne Michigan United States 1FABP05H6EW269682

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Escort

The final 6 characters in a Ford Escort’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 Escort’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your Ford Escort is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

  1. Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Escort. The VIN is typically visible through the windshield on a small plate.
  2. Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Ford Escort. You might find the VIN on a label or sticker where the door closes.
  3. Look at the engine block. The VIN can often be found stamped directly onto the engine of the Ford Escort.
  4. Consult the vehicle’s registration documentation or insurance card. The VIN of your Ford Escort should be printed on these documents.
Ford Escort VIN Decoder

Don’t have your Ford Escort’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Escort

Vehicle Spec Value
Body Class Coupe
Destination Market U.S.
Displacement (CC) 2000.0
Displacement (CI) 122.04748818946
Displacement (L) 2.0
Doors 2
Engine Brake (hp) From 130
Engine Configuration In-Line
Engine Manufacturer Ford
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 Escort
Model Year 1998
Other Engine Info EFI
Other Restraint System Info Second Generation Driver and Passenger Airbags - Valid for Escort ZX2 Coupe Only
Plant City Hermosillo
Plant Company Name
Plant Country Mexico
Plant State Sonora
Seat Belt Type Manual
Series ZX2
Trim Sport
Valve Train Design Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor 3FAKP113*WR
Vehicle Type Passenger Car
Sample VIN 3FAKP1130WR200376

Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.

Check any Ford Escort for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the VIN on a Ford Escort?

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 Escort's history for free?

Enter the Ford Escort’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 Escort VIN numbers start with?

Ford Escort VIN's start with 1FA for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company in United States, 3FA for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Mexico in Mexico. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Ford Escort.

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