Free Ford Expedition EL VIN Decoder

Uncover the unique features of your rugged Ford Expedition EL using our free VIN decoder. Find out what makes your family-friendly SUV stand out by entering your VIN in the decoder box below.

Free Ford Expedition EL VIN Decoder

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What you’ll get from Ford Expedition EL VIN check?

  • Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2017, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
  • Engine Type and Power: It encodes essential engine specifications like a 3.5L GTDI FFV/Gasoline V-shaped engine with 365 horsepower, provided by Ford, showing the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
  • Safety Features: The VIN indicates the presence of standard safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Backup Camera, and Dynamic Brake Support (DBS), along with the availability of Blind Spot Warning (BSW) as an option, highlighting the vehicle’s focus on passenger safety.
  • Fuel Efficiency: The VIN specifies the primary fuel type as Gasoline, with the secondary being Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV), illustrating the vehicle’s versatility in fuel usage.
  • Drive Type and Traction Control: Detailed as 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 with standard Traction Control, suggesting the vehicle’s capability across different terrains and driving conditions.
  • Plant Information: Location details such as being manufactured in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States by Kentucky Truck, pointing to the origin and production site of the vehicle.
  • Vehicle Type and Body Class: Classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle with a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) body class, indicating the vehicle’s design and intended use for varying passenger and cargo needs.
Ford Expedition EL VIN Decoder

Ford Expedition EL 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 Expedition EL VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Ford Expedition EL VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences of characters assigned to manufacturers to identify the origin of motor vehicles, including their country, manufacturer, and vehicle type. Each WMI code is comprised of three characters at the beginning of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). For instance, Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured for the 2017 model year by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, would have a WMI beginning with 1FM. This designation indicates that the vehicle is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) produced in the United States by Ford, distinguished by its VIN, which plays a critical role in vehicle identification, tracking, and registration processes.

List of WMI Codes for a Ford Expedition EL

WMI: 1FM

  • Model Years Covered: 2017
  • Example VIN: 1FMJK1FT0HEA02959
  • Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
  • Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
  • City: Dearborn
  • State or Province: Michigan
  • Country: United States

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

Year Code Year
H 2017 Ford Expedition EL

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

Known Ford Expedition EL Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code Plant City Plant State Plant Country Plant Company Name Example VIN
E Jefferson County Kentucky United States Kentucky Truck 1FMJK1FT0HEA02959

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Expedition EL

The final 6 characters in a Ford Expedition EL’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 Expedition EL’s VIN?

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

  1. Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Expedition EL; the VIN is typically visible through the windshield.
  2. Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area; a sticker here often displays the VIN for your Ford Expedition EL.
  3. Peek inside the engine bay; a VIN plate is usually attached to the engine area in a Ford Expedition EL.
  4. Check your Ford Expedition EL’s insurance card/insurance policy or vehicle title and registration documents; the VIN will be listed there.
  5. For a comprehensive inspection, look under the spare tire in the trunk area. Sometimes, the VIN is placed in this less obvious location on a Ford Expedition EL.
Ford Expedition EL VIN Decoder

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

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Expedition EL

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
Base Price ($) 66860
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) Standard
Body Class Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Brake System Type Hydraulic
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 FFV/Gasoline
Engine Number of Cylinders 6
Front Air Bag Locations 1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary Gasoline
Fuel Type - Secondary Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg)
Keyless Ignition Standard
Model Expedition EL
Model Year 2017
Number of Seat Rows 3
Number of Seats 8
Number of Wheels 4
Plant City Jefferson County
Plant Company Name Kentucky Truck
Plant Country United States
Plant State Kentucky
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)
Top Speed (MPH) 120
Traction Control Standard
Turbo Yes
Vehicle Descriptor 1FMJK1MT*HE
Vehicle Type Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Wheel Base (inches) From 131.00
Wheel Size Front (inches) 22
Wheel Size Rear (inches) 22
Sample VIN 1FMJK1MT0HEA00535

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

Check any Ford Expedition EL 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 Expedition EL?

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 Expedition EL's history for free?

Enter the Ford Expedition EL’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 Expedition EL VIN numbers start with?

Ford Expedition EL VIN's start with 1FM 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 Expedition EL.

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