How to decode a 2015 Ford Explorer VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2015 Ford Explorer VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is an alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, revealing key details about the vehicle. The WMI for the 2015 Ford Explorer starts with “1FM”, indicating that the Ford Motor Company, based in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is the manufacturer. This code specifies that the vehicle is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), designed for a variety of passenger and cargo uses. The “1FM” prefix is specific to Ford models manufactured in the United States, offering a quick reference to the vehicle’s origins and type. This compact yet informative code is essential for identifying and registering vehicles globally.

List of WMI Codes for a 2015 Ford Explorer

WMI: 1FM

Model Years Covered: 1991-2024
Example VIN: 1FM5K8F80FGA00295
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 2015 Ford Explorer VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2015 Ford Explorer:

Known VDS for a 2015 Ford Explorer
5K8F8	5K7D9	5K7B8	5K8GT	5K8AT	5K7F8	5K7F9	5K8AR	5K7B9	5K8B8
5K7D8	5K8D8

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 2015 Ford Explorer 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 2015 Ford Explorer VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
F	2015

11th Character in the 2015 Ford Explorer VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2015 Ford Explorer Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G	Chicago	Illinois	United States	Chicago Assembly	1FM5K8F80FGA00295

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2015 Ford Explorer

The final 6 characters in a 2015 Ford Explorer’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford Explorer’s VIN below:

How to find a 2015 Ford Explorer’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2015 Ford Explorer is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Explorer. You can typically see the VIN from outside the vehicle, where the dashboard meets the base of the windshield.
Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side of your 2015 Ford Explorer, as there is usually a label with the VIN printed on it.
Check under the hood of your Ford Explorer; the VIN might be stamped onto the front engine block.
Inspect the rear wheel well above the tire. In some vehicles, the VIN is stamped in this location, and it may be the case for the Ford Explorer.
Review your Ford Explorer’s insurance or ownership documents, which will have the VIN listed.

What info can a 2015 Ford Explorer VIN reveal?

Model Year: The vehicle’s model year can be inferred from the VIN as the year 2015, giving an indication of the vehicle’s age and potential market value.
Body Class and Vehicle Type: It is listed as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), suggesting a versatile design suitable for carrying passengers and goods.
Engine Details: The engine is characterized by a displacement of 3.5 liters or 213.58310433156 cubic inches, and is a V-Shaped configuration produced by Ford with 365 horsepower, indicating a powerful performance capability.
Drive Type and Brake System: The vehicle is equipped with a 4WD (4-Wheel Drive) system and utilizes a hydraulic brake system, potentially providing enhanced traction in various driving conditions and reliable stopping power.
Fuel Type and Injection System: This model runs on gasoline with a Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI) fuel delivery system, suggesting a balance between performance and fuel efficiency.
Air Bag Locations: Safety features include front airbags for the 1st row (driver and passenger), knee airbags for the passenger seat only, and side airbags accessible to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rows, possibly demonstrating a comprehensive approach to occupant protection.
Manufacturing Details: The vehicle was assembled in Chicago, Illinois, United States, by Chicago Assembly, linking the specific model to its place of origin and manufacturing entity.

Don’t have your 2015 Ford Explorer’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2015 Ford Explorer

Vehicle Spec	Value
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
Engine Brake (hp) From	365
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	Ford
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Knee Air Bag Locations	Passenger Seat Only
Model	Explorer
Model Year	2015
Plant City	Chicago
Plant Company Name	Chicago assembly
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Illinois
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Sport
Side Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd and 3rd Rows
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Vehicle Descriptor	1FM5K8GT*FG
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	1FM5K8GT0FGA00414