Free 2021 Ford Explorer VIN Decoder

How to decode a 2021 Ford Explorer VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2021 Ford Explorer VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial grouping of three characters within a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. The WMI codes are globally recognized and assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). For the 2021 Ford Explorer, the WMI “1FM” precisely indicates that Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, is the manufacturer. Specifically, this WMI also reveals that the vehicle type is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), which includes SUVs and minivans, showcasing its versatility and family-oriented design. This identification system is crucial for vehicle tracking, registration, and recall operations.

List of WMI Codes for a 2021 Ford Explorer

WMI: 1FM

• Model Years Covered: 1991-2024
• Example VIN: 1FM5K8FW4MGA00005
• 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 2021 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 2021 Ford Explorer:

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 2021 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 2021 Ford Explorer VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 2021 Ford Explorer VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2021 Ford Explorer Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2021 Ford Explorer

The final 6 characters in a 2021 Ford Explorer’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford Explorer’s VIN below:

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What info can a 2021 Ford Explorer VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2021, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Vehicle Type: It typically discloses the body class, revealing if the vehicle is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), and the vehicle type, indicating it is designed for multiple passengers. This may indicate a body class of SUV/MPV with a specific vehicle type designed for carrying multiple passengers.
• Engine Details: Detailed engine specifications, including the manufacturer (Ford), model (GTDI), configuration (V-Shaped), and displacement (3.0 L), can be encoded, offering a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s powertrain. This information provides comprehensive details about the vehicle’s powertrain, including the manufacturer, model, configuration, and displacement.
• Safety Features: VIN decoding often confirms standard safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and forward and knee airbag locations, emphasizing the vehicle’s safety provisions.
• Fuel Type and Efficiency Systems: It may reveal the primary fuel type, like Gasoline, along with specific fuel delivery/injection systems employed (Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection - SGDI), highlighting the vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions technology. This could potentially provide insights into the vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions technology based on the specified fuel type and delivery/injection systems.
• Drive Type and Transmission: Information regarding the drive type, such as Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), and transmission details, including the style (Automatic) and the number of speeds (10), can be extracted, indicating the vehicle’s performance characteristics.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN provides manufacturing details such as the plant country (United States), city (Chicago), and company name (Chicago Assembly), hinting at the vehicle’s production location and possibly affecting its collectability or parts availability.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2021 Ford Explorer

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