- What you'll get from Ford Tempo VIN check?
- Ford Tempo Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Ford Tempo VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Ford Tempo
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Tempo VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Ford Tempo VIN.
- 10th Character in the Ford Tempo VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Ford Tempo VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Ford Tempo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Tempo
- How to find a Ford Tempo's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Tempo
What you’ll get from Ford Tempo VIN check?
- Model Year: The model year, such as 1990, can provide insights into the age and potential technological features of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: Details such as the make being Ford and the model being Tempo, along with engine specifics like a 2.3-liter displacement and an in-line configuration, are essential characteristics that can be discerned.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, which plays a crucial role in determining the vehicle’s efficiency and environmental impact.
- Drive Type: This Ford Tempo features a 4WD (4-Wheel Drive) drive type, which may indicate enhanced performance in various driving conditions compared to two-wheel drive models.
- Safety Features: Information on restraint systems like passive belts in the front and active belts in the rear can help gauge the vehicle’s safety standards.
- Plant Location: The manufacturing details reveal that the vehicle was assembled in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, providing insight into the origin and production quality.
- Body Class and Doors: Classified as a Sedan/Saloon with four doors, this information assists in understanding the vehicle’s size, style, and potential use cases.
Ford Tempo 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 Tempo VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford Tempo VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit code designated to each car manufacturer to identify the vehicle’s place of production, manufacturer, and type. For Ford Tempo models, the WMI codes 1FA and 2FA were specific indicators of their origin and brand. Models with the WMI 1FA were produced by the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, covering model years from 1986 to 1989 and again from 1992 to 1994. Conversely, the 2FA identifier was assigned to Ford Tempo cars manufactured by the Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, spanning the model years 1987 to 1993. These WMIs thus provide crucial information about the vehicle’s manufacturing details at a glance.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford Tempo
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1986-1989, 1992-1994
- Example VIN: 1FABP22X1GK261331
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
WMI: 2FA
- Model Years Covered: 1987-1993
- Example VIN: 2FABP36X5HB219627
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Oakville
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Tempo 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 Tempo 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 Tempo VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 1994 Ford Tempo |
| P | 1993 Ford Tempo |
| N | 1992 Ford Tempo |
| M | 1991 Ford Tempo |
| L | 1990 Ford Tempo |
| K | 1989 Ford Tempo |
| J | 1988 Ford Tempo |
| H | 1987 Ford Tempo |
| G | 1986 Ford Tempo |
11th Character in the Ford Tempo VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Tempo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Oakville | Ontario | Canada | 2FABP36X5HB219627 | |
| K | Kansas City | Missouri | United States | 1FABP22X1GK261331 | |
| L | Wayne | Michigan | United States | Michigan Truck | 1FADP3391JL331961 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Tempo
The final 6 characters in a Ford Tempo’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 Tempo’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford Tempo is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look for the VIN on the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Ford Tempo.
- Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb for a sticker or plate with the VIN on your Ford Tempo.
- Check under the hood of the Ford Tempo; the VIN might be located on the engine block or on a metal plate secured to the chassis.
- Examine your Ford Tempo’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers, where the VIN is always noted.
Don’t have your Ford Tempo’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Tempo
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2294.188960 |
| Displacement (CI) | 140 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.3 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 100 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| 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 | Tempo |
| Model Year | 1990 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection, High Swirl Combustion |
| Other Restraint System Info | Passive Belts (front)/ Active Belts (rear) |
| Plant City | Oakville |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Canada |
| Plant State | Ontario |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual and Automatic |
| Series | Four Wheel Drive |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 2FAPP39S*LB |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | 2FAPP39S6LB147190 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Ford Tempo 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 Tempo?
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 Tempo's history for free?
Enter the Ford Tempo’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 Tempo VIN numbers start with?
Ford Tempo VIN's start with 1FA for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company in United States, 2FA for vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. in Canada. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Ford Tempo.
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