- What you'll get from Ford Windstar VIN check?
- Ford Windstar Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Ford Windstar VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Ford Windstar
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Windstar VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Ford Windstar VIN.
- 10th Character in the Ford Windstar VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Ford Windstar VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Ford Windstar Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Windstar
- How to find a Ford Windstar's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Windstar
What you’ll get from Ford Windstar VIN check?
- Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year and manufacturer, such as a 2002 Ford Windstar, providing essential information about the vehicle’s age and brand.
- Engine Specifications: It can detail engine characteristics including displacement (3.8 L or 3800 CC), configuration (V-Shaped), and the number of cylinders (6), offering insights into the vehicle’s power and design.
- Fuel Type: The VIN can indicate the primary fuel type the vehicle uses, for example, gasoline, aiding in understanding the vehicle’s operational costs and environmental impact.
- Safety Features: Information on safety equipment, such as the presence of curtain, front, and side airbags located in the 1st row (Driver and Passenger), can be derived, highlighting the vehicle’s commitment to occupant protection.
- Drive Type and Body Class: The drive type (4x2) and body class (Minivan) can be determined, offering a glimpse into the vehicle’s intended use and mobility features.
- Manufacturing Information: It includes details about the manufacturing location, such as Oakville, Ontario, Canada, underlining the vehicle’s production origin and potentially its build quality.
- Vehicle Type and Weight Class: The VIN specifies the vehicle type as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle and its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, placing it in Class 1D (5,001 - 6,000 lb), which is useful for understanding vehicle classification and potential usage scenarios.
Ford Windstar 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 Windstar VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Ford Windstar VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) consists of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designated to uniquely identify a vehicle’s manufacturer, as well as additional attributes like the type and place of production. For Ford Windstar vehicles produced between 1995 and 2003, the WMIs are 2FT for trucks and 2FM for Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPVs), both indicating that these vehicles were manufactured by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The WMI serves as a crucial component in vehicle tracking and identification, offering valuable information about the vehicle’s origins and specifications directly from the VIN. This system aids in ensuring the authenticity and history of vehicles globally.
List of WMI Codes for a Ford Windstar
WMI: 2FT
- Model Years Covered: 1995, 1998-2003
- Example VIN: 2FTDA5449SBB59562
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Oakville
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
WMI: 2FM
- Model Years Covered: 1995-2003
- Example VIN: 2FMDA5140SBA77901
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Oakville
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Ford Windstar 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 Windstar 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 Windstar VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| 3 | 2003 Ford Windstar |
| 2 | 2002 Ford Windstar |
| 1 | 2001 Ford Windstar |
| Y | 2000 Ford Windstar |
| X | 1999 Ford Windstar |
| W | 1998 Ford Windstar |
| V | 1997 Ford Windstar |
| T | 1996 Ford Windstar |
| S | 1995 Ford Windstar |
11th Character in the Ford Windstar VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Ford Windstar Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Oakville | Ontario | Canada | 2FTDA5449SBB59562 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Ford Windstar
The final 6 characters in a Ford Windstar’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 Windstar’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Ford Windstar is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look on the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Windstar, near where the windshield meets the dashboard. This is a common place where the VIN is displayed and can be easily seen from outside the vehicle.
- Check the driver’s side door jamb on your Ford Windstar. When you open the driver’s door, look for a sticker or plate on the edge of the door or the area where the door latches when closed.
- Examine the engine block of your Ford Windstar. The VIN can sometimes be found stamped onto the engine itself, so you might need to open the hood to locate it.
- Review your Ford Windstar’s vehicle registration documents or insurance paperwork. The VIN is typically listed on all official documents related to your vehicle.
Don’t have your Ford Windstar’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Ford Windstar
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Minivan |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Destination Market | U.S. |
| Displacement (CC) | 3800.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 231.89022755998 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.8 |
| Doors | 3 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 200 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Model | Windstar |
| Model Year | 2002 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI |
| Plant City | Oakville |
| Plant Company Name | Oakville assembly |
| Plant Country | Canada |
| Plant State | Ontario |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | LX |
| Series2 | Wagon body style |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Valve Train Design | Overhead Valve (OHV) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 2FMDA514*2B |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Sample VIN | 2FMDA51402BB79246 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Ford Windstar 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 Windstar?
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 Windstar's history for free?
Enter the Ford Windstar’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 Windstar VIN numbers start with?
Ford Windstar VIN's start with 2FT and 2FM 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 Windstar.
Decode a Ford VIN
Look up a Ford Windstar by license plate:
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