How to decode a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique three-character sequences that identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provide insights about the vehicle class and origin. For example, the WMI for the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, produced by Ford Motor Company, is ‘4M2’. This code indicates that the vehicle was manufactured in the United States, specifically in Michigan, by Ford Motor Company, under its Mercury brand. The ‘4M2’ WMI also reveals that the vehicle is classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), showcasing its versatility and purpose. These identifiers are crucial for tracking, registration, and recall purposes, ensuring each vehicle’s history and specifications are accurately recorded.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer

WMI: 4M2

Model Years Covered: 1997-2010
Example VIN: 4M2ZU52P2WUJ18467
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 1998 Mercury Mountaineer 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 1998 Mercury Mountaineer:

Known VDS for a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer
ZU52P	ZU55P	ZU52E	ZU54E

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 1998 Mercury Mountaineer 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 1998 Mercury Mountaineer VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Mercury Mountaineer Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
U	Louisville	Kentucky	United States		4M2ZU52P2WUJ18467

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Mercury Mountaineer’s VIN below:

How to find a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Mercury Mountaineer is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Mercury Mountaineer. Look through the windshield to view the VIN on the dashboard plate.
Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side of your 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, where you will likely find the VIN on a sticker or label as the door closes.
Check under the hood of your Mercury Mountaineer for the VIN plate, which is often located on the front engine block.
Look inside your Mercury Mountaineer’s glove box for a label that may contain the VIN information.
Inspect the rear wheel well above the tire. In some vehicles, including the Mercury Mountaineer, the VIN can sometimes be found in that area.
Examine the frame of the vehicle underneath the car, near the driver’s side. The VIN is sometimes stamped directly onto the frame of the Mercury Mountaineer.

What info can a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Vehicle Type: The VIN indicates the vehicle as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), designed for versatile passenger use.
Engine Specifications: Critical engine details such as a V-Shaped configuration, 4.0 liters displacement, and a six-cylinder engine design capable of delivering 205 horsepower, manufactured by Ford, may be highlighted.
Drive Type and Brake System: The VIN specifies the vehicle as equipped with 4WD (4-Wheel Drive) and utilizes a hydraulic brake system, indicating its capability for off-road and varied driving conditions.
Fuel Type and Efficiency: It may point out that the vehicle runs on Gasoline, with additional details like Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system enhancing engine efficiency.
Safety Features: Standard safety features can be inferred, such as front air bags located in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger), reflecting the vehicle’s equipped safety mechanisms.
Manufacturing Details: Insights into the vehicle’s manufacturing origins are provided, noting it was assembled in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, possibly reflecting on its production quality and standards.

Don’t have your 1998 Mercury Mountaineer’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Displacement (CC)	3949.282424
Displacement (CI)	241
Displacement (L)	4.0
Doors	4
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Engine Brake (hp) From	205
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	Mountaineer
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	EFI, EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection
Plant City	Louisville
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Kentucky
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	4M2ZU54E*WU
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	4M2ZU54E0WUJ24862