How to decode a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a specific vehicle, providing insights into where the vehicle was made, by whom, and what type it is. For example, the WMI for the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer indicates that it was manufactured by Ford Motor Company, highlighting its American origins. This particular WMI signifies that the vehicle is a multipurpose passenger vehicle, offering versatility for various uses. Manufactured in Dearborn, Michigan, this model belongs to a period spanning from 1997 to 2010, reflecting a specific era of automotive design and production under the Ford umbrella. Such details crucially assist in vehicle identification, historical research, and the accessibility of specific data for both enthusiasts and professionals in the automotive industry.

List of WMI Codes for a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer

WMI: 4M2

Model Years Covered: 1997-2010
Example VIN: 4M2DU76E3YUJ03848
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 2000 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 2000 Mercury Mountaineer:

Known VDS for a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer
DU76E	ZU66P	DU66P	ZU76E	ZU66E	DU86P	ZU86P

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 2000 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 2000 Mercury Mountaineer VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
Y	2000

11th Character in the 2000 Mercury Mountaineer VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2000 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		4M2DU76E3YUJ03848

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer

The final 6 characters in a 2000 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 2000 Mercury Mountaineer’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2000 Mercury Mountaineer is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Mercury Mountaineer 2000. Typically, the VIN is visible from the outside of the vehicle, just behind the lower corner of the windshield.
Look at the door pillar on the driver’s side when the door is open. The VIN can often be found on a label or sticker in the area where the door latches.
Check the engine bay. The VIN may also be located on a plate or sticker on the firewall within the engine compartment of your Mercury Mountaineer.
Inspect the vehicle’s frame. Sometimes the VIN is stamped onto the chassis in the front of the engine block or on the frame rails.
Consult the vehicle’s owner manual or maintenance book. The VIN of your 2000 Mercury Mountaineer might be printed inside these documents.
If you are still unable to locate the VIN, look into the rear wheel well area; occasionally, it can be found on the inside where the rear tire mounts to the car.

What info can a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating vehicles as recent as 2000, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Vehicle Specifications: Specific details such as the make (Mercury), model (Mountaineer), V-Shaped engine configuration, and a displacement of 4.0 liters can be encoded within the VIN, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and specifications.
Drive Type: The VIN could indicate the drivetrain, showcasing a vehicle with 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 capabilities, providing potential insights into the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle can be specified, such as gasoline, offering insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety Features: Safety equipment, such as front air bags located in the 1st row for both the driver and passenger, and similar placements for side air bags, may be inferred, providing potential insights into the vehicle’s safety features and occupant protection.
Engine Information: Details about the engine, such as it being manufactured by Ford with an output from 205 hp, 6 cylinders, and utilizing Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), are typically available, offering insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Manufacturing Details: The location of the manufacturing plant, including the city (Louisville), state (Kentucky), and country (United States), could be described, providing insights into the vehicle’s origin and production details.

Don’t have your 2000 Mercury Mountaineer’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement (CC)	4000.0
Displacement (CI)	244.09497637892
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	2000
Other Engine Info	EFI
Plant City	Louisville
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Kentucky
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Valve Train Design	Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	4M2DU76E*YU
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	4M2DU76E3YUJ03848