Ford VIN Decoder • General Motor Club

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Ford cars are divided into two main “races” – “European” and “American”. They also differ in the structure of the VIN. But there are exceptions – even the “American” Ford manufactured in the US or China for the European market has a VIN structure corresponding to the “European” Ford. Similarly, MAZDA cars, manufactured at Ford plants in the U.S. and China have VIN structures similar to those of Ford cars.

The VIN of the “Americans” completely corresponds to the standard, the “Europeans” do not have the checksum in the 9th position of VIN, and the model year is specified in the 11th position. However, the model year is specified in the VIN “Europeans” produced in Russia and China. In the same way in the cars of Chinese production, the checksum is specified.

VIN: FORD (USA), MERCURY, LINCOLN

2FACP72W5PX XXXXXX

	P / p No.	Sign	Description
WMI	1	2	Manufacturer’s identification code.
	2	F
	3	A
VDS	4	C	Safety systems: A – automatic belts and an airbag for the driver; Regular passenger belts B – Automatic belts C – Automatic seat belts and an airbag for the driver D – Automatic seat belts in the front L – Automatic belts and airbags for the driver and passenger P – Regular belts in the front R – Regular front belts and an airbag for the driver S – regular front belts and airbags for the driver and passenger
	5	P	Model: Model designation consists of 3 characters: 1st – model line or brand; 2nd – series; 3rd – execution; most often this symbol identifies the type of body, engine size, drive wheels, etc.See famous combinations
	6	7
	7	2
	eight	W	Engine
	nine	5	Checksum
	ten	P	Model year
	eleven	X	Assembly Plant: 0 – Detroit, Michigan, USA 5 – Flat Rock, Michigan, USA A – Hapeville, Georgia, USA B – Oakville, Ontario, Canada C – Oakville, Ontario, Canada D – Avon Lake, Ohio, USA E – Louisville, Kentucky, USA F – Dearborn, Michigan, USA G – Chicago, Illinois, USA H – Loraine, Ohio, USA J – Monterrey, Mexico K – Kansas, Missouri, USA L – Wayne, Michigan, USA M – Quatilan, Mexico N – Norfolk, Virginia, USA P – St. Paul, Minnesota, USA R – Hermosillo, Mexico T – Edison, New Jersey, USA U – Louisville, Kentucky, USA V – Escobedo, Mexico W – Wayne, Michigan, USA X – Saint Thomas, Ontario, Canada Y – Weeksom, Michigan, USA Z – Heselwood, Missouri, USA
	12	X	Serial number
	13	X
	fourteen	X
	15	X
	16	X
	17	X

Known variants of 5 … 7 VIN characters for FORD cars for the North American market:

5th character	6th character	7th character	Model
A	minivans
A	5		Ford Windstar, Ford Freestar
C	chassis for Ford E-series (Econoline vans and buses)
E	Ford E-series (Econoline vans and buses)
K	3		Ford EDGE FWD
F	5		Stripped motorhome chassis Ford
J	1, 2, 3, 4	C, D	Lincoln MKC (J_C – 4×2, J_D – 4×4)
J	2, 3	H, J, K, L	Lincoln navigator
J	6, 7, 8, 9	J, K, L	Lincoln MKX (J6_, J7_ – 4×2, J8_, J9_ – 4×4)
K	4		Ford EDGE AWD
K	7		Ford Explorer FWD
K	eight		Ford Explorer AWD
M	Mercury and Lincoln cars
M	5		Mercury Sable (a “richer” version of the Ford Taurus)
M	6		Mercury Mystique (“revised” European Ford Mondeo)
M	7		Mercury Grand Marquis (“richer” version of the Ford Crown Victoria)
M	7		Mercury Marauder (more “sporty” and “richer” version of the Ford Crown Victoria)
M	eight	1, 3, 4, 5, 9	Lincoln town car
M	eight	6, 7	Lincoln ls
M	nine		Lincoln continental
P	0		Ford Fusion sedan
P	1		Ford escort
P	3		Ford focus
P	3	E, F, J	Ford Focus sedan
P	3	K, L, N, R	Ford Focus 5dr hatchback
P	3	T	Ford Focus RS 5dr hatchback
P	4		Ford mustang
P	4	A, B, C	Ford Fiesta sedan
P	4	E, F, G, T	Ford Fiesta 5dr hatchback
P	5		Ford taurus
P	5	A, B, C	Ford C-max
P	6	6, 8	Ford Contour (“facelifted” European Ford Mondeo)
P	6		Ford Thunderbird
P	7		Ford Crown Victoria
P	7	2	Ford Crown Victoria (4-door sedan)
P	eight	Mazda cars
P	eight	4	Mazda6
P	eight	A, C, T	Ford Mustang Coupe
P	eight	E, F, U	Ford Mustang Convertible
P	nine		Ford gt
R	Ford Ranger pickups
R	0, 1, 4		Ford ranger
S	Ford E-series (Econoline vans and buses) on extended chassis (extended)
T	6		Mercury Coguar
U	0, 9		Ford Escape / Ford Escape Hybrid
U	1		Ford Expedition
U	2		Ford Expedition
U	2		Lincoln navigator
U	4		Ford Excursion
U	6		Ford explorer
U	7		Mercury mountaineer
U	eight		Lincoln aviator
V	1		Mercury villager
W	Ford F-Series crew cab
X	Ford F-Series super cab

VIN: FORD (Europe)

	P / p No.	Sign	Description
WMI	1	W	Manufacturer’s identification code.
	2	F
	3	0
VDS	4	B	Body type: A – hatchback 5 doors. B – hatchback 3 doors C – coupe D – station wagon 3 doors E – sedan 2 doors F – sedan 4 doors H – (???) hatchback / cargo-passenger 5 doors [found on the 5th generation Fiesta (2001 … 2008) and on the Torneo Connect] it is impossible to unambiguously maintain the meaning of this sign L – convertible M – (???) hatchback / cargo-passenger 5 doors. [found on the Ford Focus C-Max] it is impossible to unequivocally assert the preservation of the meaning of this sign N – station wagon 5 bits. P – pickup S – minibus / “combi” (cargo-passenger) U – (???) hatchback / cargo-passenger 5 doors. [found on 1st Generation Fusion (2002 … 2009)] it is impossible to unambiguously assert the preservation of the meaning of this sign. T – sedan 2 doors. (Also designated Ford Mondeo III-IV with a sedan body and 4 doors for Arab markets. The meaning of this symbol for them is unknown) V – van W – “combi” (cargo-passenger) 2 bits. W – station wagon 5 doors (Ford Focus II of Russian production)For cars assembled from SKD kits in Vsevolzhsk (Russia), the body type is indicated by a number: 3 – hatchback, 3 doors; 4 – sedan, 4 doors; 5 – hatchback, 5 doors; W – station wagon, 5 trees. Also, this designation option is found on Foсus and Mondeo and for other CIS markets.
	5	X	Empty positions (filled with XX )
	6	X	Empty positions (filled with XX )
	7	G	Supplier: * A – Ford Motor Company LTD, Brentwood (Essex), UK B – Ford UK, UK E – Ford Motor Company LLC, Russia G – Ford Werke AG, D – 5000 Cologne, Germany L – Ford Brasil, Brazil W – Ford Espana SA, Almussafes, Spain R – Ford Union, Minsk, Belarus T – Ford Turkey, TurkeyFor cars assembled from SKD kits in Vsevolzhsk (Russia), the value is unknown
	eight	C	Assembly plant: * A – Cologne / Dagenham E – Vsevolzhsk, Russia A – Abchak, Belarus B – Genk, Belgium (until February 2004) B – Hailwood, UK B – San Bernado, Brazil C – Saarlouis, Germany C – Embankments Chelny, Russia K – Rhine, Germany N – Pacheco, Spain R – Valencia, Spain S – Elabuga, Russia T – Kocaeli, TurkeyFor cars assembled from SKD kits in Vsevolzhsk (Russia), the value is unknown
	nine	A	Model line: A – Escort / Orion / Focus B – Taunus / Sierra / Cortina / Mondeo / Cougar D – Focus / Focus C-Max E – Capri / Puma / Probe F – Fiesta, Courier G – Granada / Scorpio J – Fiesta, Courier, Fusion R – Ka U – Maverick V – Transit / Tourneo W – Galaxy
	ten	B	Repetition of the body type designation
	eleven	T	Calendar year of manufacture using the standardized model year notationFor cars assembled from SKD kits in Vsevolzhsk (Russia), the year of manufacture of the kit itself. The car was assembled in Russia later.
	12	L	Production month code **For cars assembled from SKD kits in Vsevolzhsk (Russia), the month of production of the kit itself. The car was assembled in Russia later.
	13	X	Serial number ***
	fourteen	X
	15	X
	16	X
	17	X

* If you carefully read the combination of positions 7 and 8, you can probably notice some inconsistencies. Like, the manufacturer’s code is from one country, and the assembly plant designation is from another. In fact, everything is in order. It’s just that the assembly lines are opened and closed (for example, the Minsk plant), and all the coding is done from the central Cologne office. By the way, now almost all new cars have the same manufacturer’s code – WF0. Although there are some exceptions at the expense of new plants in exotic countries.

**The code of the month of manufacture is determined by a clever method:

Year in the 11th VIN digit	WITH	D	E	F	G	H	J	K
Calendar year	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Year in the 11th VIN digit	L	M	N	P	R	S	T	V
Calendar year	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Year in the 11th VIN digit	W	X	Y	1	2	3	4	5
Calendar year	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Year in the 11th VIN digit	6	7	eight	nine	A	B	C	D
Calendar year	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Year in the 11th VIN digit	E	F	G	H	J	K	L	M
Calendar year	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Calendar month
January	L	C	B	J	L	C	B	J
February	Y	K	R	U	Y	K	R	U
March	S	D	A	M	S	D	A	M
April	T	E	G	P	T	E	G	P
May	J	L	C	B	J	L	C	B
June	U	Y	K	R	U	Y	K	R
July	M	S	D	A	M	S	D	A
August	P	T	E	G	P	T	E	G
September	B	J	L	C	B	J	L	C
October	R	U	Y	K	R	U	Y	K
November	A	M	S	D	A	M	S	D
December	G	P	T	E	G	P	T	E

In the above example, the VIN year is T and the month is L. T – 1996 year of manufacture. In the above table, we drop down to the letter L in the corresponding column – it corresponds to September. Consequently, this car was manufactured in September 1996.

***The 5 digits serial number is always the same as the engine number. So if when you purchase your car you find that the body number is not the same as the engine number, then something is wrong. Please note, however, that if the engine is replaced under warranty, the number of the old engine is applied to the new engine.

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