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Ford VIN decoder

Enter a Ford VIN to decode it, then use the rules Ford files with NHTSA to check the restraint code, engine letter, plant and serial number yourself.

By Tayron Bram

Updated October 2026 · 4 min read

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Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It decodes as soon as all 17 are in.

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On this page
  1. What you get from a Ford decode
  2. Ford manufacturer codes (WMI)
  3. How Ford fills positions 4 to 8, 11 and 12 to 17
  4. Ford-specific checks
  5. Before you buy a used Ford

What you get from a Ford decode

Type or paste the VIN and the decoder runs when the 17th character goes in. It reads NHTSA’s free vPIC data for what Ford reported: model year, line and series (F-150 XLT, Bronco Badlands and so on), body or cab, engine, drive, GVWR class, assembly plant and safety equipment. Below that you’ll see the recalls NHTSA lists for that year and model. A decode doesn’t cover the truck’s history, so title brands, accidents and odometer readings need a report. Use the VIN decoder for other makes, or see pricing.

Ford manufacturer codes (WMI)

Source: NHTSA vPIC, WMIs registered to Ford Motor Company, checked October 25, 2026. Main Ford-brand codes only; the full list is longer.
WMIManufacturer as registeredVehicle type
1FAFORD MOTOR COMPANYPassenger car
1FMFORD MOTOR COMPANYMultipurpose passenger vehicle
1FTFORD MOTOR COMPANYTruck
1FDFORD MOTOR COMPANYIncomplete vehicle
2FAFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.Passenger car
2FMFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.Multipurpose passenger vehicle
3FAFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOPassenger car
3FMFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOMultipurpose passenger vehicle
3FTFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOTruck

Position 1 is the country of manufacture: 1 for the United States, 2 for Canada, 3 for Mexico. One trap if you check codes yourself: a vPIC name search for “ford” also returns unrelated companies whose names contain those letters, such as trailer builders. Trust the WMI, not a name match.

How Ford fills positions 4 to 8, 11 and 12 to 17

Ford’s 2027 VIN submission to NHTSA follows a fixed pattern. On cars, position 4 is the restraint system category; on trucks, SUVs, vans and buses it combines the brake system, GVWR class and restraints. Positions 5 to 7 give line, series and body or cab type: the 2027 Bronco codes run from E6A (Base) to E0R (Raptor). Position 8 is the engine; on the 2027 Mustang, H is the only four-cylinder code.

Ford also splits the serial number. For 2027, cars get a numeric sequence from 100001 to 699999, while trucks, SUVs, vans and buses get a letter first: A to J for Ford division vehicles, L for Lincoln.

Source: Ford Motor Company, 2027 model year VIN codes filed with NHTSA. Plant lists change by model year.
Position 11Plant (Ford’s 2027 list)
FDearborn, Michigan
EKentucky Truck, Louisville, Kentucky
KKansas City, Claycomo, Missouri
LMichigan Assembly, Wayne, Michigan (Bronco)
GChicago, Illinois
DOhio Assembly, Avon Lake, Ohio
5Flat Rock, Michigan (Mustang)
BOakville, Ontario
HMultimatic, Markham, Ontario (Mustang GTD)
MCuautitlán, Mexico
RHermosillo, Mexico (Bronco Sport)

Ford-specific checks

  • Ford’s recall search takes a VIN and covers recalls started since January 1, 2004; it also searches by year and model. Ford says safety, compliance and emissions recalls don’t expire and the repair is free at a Ford dealer.
  • Ford lists three places for the VIN: the driver’s side door frame, the lower driver’s side corner of the windshield (read from outside), and the purchase papers, insurance card and registration.
  • Position 10 is the model year: Ford’s 2027 filing uses V, and T for 2026. See VIN year codes for the rest.
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Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It’s on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver’s door frame, and on the title.

Before you buy a used Ford

  • Compare the VIN on the windshield plate, the door-frame label and the title, character by character.
  • On a 2027 truck or SUV, check that position 12 is a letter, as Ford’s rule requires. A mismatch with Ford’s own pattern is worth a question.
  • Pickups and vans often work hard lives: a history report shows title brands, accident records and mileage readings. See odometer rollback check and salvage title check.
  • Search open recalls by VIN with Ford or NHTSA before you pay.

An AutoCheck report on a Ford is $7.99 with us.

Questions

What does the 4th character of a Ford VIN mean?

On a Ford car it’s the restraint system category. On a truck, SUV, van or bus it combines the brake system, GVWR class and restraint system, according to Ford’s 2027 VIN filing.

Why do Ford truck serial numbers start with a letter?

Ford’s 2027 rules give trucks, SUVs, vans and buses an alphanumeric sequence in positions 12 to 17: A to J for Ford division vehicles and L for Lincoln. Cars use a six-digit number.

Where was my Ford built if position 11 is L?

In Ford’s 2027 list, L is Michigan Assembly in Wayne, Michigan, where the Bronco is built. Plant codes can change between model years, so the decoder reads the plant from NHTSA’s data for your VIN.

Do Ford recalls expire?

Ford says safety, compliance and emissions recalls don’t expire. Customer satisfaction programs can have time and mileage limits.

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About the author

Tayron Bram

Data Validation Officer

Tayron Bram is the Data Validation Officer at Smart VIN Check, with 41 years of experience in used-car sales, auto auctions and vehicle data. Tayron has checked thousands of vehicle history reports and worked with dealers importing cars from the US. At Smart VIN Check, Tayron checks that every fact in our guides matches its source, from state title rules to NMVTIS and NHTSA records, and goes back to those sources when they change. Before a guide is published, Tayron reads it the way a buyer would, looking for anything unclear, out of date or not backed by a source. Tayron also keeps the prices we quote from other sellers current, so the comparisons on our pages stay accurate.

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