Ford VIN Decoder: Free F-150, Mustang & Explorer Lookup
Enter a 17-character Ford or Lincoln VIN to read the model, engine, model year and assembly plant from NHTSA data. No sign-up, no paywall.
The F-150 is the most-searched used vehicle in America, and the thing buyers most often get wrong about one is the engine. A "V8" ad can be a 3.5L EcoBoost, a "PowerBoost" can be a plain 3.5, and the only honest witness is the eighth character of the VIN. Enter a Ford or Lincoln VIN above and the decoder reads it against NHTSA's vPIC database, which Ford populates with the data it files under 49 CFR Part 565. The tables below are the ones we checked against vPIC for the F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco and Super Duty.
Ford and Lincoln WMI list
The first character shows the country of final assembly, not where the brand is based, so a Ford can start with 1, 2, 3 or a letter.
| WMI | What vPIC registers it for |
|---|---|
1FA | Ford passenger cars built in the US (Mustang) |
1FM | Ford multipurpose vehicles built in the US (Explorer, Expedition, Bronco, Escape) |
1FT | Ford trucks built in the US (F-150, Super Duty, Ranger, Transit) |
1FD | Ford incomplete vehicles (chassis cabs and cutaways for upfitters) |
1FB | Ford buses (some Transit passenger vans) |
1LN / 5LM | Lincoln cars / Lincoln multipurpose vehicles |
2FA, 2FM, 2FT | Fords built in Canada (Oakville, Ontario) |
3FA, 3FM, 3FT | Fords built in Mexico (Hermosillo, Cuautitlán) |
WF0 / NM0 | Fords built in Germany / Turkey (mostly non-US models and Transit Connect) |
A Maverick that starts with 3FT and an Edge that starts with 2FM are both normal. A full-size F-150 that starts with 3 is not, and is worth a second look. Trucks also return a gross vehicle weight rating class, which is how you tell an F-150 from an F-250 or F-350 on paper when the badges have been swapped.
Position 8 engine codes: F-150 and Mustang
Positions 4 to 7 carry the line, series, cab or body style, drive and restraint system, and their meaning changes by model, which is why the decoder reads Ford's own filing instead of a forum chart. Position 8 is the engine code. These are the codes vPIC returns for recent models:
| F-150 (2022–2023), position 8 | Engine |
|---|---|
B | 3.3L V6 Ti-VCT |
P | 2.7L EcoBoost V6 |
G or 8 | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 |
D | 3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid |
5 | 5.0L V8 |
J | 5.2L supercharged V8 (2023 Raptor R) |
| Mustang (1FA6P8C…), position 8 | Engine |
|---|---|
D or H | 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder |
F or 0 | 5.0L V8 |
J (Z on 2020 models) | 5.2L V8 |
Engine codes are reused across years and models. A 5 means a 5.0L V8 in a current F-150 but can mean something else in a 1990s Ford, so decode the full VIN. Our Ford engine code chart lists the eighth-character codes from 2004 to 2024 if you want to read an older truck by hand.
Ford assembly plant codes in position 11
| Code | Plant | Recent models |
|---|---|---|
F | Dearborn Truck, Dearborn, Michigan | F-150 |
K | Kansas City Assembly, Claycomo, Missouri | F-150, Transit |
E | Kentucky Truck, Louisville, Kentucky | Super Duty, Expedition |
U | Louisville Assembly, Louisville, Kentucky | Escape |
G | Chicago Assembly, Illinois | Explorer |
L | Michigan Assembly, Wayne, Michigan | Ranger, Bronco |
5 | Flat Rock Assembly, Michigan | Mustang |
D | Ohio Assembly, Avon Lake, Ohio | Commercial and chassis-cab trucks |
R | Hermosillo, Mexico | Maverick, Bronco Sport |
M | Cuautitlán, Mexico | Mustang Mach-E |
B / C | Oakville, Ontario, Canada | Edge |
The same model can come from two plants. F-150s are built in both Dearborn (F) and Kansas City (K), so either code is correct on a half-ton. A Mustang with anything other than 5 is not a US-market production car.
Position 10 letter to Ford generation
Ford's big sellers changed generation on different years, so the same letter means "last of the old body" on one model and "first of the new" on another. This table turns the year letter into a generation check:
| Letter | Model year | F-150 | Super Duty | Mustang | Explorer | Ranger and Bronco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 2010 | 12th generation | 2nd generation | S197 | 4th generation, last year | Ranger, old US model |
B | 2011 | 12th generation | 3rd generation (new) | S197 | 5th generation unibody (new) | Ranger, last of the old US model |
E | 2014 | 12th generation, last year | 3rd generation | S197, last year | 5th generation | Not sold |
F | 2015 | 13th generation, aluminum body (new) | 3rd generation | S550 (new) | 5th generation | Not sold |
H | 2017 | 13th generation | 4th generation, aluminum (new) | S550 | 5th generation | Not sold |
K | 2019 | 13th generation | 4th generation | S550 | 5th generation, last year | Ranger returns (new) |
L | 2020 | 13th generation, last year | 4th generation | S550 | 6th generation, rear-drive base (new) | Ranger |
M | 2021 | 14th generation (new) | 4th generation | S550 | 6th generation | Ranger; Bronco (new) |
P | 2023 | 14th generation | 5th generation (new) | S550, last year | 6th generation | Ranger, last of the gen; Bronco |
R | 2024 | 14th generation refresh | 5th generation | S650 (new) | 6th generation | New-generation Ranger; Bronco |
S | 2025 | 14th generation | 5th generation | S650 | 6th generation refresh | Ranger; Bronco |
T | 2026 | 14th generation | 5th generation | S650 | 6th generation | Ranger; Bronco |
Letters not shown carry the same generation as the row above them. The cycle repeats every 30 years, so federal rules set position 7 to a letter for 2010-and-later cars, SUVs and light trucks and a number for 1980 to 2009. Model year is not build date. The door-jamb label carries the build month, and the manufacturing date guide explains why the two differ.
Worked example: decoding an F-150 VIN
Illustrative only: 1FTFW1E51NF100001 is a made-up VIN built with a valid check digit. It does not belong to a real truck.
| Characters | Position | Decoded |
|---|---|---|
1FT | 1–3 | Ford truck, built in the US |
FW1E | 4–7 | F-150 SuperCrew, 4x4, restraint data |
5 | 8 | 5.0L V8 |
1 | 9 | Check digit (valid) |
N | 10 | 2022 model year |
F | 11 | Dearborn, Michigan |
100001 | 12–17 | Production sequence |
vPIC returns this sample as a 2022 Ford F-150 SuperCrew, 5.0L V8, 4WD, built in Dearborn. If a seller listed that truck as a 3.5L EcoBoost, the eighth character would be your first question. The generation table confirms it is a 14th-generation truck, not a 2020 with a new grille.
The Ford door-jamb label: axle, paint and build date
The white Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver door jamb is where Ford keeps everything the VIN leaves out:
- Build date. The label shows the month and year of manufacture. The VIN does not.
- Axle ratio. Printed under "AXLE" on F-Series trucks.
L6orB6type codes decode on Ford's towing guide for that year. - Paint and trim codes. Under "EXT PNT" and "TR". See paint code by VIN.
- GVWR and tire sizes, which matter if you plan to tow.
Packages such as FX4, Max Trailer Tow or the Bang & Olufsen stereo are not on the label or in the VIN. Ford's own site will show the original window sticker by VIN for most trucks from 2010 onward. On F-Series trucks the VIN is also stamped on the driver-side frame rail, but rust and undercoating hide it, so treat it as a confirmation rather than your first stop.
Ford recalls and history
The decode result above lists the safety recalls NHTSA has on file for that Ford model and year. To see whether one is still open on this exact truck, run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. Ford's owner site adds Ford's customer satisfaction programs, which NHTSA does not list. A used Ford with an open recall can usually be fixed free at any Ford dealer.
Accidents, title brands, odometer readings and owners come from title records, not the VIN. A clean decode is not a clean history. Our vehicle history check guide and free VIN check guide explain which records cost money and which do not.
For GM trucks, see the Chevy VIN decoder. Its engine codes and plant letters are different, so do not apply Ford's tables to a Silverado.
Anatomy of a VIN, character by character
Every position has a job, set by the ISO 3779 standard and U.S. federal rule 49 CFR Part 565. Tap a section to see what it encodes.
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The first character is the region or country of manufacture. The second is the manufacturer, and the third is usually the vehicle type or division. Low-volume makers (under 1,000 vehicles a year) use a 9 in position 3 and carry an extra code in positions 12–14.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Five characters the manufacturer uses to describe the vehicle: model line, series, body type, engine and restraint system. Each maker defines its own scheme, which is why decoding needs a manufacturer database like NHTSA's vPIC.
Check digit
Each character is converted to a number, multiplied by a positional weight, summed and divided by 11. The remainder, 0–9 or X for 10, must equal position 9. A mismatch means a typo or a VIN that deserves a closer look.
Model year
One letter or digit maps to the model year and repeats every 30 years. For North American cars and light trucks, a digit in position 7 points to 1980–2009 and a letter points to 2010–2039. The full chart is below.
Assembly plant
The manufacturer's code for the factory that built the vehicle. It's useful for recall campaigns, which are often limited to one plant and date range.
Production sequence
The serial number of this vehicle on the production line. Combined with the first eleven characters it makes the VIN unique. For low-volume makers, positions 12–14 complete the manufacturer code.
VIN model year chart
The 10th character of every VIN. The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the digit 0 are never used here.
- A19802010
- B19812011
- C19822012
- D19832013
- E19842014
- F19852015
- G19862016
- H19872017
- J19882018
- K19892019
- L19902020
- M19912021
- N19922022
- P19932023
- R19942024
- S19952025
- T19962026
- V19972027
- W19982028
- X19992029
- Y20002030
- 120012031
- 220022032
- 320032033
- 420042034
- 520052035
- 620062036
- 720072037
- 820082038
- 920092039
Which cycle? On North American cars and light trucks, check position 7. If it's a number the vehicle is from 1980–2009, and if it's a letter it's from 2010–2039. The highlighted code is the current calendar year.
Where to find the VIN on your car
Standing next to the car? Tap a spot. Check at least two of them. They should match exactly.
Look through the windshield at the lower corner in front of the steering wheel. A metal tag is riveted to the dash. It's the easiest spot to read from outside the car, and zooming in with your phone camera helps in bright sun.
Open the driver door and look at the B-pillar or the edge of the door. The safety certification sticker lists the VIN, often with a barcode you can scan with this site on Android Chrome.
Pop the hood and check the firewall, the front of the engine block or the radiator support. The location varies by maker. Older cars and many trucks have it stamped here.
On trucks, trailers and motorcycles the VIN is often stamped on the frame rail, near a rear wheel well, on a trailer tongue or on the steering head of a motorcycle.
Questions, answered
Free Ford VIN decoder. Read the model, engine, model year and assembly plant from any 17-character Ford, Lincoln or F-Series VIN, then check open recalls.
How do I find the engine in my Ford by VIN?
Look at the 8th character. On Ford cars, SUVs and light trucks it is the engine code. On a 2022–2023 F-150, for example, 5 is the 5.0L V8, P is the 2.7L EcoBoost and D is the 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid. Codes are reused across years, so decode the full VIN above rather than reading one character alone.
Can a Ford VIN tell me the build date?
No. The 10th character gives the model year, not the build date. The month and year of manufacture are printed on the certification label in the driver door jamb.
Which plant built my Ford?
The 11th character is the plant code. F is Dearborn, Michigan, K is Kansas City, Missouri, E is Kentucky Truck in Louisville, L is Michigan Assembly in Wayne and 5 is Flat Rock. The decoder above returns the plant city for you.
Does the Ford VIN decoder work for Lincoln?
Yes. Lincoln VINs use the 1LN and 5LM WMIs, and vPIC holds Lincoln decoding data from Ford Motor Company.
Can I see the window sticker or options from a Ford VIN?
The VIN shows the model, trim, engine and drive type, but not packages such as FX4 or Max Trailer Tow, paint or axle ratio. The door-jamb label carries the paint and axle codes, and the original window sticker lists the packages.
How do I check Ford recalls by VIN?
The decode result lists recalls NHTSA has on file for that model and year. To see open recalls for one specific vehicle, enter the VIN in the NHTSA recall lookup. Repairs are free at a Ford dealer.