A Ford VIN decoder turns the 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) into a model year, engine, body type and assembly plant. Paste your Ford VIN into the form below to decode it free, then use a free Ford VIN check to see open recalls before you read the details.
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Here is where you'll find it:
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Title records from the U.S. Department of Justice system
39,396,034 Ford VINs
in the EpicVIN database · data as of August 30, 2026
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More than 350 million VIN records checked
Decode without an account
Open recalls from NHTSA in the same result
Locate the 17-character number, enter your VIN above, then read the decoded positions. The first three characters identify the manufacturer; the tenth gives the model year.
A Ford VIN appears in three common places:
On older Fords, the same identification number may also be stamped on the engine block or frame. All VIN markings should match the dashboard plate and door jamb sticker.
Enter the full VIN, all 17 characters, into the VIN lookup tool. No account is needed to decode your Ford VIN. Check the characters carefully before submitting.
The decoded result brings the vehicle description and production details into one view alongside available recall information. Depending on the VIN structure, you may see engine type, trim level, transmission, drivetrain, body configuration, model year or assembly plant. The position-by-position guide below explains the codes.
The VIN format is a standardized 17-character alphanumeric code. Its sections are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), positions 1–3; Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), positions 4–9; Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS), positions 10–17. Each holds information encoded by Ford.
Ford VIN Number Breakdown
VIN: 1FTFW1RGXPFA44173
Codes in position 4 vary by model line and model year. On 1FT trucks from 2010–2015, K means Class 1C GVWR, 4,001–5,000 lb; L means Class 1D GVWR, 5,001–6,000 lb. On 1FM / 2FM SUVs from 2005–2021, D means Class 1D GVWR.
On a Ford F-150 from 2015–2023, W1E identifies a SuperCrew 4x4.
Under 49 CFR 565.15, a weighted sum of the other 16 character values is calculated modulo 11. This can detect typos or invented VINs.
The letters I, O and Q are not used because they are easy to confuse with 1 and 0. Each VIN uniquely identifies one vehicle. Rules include 49 CFR Part 565 and ISO 3779, from the International Organization for Standardization. You can read the 17-character string manually; a decoder interprets it.
Ford truck VINs commonly use 1FT; SUV or van VINs use 1FM; passenger car VINs use 1FA. NHTSA's Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC) lists Ford Motor Company as the manufacturer for these WMIs.
Since 1981, every vehicle built for the U.S. market has used a 17-character VIN. Older Fords may have shorter serial numbers; NHTSA vPIC decodes Ford VINs from 1981 onward. For earlier vehicles, try a classic car VIN lookup.
| Code | Vehicle/country |
|---|---|
| 1FA | Passenger cars · United States |
| 1FT | Trucks: F-Series, Ranger, Maverick, Transit · United States |
| 1FM | SUVs, vans, MPVs · United States |
| 1FD | Incomplete chassis: Super Duty chassis cab, E-Series cutaway · United States |
| 2FA / 2FM / 2FT | Ford vehicles · Canada |
| 3FA / 3FM / 3FT | Ford vehicles · Mexico |
| NM0 | Transit Connect · Turkey, 2010–2023 |
| WF0 | Ford vehicles · Germany, 2016–2018 |
| Code | Assembly plant |
|---|---|
| F | Dearborn, Michigan |
| K | Kansas City (Claycomo), Missouri |
| U | Louisville Assembly, Kentucky |
| E | Kentucky Truck (Louisville), Kentucky |
| L | Wayne (Michigan Assembly), Michigan |
| G | Chicago, Illinois |
| 5 | Flat Rock, Michigan |
| D | Avon Lake (Ohio Assembly), Ohio |
| Y | Wixom, Michigan, 1981–2006 |
| B | Oakville, Canada |
| R | Hermosillo, Mexico |
| M | Cuautitlan, Mexico |
| Code | Model year |
|---|---|
| A–Y, 1–9 | Year-code sequence |
| A | 2010 |
| R | 2024 |
| S | 2025 |
| T | 2026 |
| 1–9 | 2001–2009 |
The example VIN, 1FTFW1RGXPFA44173, is a real Ford VIN checked using the NHTSA vPIC decoder. It identifies a 2023 Ford F-150 SuperCrew-Raptor pickup with a 3.5 L six-cylinder GTDI gasoline engine, assembled in Dearborn, Michigan, United States.
| Position | Code | Meaning | Decoded value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1FT | Manufacturer (WMI) | Ford, truck, United States |
| 4–8 | FW1RG | Vehicle attributes (VDS) | F-150, SuperCrew-Raptor, 3.5 L 6-cyl GTDI gasoline |
| 9 | X | Check digit | Valid (vPIC) |
| 10 | P | Model year | 2023 |
| 11 | F | Assembly plant | Dearborn, Michigan, United States |
| 12–17 | A44173 | Serial number | Production sequence |
Decoded using NHTSA vPIC on September 28, 2026. This is one real VIN, not an average for Ford vehicles.
Only in part. A VIN identifies basic factory details, not the full build list of factory-installed features and options or standard equipment. Ford support sends owners to Marti Auto Works for a build sheet.
Yes. A free VIN lookup on EpicVIN requires no account. It lets you identify the Ford, see open recall information and check available alerts relating to accident history, odometer concerns or theft. The full vehicle history report supplies the records behind each flag.
Year 2023
Make FORD
Model F-150
Fuel Type Gasoline
Engine 3.5L V-Shaped GTDI
Made in USA
The NHTSA recall lookup and NICB VINCheck are also free resources. A complete EpicVIN report costs $24.99 for one VIN. For a new or used vehicle, buyers and sellers can confirm that the decoded model and engine match the listing.
Of 39,396,034 Ford VINs in the EpicVIN database, 21.3% have a serious history event, roughly one in five. Events include salvage auction activity, branded titles, flood, fire, theft or odometer problems. This is in line with the 22.4% median for makes of comparable fleet age.
| Metric | Value | Details |
|---|---|---|
| VINs in the database | 39,396,034 | The most of any passenger make we track |
| Average age | 12.2 years | Median model year 2015 |
| Typical mileage | 67,542 mi | Median last odometer reading |
| Miles per year | 11,960 | VINs with two dated readings |
| Serious history event | 21.3% | Peer median 22.4% |
| Salvage or junk title | 12.1% | On an auction lot or listing |
| Moved between states | 11.9% | Peer median 13.2% |
Pickup trucks make up 35.7% of Ford VINs, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) 33.2%, sedans 15.3%.
Records across multiple states appear for 11.9% of Ford VINs, against a peer median of 13.2%.
Peers: 19 passenger makes with fleet age within 1.5 years of Ford. Shares use Ford VINs in the database.
Source: EpicVIN Vehicle Data Research · Data as of August 2026.
Recall checks are free. Enter your Ford VIN above or use the NHTSA recall lookup to check for open safety recalls on that Ford vehicle. Across Ford VINs in the EpicVIN database, 7.08 NHTSA recall campaigns are on file per model year on average, compared with a peer median of 2.62, more than twice as many.
NHTSA recall campaigns: 7.08 per model year · Peer median: 2.62
An NHTSA campaign associated with a model year does not automatically mean an open repair on the specific vehicle. For other manufacturer service campaigns, consult the Ford recall search on ford.com.
The first character identifies the country of origin, or country of manufacture: 1 for the United States, 2 for Canada, 3 for Mexico. The 11th position gives the build plant or assembly plant. In EpicVIN's Ford records, 80.2% were assembled in the United States, 11.2% in Mexico, 6.9% in Canada.
| Code | Assembly plant |
|---|---|
| F | Dearborn, Michigan, United States |
| K | Kansas City (Claycomo), Missouri, United States |
| U | Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville Assembly), United States |
| E | Louisville, Kentucky (Kentucky Truck, Jefferson County), United States |
Dearborn is the build location for the example on this page. Louisville has separate U and E codes for Louisville Assembly and Kentucky Truck.
Collision is the most common category in Ford damage records, appearing for 14.3% of VINs; all-over damage accounts for 1.1%, mechanical damage for 0.8%. Texas leads the states where Ford vehicles were listed or sold, at 9.4%, followed by California and Florida.
| Damage type | Share |
|---|---|
| Collision | 14.3% |
| All over | 1.1% |
| Mechanical | 0.8% |
| State | Share |
|---|---|
| Texas | 9.4% |
| California | 5.9% |
| Florida | 5.5% |
| Michigan | 4.5% |
| Ohio | 4.2% |
One VIN may have multiple damage types or states.
Source: EpicVIN Vehicle Data Research · Data as of August 2026.
Explore model-specific Ford VIN codes and vehicle statistics, from F-150 or Ranger pickups to Mustang, Bronco or Expedition.
The first three characters form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), which names the maker and vehicle type. Ford examples are 1FA, 1FT, 1FM, 3FA; 1FA marks passenger cars built in the United States.
Yes. You can see the model year, engine, assembly plant or open recalls without creating an account. A full vehicle history report is a separate purchase when you need detailed records.
Yes. Position 10 holds the year code: P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025. Codes repeat on a 30-year cycle, so A may mean 1980 or 2010; I, O, Q, U, Z are excluded.
Run the free Ford check above for open recalls, accident flags or theft status. A full vehicle history report then adds branded titles, damage photos or dated odometer readings.
The eighth character is the engine code. On an F-150, G = 3.5L EcoBoost V6, P = 2.7L EcoBoost V6 (2015–2023), 5 = 5.0L V8 (2018–2023), F = 5.0L V8 (2011–2017).
For 2015–2023 F-150s, positions 5–7 identify cab and drive: X1C = SuperCab 4x2; F1C = Regular Cab 4x2. Super Duty pickups use 1FT; chassis cabs and E-Series cutaways use 1FD. See the Ford F-150 VIN decoder.
The certification label inside the driver's door, called the door tag, lists the production date, GVWR, tire and wheel sizes, pressures and the EXT PNT paint code. A Marti Report adds the axle code, axle ratio and build date.
Yes. Canadian Ford codes include 2FA, 2FM, 2FT, with plant B at Oakville, Ontario. Mexican codes include 3FA, 3FM, 3FT; R marks Hermosillo, Sonora, M marks Cuautitlan. Other positions follow the same VIN format.
Yes. A Ford VIN can reveal the model year, body style or engine. NHTSA-derived vehicle specifications may add engine size and drivetrain, including front-wheel drive (FWD), all-wheel drive (AWD), four-wheel drive (4WD).
A VIN decode shows how a Ford left the factory, not what happened to it afterward. Title records, damage evidence and dated odometer history belong in the full report. The statistics above rest on auction and listing records, a proxy for state registries, not a substitute. Owner names stay private under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), so a VIN lookup does not supply them.
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