Ford VIN decoder

F-150, Explorer and F-350 SD lead 651 Ford recall campaigns since 2016; 12 investigations are open.

Ford

Decode a Ford VIN

34 Ford WMIs on file in vPIC. Decoded in this tab; never sent.

Seventeen characters; I, O and Q never appear.

The answer

Type a VIN and press Decode.

How to read a Ford VIN

  • On Ford trucks, SUVs and vans, position 4 combines the brake system, the GVWR class and the restraint-system category. On Ford passenger cars it gives the restraint category. Source
  • Positions 5 to 7 code the make, line, series and body type, plus chassis/cab type on trucks. Position 8 is the engine code (displacement, cylinders, fuel type and engine maker). Source
  • Position 11 is the plant. Ford's 2027 table includes F = Dearborn, E = Kentucky Truck (Louisville), U = Louisville Assembly, K = Kansas City (Claycomo, Missouri), D = Ohio Assembly (Avon Lake) and M = Cuautitlan, Mexico. Source
  • In Ford's 2027 filing, Ford serials (positions 12 to 17) are all-numeric on passenger cars. Trucks, SUVs and buses use an alphanumeric serial: A00001 to J99999 for Ford Division vehicles and L00001 to L99999 for Lincoln. Source
  • Ford's door-jamb Safety Compliance Certification Label carries much more than the VIN. It lists build date, axle weight ratings, tire and rim sizes, tire pressure, exterior paint code, wheelbase, interior trim, transmission, and spring and axle codes. Source
  • Ford says owners can buy replacement window stickers (Monroney labels) for model years 2008 through the current year from Ford Show Parts (fordshowparts.com) or by phone. It points to a paid build sheet (Marti Auto) for older cars and offers VIN decode letters for 1946-1966 models. Source

Ford WMIs and plants

Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Turkey and United States: 10 incomplete chassis, 9 cars, 7 trucks, 5 SUVs, vans and crossovers and 3 buses, per vPIC October 2026.

Ford-only WMIs
WMIsRegistered toCountry · covers
177GOLDEN AGE AUTO CORPUnited States · cars
1F1, 1FMFORD MOTOR COMPANYUnited States · SUVs, vans and crossovers
1F6DETROIT CHASSIS LLCUnited States · incomplete chassis
1F7, 1FAFORD MOTOR COMPANYUnited States · cars
1FBFORD MOTOR COMPANYUnited States · buses
1FC, 1FD, 5LDFORD MOTOR COMPANYUnited States · incomplete chassis
1FTFORD MOTOR COMPANYUnited States · trucks
1H9814HOLMAN & MOODY, INCUnited States · cars
1ZVAUTO ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL, USAUnited States · cars
2FAFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.Canada · cars
2FBFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.United States · buses
2FC, 2FDFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.Canada · incomplete chassis
2FMFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.Canada · SUVs, vans and crossovers
2FTFORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.Canada · trucks
3FAFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOMexico · cars
3FBFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOMexico · buses
3FC, 3FD, 3FEFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOMexico · incomplete chassis
3FMFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOMexico · SUVs, vans and crossovers
3FNBLUE DIAMOND TRUCK, S. DE R. L. DE C. V.United States · trucks
3FRBLUE DIAMOND TRUCK, S. DE R. L. DE C. V.not stated · incomplete chassis
3FTFORD MOTOR COMPANY, MEXICOMexico · trucks
9BFFORD MOTOR COMPANY BRASIL LTDA.Brazil · trucks
JC2Mazda Motor CorporationJapan · trucks
KNJKIA MOTORS (FORD IMPORTS)South Korea · cars
MAJFord India LtdIndia · SUVs, vans and crossovers
NM0FORD OTOMOTIV SANAYI A.S., TURKEYTurkey · trucks
WF0FORD WERKE AGGermany · cars

Ford recalls

1,758 campaigns on file; 651 since 2016, naming about 78.9 million vehicles (summed across campaigns), 21 with a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. The F-150 has the most, 106. Power train (104), Electrical system (84), Back over prevention (47), Air bags (46), Visibility (41) and Exterior lighting (40). One car: NHTSA or Ford.

Ford campaigns by model since 2016
ModelCampaigns
F-150106
Explorer90
F-350 SD62
F-250 SD61
Transit60
Escape58
Ranger55
Mustang53
Expedition51
Bronco50
F-450 SD49
Maverick45
Latest Ford campaigns
FiledModelsComponent
October 20262015 Transit ConnectBack over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
October 20262025–2027 F-150Seats
September 20262026 RangerBack over prevention › Display function
September 20262025–2027 Expedition; 2026 F-250 SD; 2026 F-350 SD; 2026 F-450 SDExterior lighting › Headlights
September 20262026 F-150Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
September 20262026 F-150Suspension › Rear
September 20262023–2027 F-150Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
September 20262026–2027 TransitSeat belts › Rear/other › Buckle assembly
September 20262026 BroncoAir bags › Side/window › Curtain
September 20262026 ExplorerAir bags › Frontal
September 20262023–2025 Mustang Mach EElectrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery › Management system/energy control module (bms/becm) › Software
August 20262024–2026 MustangElectrical system › Wiring
Ford campaigns with an NHTSA safety advisory
FiledAdvisoryModelsComponent
May 2026Do not drive2021–2026 Bronco Sport; 2022–2026 MaverickSuspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
February 2026Do not drive2025 TransitService brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
September 2025Park outside2020 ExpeditionEngine
June 2025Do not drive2025 F-250 SD; 2025 F-350 SD; 2025 F-450 SD; 2025 F-550 SDService brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
May 2025Do not drive2024–2025 BroncoSuspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
April 2025Do not drive2025 BroncoSuspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
April 2025Park outside2024–2025 E-TRANSIT ChassisElectrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
November 2023Do not drive2024 MustangService brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages

Open Ford investigations (12)

How "open" is counted.

Open Ford investigations
OpenedSubjectModels
September 2026Loss of Motive Power (DP26008)2015–2018 Edge
August 20262024 Ford Maverick Hybrid Intermittent Loss of Braking (DP26007)2024 Maverick Hybrid
July 2026Timing Belt Failure (EA26004)2014–2017 Fiesta; 2015–2018 Focus
June 2026NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls (AQ26001)2021 Expedition
April 2026Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated (DP26004)2010 Fusion Hybrid
January 2026Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up (EA26001)2015–2017 F-150
January 2025Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise (EA25001)2021–2024 Mustang Mach E
May 2024Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak (PE24014)2015–2021 F-250 SD; 2015–2021 F-350 SD; 2020 F-450; 2015–2021 F-450 SD
December 2022Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls (AQ22003)2018 Explorer
June 2022Healey Brothers Ford / Open Recall Sale (AQ22002)2021 Escape

Ford owner complaints

Power train, Engine, Steering and Electrical system lead for 2010-on model-years; the 2010 Fusion drew the most, 5,130 (unverified owner reports).

Ford model-years by complaints
Model-yearComplaintsCrashesFiresLeading component
2010 Fusion5,1301229Steering
2012 Focus3,76910715Power train
2013 F-1502,9897835Power train
2011 Fusion2,7938010Steering
2013 Escape2,7504990Engine
2017 Escape2,6973915Engine
2014 Focus2,603689Power train
2012 Fusion2,5161079Steering
2016 Explorer2,4613914Steering
2013 Edge2,446337Electrical system
2018 F-1502,3186433Power train
2013 Explorer2,2364411Steering

Check any Ford model-year for recalls

Any make: recalls by VIN.

Data: vPIC October 2026; NHTSA, October 17, 2026. Not affiliated with Ford.